Grammy-winner Reeves taking the stage
A quick look at five noteworthy shows Friday at the Montreal International Jazz Festival: Jordan Officer (7 p.m., Savoy room of Metropolis, 59 Ste-Catherine St. E., $28.10). The Montreal guitar virtuoso and singer has evolved over the years from a busy sideman to partnering with singer Susie Arioli to becoming a solo artist. His second solo album, I’m Free, was recorded in New York City and released in March. Katie Melua (7:30 p.m., Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts, $68 to $83.50). A superstar in the U.K. and Europe, the British jazz-blues singersongwriter will perform an uncharacteristically intimate and acoustic set at the festival. This is her only North American concert of the year. Rufus Wainwright (8 p.m., Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, 84 Ste-Catherine St. W., $61.45 to $76.45). The Montreal singer-songwriter played the biggest stage the festival has to offer in 2012, for a free outdoor set at Place des Festivals. This year he downsizes with a three-night solo residency at TNM, with his half-sister Lucy Wainwright Roche opening. Dianne Reeves (8 p.m., Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts, $45 to $54). The multiple-Grammy-winning Detroit native is one of the preeminent jazz vocalists in the world. Her latest album, 2013’s Beautiful Life, features her reinterpreting songs by everyone from Fleetwood Mac to Bob Marley. Bobby Bazini (9 and 11 p.m., TD Stage, Jeanne-Mance St. and de Maisonneuve Blvd., free). The Junonominated soul-pop singer from the Laurentian town of Mont-Laurier recently released his sophomore album, Where I Belong, recorded in California with A-list producer Larry Klein.
For tickets and more information, visit montrealjazzfest.com. All prices include taxes. THE GAZETTE