With summer heat comes the inevitable onslaught of jazz festivals. But if you're not in the mood for middle of the road, staid jazz, and want something with a razor sharp edge, there is a little festival buried in the heart of Quebec. It has a dazzling international reputation as a true, original gathering of driven musicians and eager listeners.

Nestled between Montreal and Quebec City, Victoriaville is best known as a hockey stick industry town. It is a quaint little village. A mere dot on the map. But once a year, on the long Victoria Day weekend (this is Canada, doncha know?) the town is overrun with avant jazz aficionados and the cream of the experimental crowd. This year's festival, running from May 17th to 21st, boasts possibly the strongest line-up ever offered.

As usual the hip New York, Knitting Factory scene is well represented with the likes of John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Fred Frith, Bill Laswell and Dave Douglas. Besides the closing concert by the quartet of Zorn, Frith, Laswell and Dave Lombard, the event highlight is sure to be Zorn's Bar Khoba ensemble, featuring Greg Cohen, Joey Baron, Mark Feldman and Marc Ribot. Not since Zorn blew the hockey rink down with Masada a couple of years back has there been this type of anticipation. Mixing Jewish melodies with South American rhythms in an eclectic jazz format works great on record, and should be devastating live, especially with the players involved.

A truly international calling card, Victo attracts acts from all over. Japan, Holland, Czech Republic, France, Spain, England and Switzerland are all represented alongside North America. As usual members of Sonic Youth are coming up with their guitars. Kim Gordon teams with DJ Olive, Jim O'Rourke and drumming demon Ikue Mori in what will no doubt be a daring sound collage spectacle, while Thurston Moore will battle Keijo Haino in a decibel sprint. It is such diverse collaborations that make this a truly unique musical experience; one off meetings between pioneers that will never be duplicated.

Most of these concerts are recorded and released on the Victo label for posterity, but there's nothing like being there. Highlights from years past: Bill Frisell with the dexterous Joey Baron accompany a Buster Keaton film; Marc Ribot alternately attacking and romancing his guitar in an afternoon show; Lee Renaldo and William Hooker's blistering and unrelenting hour long aural assault; Gastr Del Sol's cosy campfire love in at the gym; and of course the masterful Masada cooking like no quartet should. If you're wondering about the venues, they range from hockey rinks (yes that was not a fib), to the local high school gym to the cinema theatre. All are transformed into intimate night club settings, using long black curtains and wondrous, oversized paintings. Each year an artist is commissioned to bring a visual compliment to the proceedings, and those are always stunning. See you there.

A complete schedule, directions and accommodation information is available at: www.fimav.qc.ca.

(C) 2001 - John Sekerka