Montreux Jazz Festival

Poster designed by Keith Haring

The beginnings: a solid jazz event

In 1967, the first Montreux Jazz Festival opened its doors. The festival lasted for three days and featured almost exclusively jazz artists. The highlights of this era were Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Evans, Nina Simone, Jan Garbarek, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Related Topics:
1967 - Keith Jarrett - Jack DeJohnette - Bill Evans - Nina Simone - Jan Garbarek - Ella Fitzgerald

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In the 1970s, the festival began broadening its scope, including blues, soul, and rock artists. In December 1971, the Casino burned down, and the festival was forced to move until the new Casino was ready in 1975. The festival had grown to a two-week duration.

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1970s - Blues - Soul - Rock - December - 1971 - 1975

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Towards the end of the decade, the festival expanded even more, including music from all continents (with an emphasis on Brazilian music) and lasting a full three weeks. Santana came to Montreux for the first time in 1970; Van Morrison played in 1974. Other artists included Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, Airto Moreira, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Charles Mingus, Etta James, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, Gilberto Gil, Ray Charles, and many more.

Related Topics:
Brazilian music - Santana - 1970 - Van Morrison - 1974 - Chuck Berry - Bo Diddley - Stan Getz - Sonny Rollins - Airto Moreira - Dizzy Gillespie - Oscar Peterson - Charles Mingus - Etta James - Count Basie - Chick Corea - Herbie Hancock - B.B. King - Gilberto Gil - Ray Charles

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