Music You Can Hear Only at FIMAV 42

Groups and Projects to be Heard Only at FIMAV

(Newsletter 4 March 2026)

This year, FIMAV presents several projects that have never been performed in Quebec, Canada, or even in North America. Here are just some of the premieres to be featured at the 42nd edition.

حمد [Ahmed] « Play Monk »

The brilliant European quartet, أحمد [Ahmed], will present music from their brand-new record (to be released in April), Play Monk (Otoroku Records), featuring improvisations on works by Thelonious Monk.

Rafael Toral « Guitar Concert »

Portuguese composer Rafael Toral, best known for his work in ambient and electronic music, plays lush, dreamlike jazz standards featured on his latest recording, Traveling Light (Drag City Records), for the first time in North America.

Yves Charuest / John Edwards / Mark Sanders

One of Quebec’s eminent improvisers, alto saxophonist Yves Charuest, presents the first North American concert with the powerhouse UK rhythm section of John Edwards and Mark Sanders, renewing their collaboration during Charuest’s residency in London in 2017.

Sarah Pagé & No Hay Banda « Voda »

Acclaimed harpist and composer, Sarah Pagé released the studio recording, Voda, in 2023. At FIMAV, she will premiere the live version, a collaboration with the award-winning Montreal contemporary music ensemble, No Hay Banda.

Friendly Rich « Les Oiseaux de Marsville »

The prolific and eccentric Ontario composer, Friendly Rich Marsella, will present the world-premiere French version of his astonishing piece for orchestrion, The Birds of Marsville, fun for all ages and performed for free four times during FIMAV.

Darius Jones « Legend of E’boi » & « fLuXkit Vancouver »

American composer, saxophonist, and philosopher Darius Jones presents two major projects for the first time in Quebec, both featuring Gerald Cleaver (drums) and the latter with members of Josh Zubot Strings, also playing at FIMAV.

Artistic Vision 2026

“At FIMAV 42 you can hear world-class artists from Quebec, Canada, and abroad in formal settings with which long-time festival audiences will be familiar. Darius Jones, Pat Thomas, Rafael Toral, Amirtha Kidambi, and Eric Chenaux, for example, have never played FIMAV before. With our additional series of free informal concerts and satellite event, audiences will have different kinds of access to many of them as well. This edition will be ‘up close and personal’ and we think it will be more festive because of it!”

-Scott Thomson, Artistic Director

Single tickets on sale 18 March

If you haven’t already purchased your FIMAV Passport, stay tuned for our next newsletter, which will announce regular ticket sales for each of this year’s concerts.