Upon entering the Fifth Hall of Place des Arts, twenty minutes before the concert, the string ensemble was already in a state of high excitement: the instruments were tuning, practicing scales and twirling around.
The National Jazz Orchestra transformed itself into a string ensemble, as it sometimes does. This particular occasion was to pay tribute to Charlie Parker with Strings, that rare moment when, between 1949 and 1951, the great bebop saxophonist recorded with a string ensemble. A moment that marked history at the time.
To commemorate this event, the ONJ pulled out all the stops: on stage were some twenty violinists, violists and cellists, accompanied by a harpist, an oboist and an English horn player. In addition, there was a rhythm section with drums, bass, guitar and piano.
The musical director for that evening, Samuel Blais, told me in an interview that Charlie Parker, aka Bird, had never had such a large ensemble. At the time, the producer wanted to save money, so it was a small string ensemble that collaborated with the great saxophonist.
To portray Charlie Parker, Samuel Blais called upon regulars from the ONJ: the excellent Montreal saxophonists Jean-Pierre Zanella, Rémi Bolduc, André Leroux and Alexandre Côté. Each of them had their moment of dialogue with the string ensemble.
How can I put it simply? It all sounded fantastic! It was fluid and rich. The ONJ meticulously respected the original arrangements, but the saxophonists had the freedom to improvise, without trying to copy Parker. Of course, you have to appreciate the style of the era. The strings sometimes sound like a soundtrack from a Walt Disney film. But it’s finely arranged, and in these dreary times, it adds a little color to our lives.
Don’t even ask me which of the four soloists was the best. Each had their own unique sound. And that’s perfectly fine.
Finally, the four musicians reunited on stage and indulged in a series of solos, accompanied by the rhythm section, for a final piece. The string and wind orchestra, almost entirely composed of women, tapped their feet and smiled.
In the room, we were doing the same thing….
It was a very nice evening, sold out, although around me there were a few empty seats.
The ONJ’s next event will be dedicated to Ellington. On January 15, 2026, Kim Richardson will sing Duke Ellington, conducted by Marianne Trudel. Happy New Year!
