Jason Stillman Quintet

The festival season is well underway and the first major music festival of the summer has now closed. L’OFF Festival de Jazz de Montreal celebrated its 10th anniversary with exceptional musicians both local and international. Among the featured performers were the founders of the festival themselves, five men who determined to showcase the incredible local talents that Montreal has to offer. Many of the groups featured this year played for a voluntary contribution and are certainly worth more than a smile and a nod....Finally, a highlight of the festival was a performance on the last day by the Jason Stillman Quintet, who played at Cheval Blanc on June 27th. Jason’s compositions are a blend of traditional jazz with a modern swing that at once fascinates and impresses. His quintet consists of five exceptional musicians, each well-established in their own right. Carlos Jimenez, an impressive guitarist, is a wonder to watch and listen to. Clinton Ryder on the doublebass makes Jason’s elaborate compositions deeper and even more powerful. Josh Rager not only plays the keyboards but also contributed one of his own compositions to the evening, Anhedonia, a piece both complex and fun. Michel Berthiaume on the drums doesn’t just keep the tunes on the rails; his solos go off in incredible directions that somehow always come back to the perfect juxtaposition they are meant to. Jason’s already powerful playing is only enhanced by being surrounded by such gifted musicians. - Rover Arts