jazz festival
Bob Dylan and “Legends of Tomorrow” in Montreux
Bob Dylan performs at the Montreux Jazz Festival (archive image). photo
© Chris Pizzello/AP/dpa
For many world stars, an appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival is a must during the European music festival summer. One of the first on stage this time is none other than Bob Dylan.
At Dylan’s request, the concert hall, the Auditorium Stravinski, was exclusively equipped with chairs in order to create a more intimate atmosphere, the organizers said. Dylan was honored with the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature for his poetic writing. British singer Tom Odell and the band Simply Red are on the program to kick off the festival on Friday evening.
Through July 15, Lionel Richie, Iggy Pop, Norah Jones, Chris Isaak and many others will also be honored. Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples performs there on her 84th birthday on July 10th. The organizers promise “central figures of music history who appear in intimate settings, but also current stars and, above all, the legends of tomorrow”.
Montreux is a must for many world stars
The jazz festival was founded in 1967. For many world stars, a performance in the fashionable little town right on the lake shore – also known as the Swiss Riviera – is almost a must at the European music festival summer. In addition to jazz, pop, rock and other music are also played. Many music legends came to Montreux year after year, including Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Herbie Hancock. Many performances have been released on sound carriers.
Freddie Mercury and the band Queen were particularly associated with Montreux. After an inspiring performance in the late 1970s, they bought the Mountain Studios there, where they produced numerous studio recordings. A recording made by Queen with David Bowie at a jam session in the early 1980s also became legendary: “Under Pressure”.