Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill – 20th Anniversary

Having established itself as one of the best jazz clubs in North America, Upstairs welcomes a birthday celebration with the biggest local (Oliver Jones, Ranee Lee, Jim Doxas) and international (Jean-Michel Pilc, Ari Hoenig, Jim Black) names in jazz.

20 years ago, Joel Giberovitch, walked into UPSTAIRS, in downtown Montreal on Mackay Street and transformed it into a Montreal Jazz club with an international reputation. Since then, this mythical jazz club – one of the oldest in Canada – has become a beloved and unique Montreal institution and attraction. In an atmosphere that encourages listening, UPSTAIRS has hosted more than 500 local and international artists such as Barry Harris, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Adam Cohen, The Heath Brothers, Sheila Jordan, Jimmy Cobb, Azar Lawrence, Helen Merrill, Sonny Greenwhich, Dave Liebman, Kevin Dean, Jean Derome, Robby Krieger as well as many others.

“It has been my deepest honor that Upstairs has presented thousands of live jazz shows that have touched so many people. Twenty years have passed by in the blink of an eye and I feel like it’s just the beginning” says Joel Giberovitch, owner and artistic director of Upstairs since 1995.

To celebrate Upstairs’ 20 year anniversary, Joel Giberovitch has programmed an 11 day stellar line-up of concerts running from November 12th to the 22nd 2015. It will feature Jean-Michel Pilc, Ari Hoening, Edmar Castaneda, Ranee Lee, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Jim Doxas, Jim Black, Thomas Morgan, Oliver Jones, John Abercrombie, Gary Versace, Adam Nussbaum, Oran Etkin with pianist Aaron Goldberg and Houston Person with talented and versatile pianist Julie Lamontagne.

On November 16th Upstairs will also host a first screening of the director’s cut of Guylaine Dionne’s documentary film about UPSTAIRS. It will be a great way to celebrate two decades of music and passion. And why not pave the way for another twenty! ‘’I was told that the first twenty years are the hardest. On the contrary, UPSTAIRS has been my most pleasant hobby of the last 18 years!’’ says Chef Juan Barros.

For tickets and more information: www.upstairsjazz.com     514-931-6808

1254 MacKay, Montreal, Qc, H3G 2H4
(Parking $5, please ask your server)