Jazz Festival In Name Only

Maybe I'm too literal a guy. I just don't see the connection between the Jazz festival and Robert Plant; let alone honoring the rock legend of Led Zeppelin fame.

Same with Sade winning the Ella Fitzgerald award.

The Jazz fest always had a blues component (the line between blues and rock is tighter than rock and jazz), so I reckon it's the only connection I see between Plant and the festival given the role the blues played in the music of Zeppelin. 

It's years I don't go to the Jazz festival. Aside from the insane amount of people crammed in the streets, the outdoors shows are no longer pure jazz like they once were. Once upon a time you could walk along and see awesome free jazz acts live. Now all the actual major jazz acts are indoor commanding high prices while almost any genre of music are found in the outdoor shows. 

A few years back a friend and I went to see Ron Sexsmith (whom I've met on a number of occasions to the point I'd have no problem going up to him without fear of not being recognized. Superb individual) during the Jazz fest and even he had to ask what was the connection between his music and jazz. He joked that he came nonetheless because he could use the exposure and loved Montreal.

Just call it the International Music Festival and be done with it already.