Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Montreal is a city known for its beautiful historic churches and cathedrals. ?glise du Ges��, a magnificent church situated in the heart of downtown Montreal, opened its doors in 1865. The basement in the church has housed an amphitheater dedicated to the arts for almost 100 years. It was renovated in 1992 and reopened as Le Centre de cr��ativit�� du Ges��. The facility offers space for art exhibitions, conference rooms and a magnificent amphitheater that seats 425 patrons. Despite its relatively spacious capacity, it provides a remarkably intimate concert experience. The site lines and acoustics are just outstanding. Gesù concert hall has been a primary venue for the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal (FIJM) since 1993. The hall is used exclusively for the presentation of jazz during the festival and invariably offers a strong lineup of concerts. Ges�� present two series, an early evening "Invitation" series and a late night "Jazz Dans La Nuit" series with a 10:30 start that often features more adventurous music. The crowd at Ges�� typically includes many of the most dedicated and knowledgeable jazz fans. Musicians often express their appreciation for the venue and its enthusiastic patrons. Ges�� has been the scene of many memorable concerts over the course of the last 25 years. I don't know if spirits inhabit the concert hall, but I've been witness to sparks of musical magic on many occasions. When that happens, it's a remarkable shared experience.

The Invitation series dates back to 1989. The concept is that a notable jazz artist would be invited to play several concerts over the course of nights with an array of different groups that reflects the breadth of their artistry. The late