The 33rd edition of The Montreal Jazz festival wrapped up last week with a giant electro funk party by Montreal duo Chromeo. It was a homecoming for the guys as they returned the Montreal love with a huge dance party at the Place des Festivals.

It was a great week for outdoor shows as the stages were packed and the weather was near perfect. I had the chance to see the street battle of the bands between Roma Carnivale and Fanfare Severni which ended in a dance party (everyone wins). I went from swing dancing at the Howlin' Hound Dogs band set to a Louisiana-style cajun party courtesy of New Orleans-based Lagniappe Brass Band. The kids had fun over in a music themed playground and at the school of jazz, while local artists at Le Jazz se Dessine made street art created on the spot.
My highlights of the festival were the haunting sounds of Timber Timbre over at Place Maisonneuve. The sounds of country and blues with a flare for the dramatic took the audience on a journey through light and dark tones. I then flashed backed to 1989 with Maestro Fresh Wes, who played classics from his old school Toronto hip hop days and more recent collaborations from his upcoming album.

After Chromeo I returned to the SAT for Purity Ring and Dirty Projectors to close out the fest. A great double bill of experiment pop and rock as the crowd filled to capacity for this late night affair. It was a great night, a great week which was capped off with a trip to Montreal Pool Room for a late night treat. In case you missed it, here are a few photos from the rest of the fest:

Chromeo and Dirty Projectors photos courtesy of Montreal Jazz Festival (Frederique Menard)