The Great Uncles of the Revolution, a quartet led by bassist Andrew Downing, have won the Grand Prix de Jazz General Motors at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, which concluded yesterday.
The juried competition involved 10 of the Canadian bands that performed during the festival. The winner, announced on Saturday, receives $5,000 and future recording and performing opportunities. Two of the Great Uncles are from Toronto, Downing and trumpeter Kevin Turcotte, and two are from Vancouver, violinist Jesse Zubot and guitarist Steve Dawson. Montreal pianist Dan Thouin won the $3,000 Prix Etoiles Galaxie for his composition Rituel.