2019 Festival Award winners
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Oliver Jones Award: Jacob Do
The Oliver Jones Award was created in 2019 for the 40th edition of the Festival to honour and recognize the young university student musicians who consider themselves members of a visible minority, to which Stingray is proudly associating its Stingray Rising Stars program.
Jacob Do is a saxophone player from the Canadian jazz scene who received his musical training in Edmonton. Jacob moved to Montréal in 2017, where he just completed his second year studying Jazz Performance at McGill University. This year, he played as a tenor in the main musical band at McGill, Jazz Orchestra.
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B.B.-King Award: Buddy Guy
The B.B.-King Blues Award was created in 2014 for the 35th edition of the Festival to honour and recognize the exceptional talent of an artist who has left an indelible mark on the blues scene.
Throughout his 60-year career, this blues titan has never lost his relevance in music, taking the genre further while never losing touch with its roots. The man Eric Clapton calls “the greatest living guitarist” influenced Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
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Antonio-Carlos-Jobim Award: Omara Portuondo
The Antonio Carlos Jobim Award was created on the occasion of the Festival’s 25th anniversary to honour artists distinguished in the field of world music and whose influence on the evolution of jazz and cultural crossover is widely recognized.
A genuine jem of Cuban music and legendary figure in the Buena Vista Social Club, she shared the stage with Édith Piaf and Nat King Cole as a member of the female Cuarteto d’Aida quartet. This tireless singer recorded her final album at age 87 and is treating fans with a farewell tour this year.
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Miles-Davis Award: Joshua Redman
The Miles Davis Award was created for the Festival’s 15th anniversary in 1994 to honour a great international jazz musician for the entire body of his or her work and influence in regeneratingthe jazz idiom.
One of the best-known and most highly esteemed saxophonists in the world, he has displayed the talent and maturity of a veteran player from the very outset of his career. This prolific musician has recorded over 20 albums, in addition to performing alongside a constellation of major names, from the Rolling Stones to Yo-Yo Ma.
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Oscar-Peterson Award: Wray Downes
Created on the 10th anniversary of the Festival in 1989, the Oscar Peterson Award recognizes a performer’s musicianship and exceptional contribution to the development of Canadian jazz.
A veteran of the Canadian jazz scene, the man known as the “Prince of the piano” – an instrument he actually studied with Oscar Peterson – is also a composer and arranger. His career has spanned over half a century, during which he has played with such greats as Sidney Bechet and Bill Coleman. A major talent.
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Ella-Fitzgerald Award: Melody Gardot
The Festival created the Ella Fitzgerald Award for its 20th anniversary in 1999, annualy conferring it upon a jazz singer of significant talent who has had a major impact and influence on the international scene.
With her sublime voice and irresistible magnetism, this singer-pianist-guitarist has caused a sensation with every appearance at the Festival. With a style entirely of her own, blending vocal jazz, folk, blues, pop and Latin rhythms, she is winning over audiences all over the world.
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Bruce-Lundvall Award: Manfred Eicher
The Bruce Lundvall Award, created in 2009 during the Festival’s 30th edition, is presented annually to a non-musician who has left a mark on the world of jazz or contributed to the development of the music, through the media, the concert or record industries
He is the artistic director and producer of the visionary jazz and classical music label ECM, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Over the years, this German label has evolved into an exceptional hothouse for talent, renowned for the unparalleled quality of its recordings.
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Montréal Jazz Festival Spirit Award: Joni Mitchell
The Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award underlines a popular artist’s extraordinary contribution to the musical world.
A folk music legend, a free and independent artist, extraordinary poet, celestial singer… the Saskatoon singer-songwriter has influenced generations of musicians, from Herbie Hancock to Taylor Swift. Over four decades, her discography left an indelible mark on the history of music… while the artist herself has never aspired to the trappings of celebrity.
Winners history
B.B.-King Award
- 2018 : George Thorogood
- 2017 : Charlie Musselwhite
- 2016 : Taj Mahal
- 2015 : James Cotton
- 2014 : B.B.-King
Ella-Fitzgerald Award
- 2018 : Ben Harper
- 2017 : Lizz Wright
- 2016 : Gregory Porter
- 2015 : Erykah Badu
- 2014 : Diana Ross
- 2013 : Holly Cole
- 2012 : Liza Minnelli
- 2011 : Sade
- 2010 : The Manhattan Transfer
- 2009 : John Pizzarelli
- 2008 : Aretha Franklin
- 2007 : Harry Connick
- 2006 : Etta James
- 2005 : Al Jarreau
- 2004 : Tony Bennett
- 2003 : Bobby McFerrin
- 2002 : Dianne Reeves
- 2001 : Diana Krall
- 2000 : Dee Dee Bridgewater
- 1999 : Diane Schuur
Montréal Jazz Festival Spirit Award
- 2018 : Ry Cooder
- 2016 : Brian Wilson
- 2014 : Elvis Costello
- 2012 : James Taylor
- 2011 : Robert Plant
- 2010 : Smokey Robinson
- 2009 : Stevie Wonder
- 2008 : Leonard Cohen
- 2007 : Bob Dylan
- 2006 : Paul Simon
Miles Davis Award
- 2018 : Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
- 2017 : Jack DeJohnette
- 2016: Kenny Barron
- 2015: Al Di Meola
- 2014 : Terence Blanchard
- 2013 : Charles Lloyd
- 2012 : Ron Carter
- 2011 : Stanley Clarke
- 2010 : Sonny Rollins
- 2009 : Ornette Coleman
- 2008 : McCoy Tyner
- 2007 : Mike Stern
- 2006 : Brad Mehldau
- 2005 : Dave Holland
- 2004 : Keith Jarrett
- 2003 : Joe Zawinul
- 2002 : Chick Corea
- 2001 : Michael Brecker
- 2000 : Charlie Haden
- 1999 : Cassandra Wilson
- 1998 : John Scofield
- 1997 : Herbie Hancock
- 1996 : Wayne Shorter
- 1995 : Pat Metheny
- 1994 : John McLaughlin
Antonio-Carlos-Jobim Award
- 2018 : Zakir Hussain
- 2017 : Buika
- 2016 : Lila Downs
- 2015 : King Sunny Ade
- 2014 : Paco de Lucía
- 2013 : Amadou & Myriam
- 2012 : Emir Kusturica
- 2011 : Youssou N’Dour
- 2010 : Richard Bona
- 2009 : Toots & The Maytals
- 2008 : Gilberto Gil
- 2007 : Angélique Kidjo
- 2006 : Salif Keita
- 2005 : Khaled
- 2004 : Ibrahim Ferrer
Oscar-Peterson Award
- 2018 : Renee Rosnes
- 2017 : Christine Jensen
- 2016 : Karen Young
- 2015 : Jim Galloway
- 2014 : Ron Di Lauro
- 2013 : Alain Caron
- 2012 : Peter Appleyard
- 2011 : Jean-Pierre Zanella
- 2010 : Don Thompson
- 2009 : Susie Arioli
- 2008 : Dave Young
- 2007 : François Bourassa
- 2006 : Yannick Rieu
- 2005 : Bernard Primeau
- 2004 : Diana Krall
- 2003 : Kenny Wheeler
- 2002 : Lorraine Desmarais
- 2001 : Moe Kofman
- 2000 : Charles Biddle
- 1999 : Maynard Ferguson
- 1998 : Guy Nadon
- 1997 : Rob McConnell
- 1996 : Nelson Symonds
- 1995 : Michel Donato
- 1994 : Paul Bley
- 1993 : Fraser MacPherson
- 1992 : Vic Vogel
- 1991 : UZEB
- 1990 : Oliver Jones
- 1989 : Oscar Peterson
Bruce-Lundvall Award
- 2017 : Michael Bourne
- 2016 : Jim West
- 2015 : Bill Milkowski
- 2014 : Jean-Philippe Allard
- 2013 : Tommy LiPuma
- 2012 : Michael Cuscuna
- 2011 : George Wein
- 2010 : Herman Leonard
- 2009 : Bruce Lundvall