Monteral, Mar 06: Norah Jones, Ray Charles, Mark Knopfler and Ben Harper will headline the 24th edition of the Montreal Jazz Festival, one of the world's largest musical gatherings, organizers said on Wednesday. The festival, which overtakes Montreal's downtown core, runs June 26 to July 6.
Jones, the 23-year-old jazz, country and folk-inspired newcomer who won eight Grammy Awards last month, will perform on July 2, while rhythm-and-blues elder statesman Charles and his big band appear June 26.

Guitarist Harper returns to Montreal on July 2 to present his new album "Diamonds On The Inside."
Singer Bobby McFerrin is set to perform on June 28, and guitar whiz Knopfler, former leader of Dire Straits, will unveil tunes from his new album "The Ragpicker's Dream" on July 4.
Festival organizers have long plucked artists from outside the traditional jazz idiom as a draw to the event.
Last year's Montreal Jazz Festival drew 2 million fans in this mainly French-speaking city of 3.5 million people.
Thrown into the mix are usually some 350 outdoor events and 150 indoor ticketed concerts. Styles as diverse as salsa, blues and ska characterize the festival.

Other performers booked this year include saxophonist Wayne Shorter, who will be accompanied by Danilo Perez, Brian Blades and John Patitucci. Bassist Dave Holland's big band is on tap, as well as trumpeter Roy Hargrove and his RH Factor band, and Joe Zawinul, keyboardist and former leader of Weather Report, the 1970s fusion supergroup that also featured Shorter.

Bureau Report