by Montreal has a strong jazz scene. With its world-renowned festival, the city is home to a wealth of talent that can be found in the various jazz bars that populate it. Making a living from this style of music may seem difficult, but it’s not impossible, thanks to Montreal’s jazz community.
“That’s my income right now, […] it pays my rent”, says Dani, aka Daniela Carbert, an independent musician and leader of the group Basement Brass. This jazz group performs in Quebec and Canada, but particularly in Montreal bars like Turbo Haüs, where they jam every last Wednesday of the month.
They meet many musicians, professional and amateur, who come to share their love of music. There’s a strong community spirit here: “It’s community-based, everyone knows everyone else, everyone has a good time together, everyone works and plays together, and everyone’s friends,” she tells us. Dani, who started out over 10 years ago and studied at McGill for three years, now plays with her band at Montreal’s biggest jam night, and travels as far as Ottawa, Ontario, to perform with her trumpet.
“It’s base on the community”
In Quebec, it’s still difficult for many artists to make a living from their music, and few are popular enough to earn enough income.
But Montreal’s jazz scene allows some of its independent artists to make a living from their passions.
Jazz helps Dani pay the rent today, by sharing her passion for music and building a close-knit community.
