Soundtrack to the Revolution: Free Jazz and Leftist Nationalism in Quebec 1967-1975

“I am a revolutionary first, a musician second. Instead of a machine gun, I have a trumpet,” explained Yves Charbonneau, co-founder of the Montreal-based group Jazz Libre, in May of 1969.

Upbeat excitement resonated throughout Montreal and across the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec in the wake of the Quiet Revolution and in the immediate aftermath of Expo 67, the highlight of Canada’s Centennial celebrations. Yet at the time, the city was also a hub of discordant politics, many of which were about the promises of various types of leftism and their intersection with nationalism. Cultural workers—individuals, groups, and their networks—participated actively in these debates, prompting new forms of communication, participation, and organization to catalyze all kinds of evocative solidarities.

In telling the story of Jazz Libre, Soundtrack to the Revolution reveals the meaningful role that the art of spontaneity played in the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. It traces the path taken by Jazz Libre—a collective of improvisers who embraced free jazz to help legitimize the efforts of the Quebec left to situate its nationalist aspirations within global anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist movements. Their many initiatives (concert forums aimed at students and workers, a self-governing arts summer camp in Val-David, north of Montreal, a socialist commune in the Eastern Townships as well as an experimental cultural centre in Old Montreal) were all oriented toward the convergence of protest movements shaking Quebec. Jazz Libre’s fate was, as a result, irreversibly tied to the leftist independence movement—a hodgepodge of groups in search of possible futures during these pivotal decades.

Reviews:

“By combining two niche but eminently juicy subjects, Fillion’s book makes for a memorable read … Soundtrack to the Revolution is a book that makes you wonder why we aren’t more aware of the depth and intensity of our history. Why are these captivating episodes, full of rogue dreamers, eccentric idealists, and political intrigue, not better known?” -Alexander Hackett, Montreal Review of Books

“Eric Fillion tells Jazz Libre’s intriguing story, often omitted from studies of the period … Soundtrack to the Revolution moves along at a brisk pace.” –Literary Review of Canada