Festival international de jazz de Montréal

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM), Canada'a largest music festival, was established in 1980 by Alain Simard and André Ménard. From modest beginnings (7 concerts, 12 ensembles), it has developed into one of the world's most celebrated jazz events; in 2001, it offered more than 500 concerts over 11 days, featuring some 2000 musicians from 20 countries in a wide range of jazz, blues and WORLD MUSIC styles. The FIJM has used concert halls and street stages on east-end St Denis street (1982-89) and downtown St Catherine street (beginning in 1986), its outdoor activities drawing comparisons to celebrations at Carnival in Rio and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Beginning in the mid-1990s attendance exceeded 1.5 million annually.