Brian Wilson, Joe Jackson and Kool & the Gang among the music legends at this year’s jazz festival

The Montreal International Jazz Festival is not just for jazz lovers; that was the main lesson I learned when I attended my first show nearly 30 years ago, and was especially so when I started covering the festival for my Montreal Times column back in 2008.

For over the past eight festivals, I have had the privilege to catch so many music legends – especially rock music legends – as they graced the jazz festival stage. That impressive list included Oliver Jones, Dave Brubeck, George Benson, Lyle Lovett, Ginger Baker (the drummer from the 60s British rock trio Cream), Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder, the Steve Miller Band, and Huey Lewis & the News.

For this year’s 37^th edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, which runs from June 29 to July 9, organizers at a press conference last week unveiled their massive line-up of 175 indoor shows that are divided up into 15 distinctive series. And like in past festivals, it includes its share of music legends who have racked up their share of gold records, Top 40 hit songs and Grammy Awards, and will certainly attract those baby boomers who grew up listening to their music when they originally aired on the radio or appeared at their local record store.

Here are some of the music legends that are scheduled to perform this summer:

-Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson will commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the group’s landmark album “Pet Sounds”, as he will perform songs from the album, accompanied by Blondie Chaplin and former Beach Boys bandmate Al Jardine as part of the Evenements Speciaux TD Series at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts (July 7).

-It will be a rocking celebration at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier, as legendary 70s and 80s funk band Kool & the Gang offers a night of their frenzied hits for their many fans (July 4).

-As part of the Grands Concerts Rio Tinto Series at Theatre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts, eclectic rocker Joe Jackson (“Steppin’ Out”, “I’m the Man”) will play his unique brand of rock music that has attracted a cult following for more than 35 years (July 4).

-A night filled with the roots of hip-hop music is in store at Club Soda, as pioneer rappers The Sugarhill Gang (who had a hit in 1980 with their original rap song “Rapper’s Delight”) headlines a show that promises to be an old school rapper’s delight bash (July 2).

-And for those who enjoy listening to big band music, the 8^th edition of the Battle of the Bands will be a guaranteed musical time warp into the 1940s swing era at the Maison Symphonique de Montreal, as previous participant the Glenn Miller Orchestra faces off against newcomers the Cab Calloway Band … complete with “Minnie the Moocher” (July 9).

Tickets for these and the remaining 170 jazz festival indoor shows are now on sale. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.montrealjazzfest.com.

(This article originally appeared in the April 30, 2016 edition of the Montreal Times)