14 Gigs To Book Now For Montreal Jazz Festival 2025

Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest jazz festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival is a ten day summer festival with 150 indoor concerts and more than 350 free, open-air shows. Last year’s festival included brilliant gigs from André 3000, Norah Jones, Stanley Clarke and Robert Glasper and this year’s event, running from from June 26 to July 5, 2025, has an equally stellar lineup. Here are 14 gigs to secure tickets for in advance before they sell out.

1.Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, June 25

Festival goers are in for a real treat when Wynton Marsalis, with 15 of today’s finest jazz soloists and ensembles, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performs a vast repertoire, ranging from rare historical compositions to original works.

2.Azymuth, June 27

The legendary Brazilian trio will make their first-ever appearance at the Festival. Pioneers of a sound combining groove, samba and jazz-funk, Azymuth is Alex Malheiros, bass; Kiko Continentino, keyboard and Renato Massa, drums.

3.Makaya McCraven, June 27

American drummer, composer and producer, Makaya McCraven has been described as a”beat scientist” thanks to his clever fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and electronic music. His newest album, In These Times, is the triumphant finale of a project of more than seven years in the making. McCraven says he’s also “really drawn to folk music. Music of aural tradition, music that is of the people where it’s more of a collective experience of music and dance and culture that we all participate in and know as part of our being or as part of who we are.”

4.Samara Joy, June 28

Bronx-born vocalist Samara Joy a rising jazz star of the new generation returns after her thrilling performance at the MJF last year. She won Best New Artist at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards and her new album, Portrait, highlights her talents as a lyricist in clever arrangements that blend her lyrics with the music of Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and her late mentor, Barry Harris.

5.Jay-Jay Johanson, June 28

Swedish singer-songwriter Jay-Jay Johanson is known for his melancholic vocals. His music has integrated the trip hop genre. For his Montreal gig, he’ll be drawing from Backstage, his 15th album, a gorgeous combination of jazz, triphop and pop.

6.The Brooks, June 29

Local funk band The Brooks have cemented their reputation as a super danceable groove machine. Inspired by legends like James Brown, Fela Kuti, and Herbie Hancock, The Brooks perform a captivating mix of funk, soul, r’n’b, afrobeats and jazz.

7.Nas, June 28, 29

Since the release of his debut album, Illmatic (1994) American rapper Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known by his stage name Nas has been one of Hip Hop’s leading voices. He has released 14 subsequent albums, 8 of which are multi-platinum and platinum including: Nastradamus, Stillmatic, God’s Son and Street’s Disciple. In Montreal Nas will perform with a full symphony orchestra.

8.Dianne Reeves, June 29,

Five-time Grammy Award winning American jazz singer Dianne Reeves is one of the most versatile in the business. She’s performed with Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Barenboim as well as with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. She has also been a featured soloist with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

9.Avishai Cohen Trio, June 30

Acclaimed bassist, singer, composer Avishai Cohen was a former member of Chick Corea’s trio. For the festival the trio, featuring double bass, drums and piano, will be enhanced by a symphony orchestra that will perform contemporary jazz and world music compositions, orchestrated traditional Hebrew-Ladino songs, as well as classical works.

10.Nate Smith, June 30

Betty Carter and Dave Holland were great influences on drummer Nate Smith and he joined Holland’s quintet in 2003. In 2017, he released his first album as leader, Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere on Ropeadope Record. Smith fuses his original compositions with an eclectic mix of music, including everything from jazz to R&B to hip-hop to pop. His latest album, Kinfolk 2: See The Birds is the highly-anticipated follow up to his 2017 Grammy Award-nominated album.

11.Bill Frisell Trio, July 1

Featuring the legendary guitarist and composer in the trio format he cherishes will be Bill Frisell, Electric Guitar; Thomas Morgan, Acoustic Bass and Rudy Royston, Drums. We can expect material from his new double album, his fourth release for Blue Note Records to be featured.

12.Branford Marsalis, July 1

The Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead but the core of his musical universe is the Branford Marsalis Quartet which is who we will hear at the Théâtre Maisonneuve at the festival.

13.Holly Cole, July 2

Best-selling Canadian jazz singer Holly Cole will making a welcome return to the Festival this year performing a new repertoire from her album Dark Moon. Her smooth, melodious voice has earned her four JUNO Awards and the FIJM’s prestigious Ella Fitzgerald Award in 2013.

14.Dhafer Youssef, July 5

Nearly 20 years after his last appearance at the Festival, the master of the oud and an iconic figure in Tunisian music, will make a highly anticipated return.

Getting There and Where to Stay

Air Canada offers 12 direct flights a week from London Heathrow and direct flights from Miami, LA, San Francisco, New York and Atlanta.

Two great hotel options within a ten minute walk to the main festival venues are the 4-star Hotel Monville and 5-star Le Germain. Hotel Monville has 269 rooms with a hip urban vibe, housed in a sleek glass and concrete high-rise. Awarded a coveted Michelin Key last year, Le Germain features 136 rooms with the space, chic design and ultra comfort you’d expect from a boutique hotel.