Thanks to a private donation, the Conseil des arts de Montréal awards $5,000 grants every year to encourage bold jazz projects. In 2025, two unique initiatives were selected, each pushing the boundaries of the genre while speaking out in a strong artistic voice.
Donald Dogbo: Jazz as living memory
With his project Ségui Sô (“return to ancestral roots”), Donald Dogbo takes a new look at jazz through the lens of traditional African rhythms. Backed by contributors from the Montréal music scene, including Rémi Cormier, Julien Fillion and singer Djely Tapa, he is currently preparing a show to mark the release of his second album, coming this fall.
As Radio-Canada’s “jazz revelation” of 2024, Dogbo proposes a vibrant, deep-rooted style of jazz that combines the best of his Mandinka heritage with contemporary sounds.
Marianne Trudel: Return to the big band format
Ten years after composing a memorable suite for the Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal, Marianne Trudel returns to the world of big band music with a new work in five movements. Her composition promises a bold exploration of orchestral textures, rhythmic contrasts and renewed expressiveness.
“Over ten years, the way I listen and write has evolved. I want to go further, to push the boundaries of what a big band can be today,” explains the artist, whose ten albums are all critically acclaimed.
