Louis Metcalfe's International Band at Café St-Michel
Dublin Core
Title
Louis Metcalfe's International Band at Café St-Michel
Subject
Louis Metcalf
Description
In 1946, Louis Metcalf, a trumpet player who had been a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra in the late 1920s, relocated to Montréal. He formed the Louis Metcalf International Band, which quickly became a cornerstone of the city’s jazz scene and is widely recognized as the first band in Montréal to play the emerging style of bebop.
Bebop was a style of jazz that emerged in the 1940s, characterized by fast tempos, complex chord progressions, and improvisation. Unlike earlier jazz styles that focused on danceable rhythms and popular entertainment, bebop emphasized musical innovation, creativity, and individual expression. It created a shift toward jazz as an art form, where musicians could explore new harmonic and melodic ideas.
Metcalf’s International Band was notable not only for its music but also for its social impact. The ensemble brought together musicians from multi-ethnic backgrounds, reflecting Metcalf’s vision of a more democratic music genre and using jazz to break down racial barriers.
Starting in 1946, the band led a four-year residency at the Café Saint-Michel. With Metcalf’s orchestra prominently featured on its posters, the café became the most famous jazz club in the country and a central hub of Montréal’s nightlife
Bebop was a style of jazz that emerged in the 1940s, characterized by fast tempos, complex chord progressions, and improvisation. Unlike earlier jazz styles that focused on danceable rhythms and popular entertainment, bebop emphasized musical innovation, creativity, and individual expression. It created a shift toward jazz as an art form, where musicians could explore new harmonic and melodic ideas.
Metcalf’s International Band was notable not only for its music but also for its social impact. The ensemble brought together musicians from multi-ethnic backgrounds, reflecting Metcalf’s vision of a more democratic music genre and using jazz to break down racial barriers.
Starting in 1946, the band led a four-year residency at the Café Saint-Michel. With Metcalf’s orchestra prominently featured on its posters, the café became the most famous jazz club in the country and a central hub of Montréal’s nightlife
Creator
Louis Jaques
Source
Louis Metcalfe's International Band at Café St-Michel, 1940-1949, P0088-02-03, Herb Johnson fonds, Concordia University's Archives and Special Collections, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publisher
Concordia University's Archives and Special Collections
Date
1940-1949
Contributor
Concordia University's Archives and Special Collections
Rights
Concordia University's Archives and Special Collections
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photo
Files
Citation
Louis Jaques, “Louis Metcalfe's International Band at Café St-Michel,” Black Canadian History Exhibit, accessed December 5, 2025, http://omeka.uottawa.ca/mathieu-black-canadian-history-exhibit/items/show/378.