For almost half a century, lovers of jazz, soul, rock and roll have been flocking to the picturesque town of Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. This is where the famous music festival takes place.
Musicians and listeners are welcomed in Montreux every year at the beginning of July. Despite the declared jazz orientation, the stylistic boundaries of the festival are extremely blurred. Rock icons such as Bob Dylan, BB King, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa have performed here. And, of course, jazz masters who still remain idols: Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Oscar Peterson and many others. Deep Purlpe's song "Smoke On The Water" is believed to have been inspired by the event at the Montreux Festival. Then the stage lit up, and smoke spread on the surface of Lake Geneva.
Two hundred thousand people come to the festival. The event covers the entire city. Several scenes work at the same time. "Jazz ships" with musicians on board float on the lake. Jazz sounds can also be heard on special trains. At the festival, not only renowned musicians, but also beginners present their creativity. Festival guests can participate in various competitions, dance master classes, game libraries, which are held in great numbers in Montreux at this time.
Quite a few sites work for free, for everyone. Tickets for the main concerts go to the lucky ones. The main action takes place in large halls: Miles Davis Hall and Stravinsky Hall, named after great musicians. Those wishing to get to the gala concert will have to pay from three thousand in terms of Russian rubles.
However, if you would like to purchase something during the festival, take the trouble to change the money. No, not in euros or dollars: you will have to pay with … jazz. This is the name of the “currency” that circulates at the festival. This joke was invented by the founding father of this great musical event, Claude Nobs.
