Hommage to Nesuhi Ertegun

Joining his brother Ahmet in the 50s at Atlantic Records, Nesuhi Ertegun has contracted and produced artists as different as Sergio Mendes, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Charles Mingus, Roberta Flack, Yusef Lateef, Herbie Mann and Charles Lloyd, which has pushed Atlantic to one of the most important jazz labels worldwide.

Due to Nesuhi, the Montreux Jazz Festival got European premieres of Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin. Truly a Man of the Golden Age, Nesuhi supported the Festival from the beginning until his death in 1989, where he in fact had to produce a big concert at Montreux. Reflecting the eclecticism of Nesuhi, the evening event of July 2nd will be continued on stage at Auditorium Stravinski : - Dual piano play by Geroge Duke and Joe Sample with Randy Crawford
- Ornette Coleman for an exclusive concert in Europe
- The New Orleans All Stars with Wycliff Gordon (tb), Evan Christopher (clarinette), Eddy Davis (banjo) and Conal Folkes (b, p)
- Sergio Mendes for the first time at Montreux

Hommage to Arif Mardin

In addition to the normal program at the Casino Barrière on July 1, George Duke. Klaus Doldinger and Chaka Khan will pay tribute to Arif Mardin (06.26.06 New York City), who have been produced by him during their careers. It was in 1977 when Arif produced a whole week at Montreux with some Atlantic artists such as Average White Band, Ben E King, Herbie Mann, Luther Vandross and Etta James. Shortly after, he conducted with the WDR big band the world premiere of a suite for big orchestra and flamenco and jazz musicians. Finally, he arranged to evening events with Atlantic All Stars, Klaus Doldinger, Gerald Allbright, Charles Lloyd and Eddie Harris.

As a producer, Arif crested in music history as he repeatingly obtained enormous disc sales figures. Nobody will forget his kindness and his extraordiany charism as well as his talent to interblend world music with jazz.

Homage to Ahmet Ertegun at the opening of the 40th Montreux Jazz Festival

On June 30, the Montreux Jazz Festival will pay tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, who founded the mystic record label Atlantic in 1947. Between the first artists under contract and produced by Ahmet Ertegun we just mention Lavern Baker, Solomon Burke, Ben E King, Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, followed by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Picket and Roberta Flack. Ahmet Ertegun subsequently signed with The Rolling Stones, Crosby Stills Sash and Young, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Vanilla Fudge, Eric Clapton, Bad Company and The Allman Brothers as well as Emerson Lake and Palmer and Iron Butterfly. The unique panorama of the extraordinary diversity of promoted artists and products by Ahmet Ertegun is rounded off by the disc and film Woodstock

On the show of June 30, as it has been already announced at the first printing of the Festival, there are Atlantic legends such as The McCann and The Soul Survivors with Cornell Dupree, Ronnie Cuber, Jerry Jemmott and Buddy Williams, Ben E King and Solomon Burke. Following, between the artists who recently signed with Ahmet, you can find Robert Plant, Kid Rock, George Duke. Chic with Nile Rodgers. Bette Midler and Jeff Beck, who will interpret together the song « Fever », will not join Montreux as Bette Midler is retained by the turning of a film in Hollywood. Jimmy Page will not join the show due to a surgery. But we are glad to announce that Stevie Nicks, singer of Fleetwood Mac, Steve Winwood and at the last moment Chaka Khan decided to join the extraordinary line-up of this unique evening.

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