I’ve added a new category to the blog called Montreal art, photography and culture and I’ll use it to cover some of the cooler events in this festival city that I call home. Even if you can’t make it to Montreal’s world class festivals, hopefully this new photography blog category can turn you on to something new.

This week the world famous Montreal International Jazz festival is in town and it features hundreds of world class musical acts and street performances. The Jazz festival is one of the best festivals in our city and I attend almost every year. This year a friend of mine, Montreal Culture Guy Chris ‘Zeke’ hand, invited me to see a 30 piece Chicago Hipster marching band called Mucca Pazza. They were so fab that I saw them twice. Had I had more time I would have gone again.

This band INSTANTLY makes you smile and makes your brain release endorphins. Just try not to smile when you see them, I dare you!  Instead of taking Prozac, just watch Mucca Pazza.

The music is a jazz-based fusion to my ear and is performed extremely well —  in  ‘we do not take ourselves seriously for even a nanosecond’ disco meets the civil war costuming. The choreography is crazy fun as well with cheerleaders literally thrown into the mix. Did I say this is the most fun I’ve had at the  Montreal Jazz fest in years? Well it is!

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest