The Montreux Years label is on a dedicated mission: to unearth, rejuvenate, and share the monumental performances that have graced the Montreux Jazz Festival’s stage over its illustrious 55-year history. It’s a sonic archaeological journey, delving into the treasure trove of legendary artists who have illuminated the festival with their artistry. Imagine discovering rare and never-before-released recordings from the likes of Nina Simone, Etta James and Muddy Waters, alongside snapshots of the festival’s vibrant history. The label isn’t just reissuing albums; they’re resurrecting emotions, memories, and the sheer energy that pulsated through those moments in time. It’s a celebration of artistry, a nod to history, and a gift to every music lover who wants to travel back in time and experience these iconic performances in the highest sonic fidelity possible. Each collection will be accompanied by exclusive liner notes and previously unseen photography. 

Let’s take a look at some of the incredible records in this series…

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Etta James – The Montreux Years

Available on CD & LP

 

The Montreux Years’ is a treasure trove of timeless classics, powerful and electrifying performances and raw, soaring vocals by one of the greatest ever female vocalists. The collection, featuring recordings from James’ Montreux Jazz Festival concerts in 1977, 1978, 1989 1990 and 1993, encapsulates and reflects Etta’s dynamic artistry and long-lasting impact. Spanning performances from across three decades, ‘Etta James: The Montreux Years’ offers deeply personal and intimate snapshots into James’ acclaimed musical journey, highlights and her phenomenal career.

From one of Etta James’ earliest successes, the infectious and endlessly elegant Something’s Got A Hold On Me, a medley that consist of At Last, Trust In Me and Sunday Kind of Love, which is a fusion of highlights from the early 60s, to the raw and emotional I’d Rather Go Blind and soulful horn-driven Tell Mama. The collection closes with Baby What You Want Me To Do, James’ homage to Jimmy Reed and the encore of her 1978 concert.

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Dr. John – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

The audio has Expertly restored and remastered in superlative HD audio; The Montreux Years is released on superior audiophile heavy weight vinyl, MQA quality CD and in HD digital. The release includes brand new liner notes and rare photos from his Montreux shows.

 

1. Professor Longhair Boogie (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
2. You Ain’t Such a Much (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
3. Sick and Tired (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
4. Stack-a-Lee (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
5. Accentuate the Positive (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
6. Right Place Wrong Time (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
7. Rain (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
8. Going Back to New Orleans (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
9. Makin’ Whoopee (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
10. Big Chief (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
11. In a Sentimental Mood / Mississippi Mud / Happy Hard Times (Medley) (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
12. Love for Sale (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
13. Let the Good Times Roll (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
14. Good Night Irene (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)

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Nina Simone – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

Nina Simone’s story from the late sixties to the nineties can be told through her legendary performances in Montreux. Taking to the Montreux stage for the first time on 16 June 1968 for the festival’s second edition, Simone built a lasting relationship with Montreux Jazz Festival and its Creator and Founder Claude Nobs, which uniqueness, trust and electricity can be clearly felt on the recordings. Simone’s multi-faceted and radical story is laid bare on ‘Nina Simone: The Montreux Years’. From Nina’s glorious and emotional 1968 performance to her fiery and unpredictable concert in 1976, one of the festival’s most remarkable performances ever witnessed, the collection includes recordings from all of her five legendary Montreux concerts – 1968, 1976, 1981, 1987 and 1990.

Featuring rare and previously unreleased material from Claude Nobs’ private collection, Nina Simone devotees worldwide will be thrilled by the inclusion of the powerful I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, poignant and fearless Four Women and Simone’s hauntingly beautiful performance of Ne Me Quitte Pas. A spine-tingling version of Janis Ian’s searing and potent Stars, which Simone covered for the very first time during her 1976 Montreux performance, sits alongside her bold and electrifying re imagine of Bob Marley’s ballad No Woman No Cry in 1990. The collection closes with the encore of Nina Simone’s final Montreux Jazz Festival concert and one of Simone’s most-loved and best-known recordings, the exuberant My Baby Just Cares For Me, showcasing the deep and multidimensional facets of Simone’s life and music.

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John McLaughlin – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

Curated and compiled by John McLaughlin; a collection of his finest performances from 6 legendary concerts (5 concerts on the CD format) at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1978 and 2016. Expertly restored and remastered in superlative HD audio; The Montreux Years is released on superior audiophile heavy weight vinyl, MQA quality CD and in HD digital.

 

Includes liner notes by John McLaughlin.

 

1. Radio Activity (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1984)
2. Nostalgia (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1984)
3. Acid Jazz (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1998)
4. David (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1987)
5. Sing Me Softly of the Blues (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1995)
6. Florianapolis (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1987)
7. El Hombre Que Sabià (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2016)

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Marianne Faithful – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

The magnificent and incomparable Marianne Faithfull has performed five legendary concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1995 and 2009. Each of these historic concerts were recorded. Marianne Faithfull’s name is synonymous with the authenticity, artistry and individuality of the festival and this collection is a celebration of her unique talent.

 

1. Madame George (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 10th July 1995)
2. Broken English (Recorded live at Miles Davis Hall 13th July 2009)
3. Times Square (Recorded live at Auditorium Stavinski 11th July 2002)
4. Guilt (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 3rd July 1999)
5. Song For Nico (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 11th July 2002)
6. Come Stay With Me (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 3rd July 1999)
7. Sister Morphine (Recorded live at Casino Barrière 6th July 2005)
8. She (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 10th July 1995)
9. Hold On Hold On (Recorded live at Miles Davis Hall 13th July 2009)
10. Solitude (Recorded live at Miles Davis Hall 13th July 2009)
11. Working Class Hero (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 3rd July 1999)
12. Tower Song (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 3rd July 1999)
13. Strange Weather (Recorded live at Casino Barrière 6th July 2005)
14. Why D’ya Do It (Recorded live at Auditorium Stravinski 10th July 1995)

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Muddy Waters – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

The magnificent and incomparable Muddy Waters performed 3 legendary concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival throughout the 1970s. Each of these historic concerts were recorded. The Montreux Years collection will bring together for the first time, unheard since the original recording.

1. Nobody Knows Chicago Like I Do (Live at Casino Montreux 23rd July 1977)
2. Mannish Boy (live at Congrés Montreux 28th June 1974)
3. Long Distance Call (live at Montreux Pavillion 17th June 1972)
4. Rollin’ And Tumblin’ (live at Montreux Pavillion 17th June 1972)
5. Country Jail (live at Montreux Pavillion 17th June 1972)
6. Got My Mojo Working (live at Casino Montreux 23rd July 1977)
7. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man (live at Casino Montreux 23rd July 1977)
8. I’m Ready (live at Congrés Montreux 28th June 1974)
9. Still A Fool (live at Casino Montreux 23rd July 1977)
10. Trouble No More (live at Casino Montreux 23rd July 1977)
11. Rosalie (live at Montreux Pavillion 17th June 1972)
12. Rock Me Baby (live at Montreux Pavillion 17th June 1972)
13. Same Thing (live at Congrés Montreux 28th June 1974)
14. Howlin’ Wolf (live at Casino Montreux 23rd July 1977)
15. Can’t Get No Grindin’ (live at Casino Montreux 23rd July 1977)

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Mccoy Tyner – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

A collection of some of McCoy Tyner’s best Montreux Jazz Festival live performances!

The audio has Expertly restored and remastered in superlative HD audio; The Montreux Years is released on superior audiophile heavy weight vinyl, MQA quality CD and in HD digital. The release includes brand new liner notes and rare photos from his Montreux shows.

 

1. Latino Suite (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1986) 
2. Eternally Yours (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1981) 
3. Fly with the Wind (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2009) 
4. Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1981) 
5. Ask Me Now (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1986) 
6. African Village (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2009) 
7. Ballad for Aisha (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2009) 

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Paco De Lucia – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

A showcase of Paco De Lucia’s mesmerising Montreux Jazz Festival live performances between 1984 to 2012.

The audio has Expertly restored and remastered in superlative HD audio; The Montreux Years is released on superior audiophile heavy weight vinyl, MQA quality CD and in HD digital. The release includes brand new liner notes and rare photos from his Montreux shows.

 

1. Vámonos (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2012) 
2. La Barrosa (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2006) 
3. Solo Quiero Caminar (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1984) 
4. Alta Mar (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1984) 
5. El Tesorillo (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2006) 
6. Buana Buana King Kong (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1984) 
7. Variaciones de Minera (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2012) 
8. Zyryab (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2006) 

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Modern Jazz Quartet – The Montreux years

Available on CD & LP

 

A showcase of some of The Modern Jazz Quartet’s most iconic Montreux Jazz Festival live performances, recorded between 1985 and 1993!

The audio has Expertly restored and remastered in superlative HD audio; The Montreux Years is released on superior audiophile heavy weight vinyl, MQA quality CD and in HD digital. The release includes brand new liner notes and rare photos from his Montreux shows.

 

1. Ko-Ko (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1989) 
2. A Day in Dubrovnik (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1989) 
3. Django (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1990) 
4. Blues in A Minor (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 
5. Bags’ Groove (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1985) 
6. The Golden Striker (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1993) 
7. One Never Knows (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1987) 
8. Le Cannet (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1985) 
9. Nature Boy (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1985) 
10. Rockin’ in Rhythm (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1987) 
11. True Blues (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 1990) 

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Modern Jazz Quartet – Chick Corea

Available on CD & LP

 

A collection of the finest Chick Corea performances from 7 legendary performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, spanning 29 years from 1981 to 2010.

Expertly restored and remastered in superlative HD audio; The Montreux Years is released on superior audiophile heavy weight vinyl, MQA quality CD and in HD digital.

 

1. Fingerprints (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2001)
2. Bud Powell (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2010)
3. Quartet No. 2 (Pt. 1) (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1988)
4. Interlude (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2004)
5. Who’s Inside the Piano (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)
6. Dignity (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2001)
7. America (Continents Pt. 4) (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 2006)
8. New Waltz (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)

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