The week of the sponsorship

Just a day after George Wein announced that CareFusion will be the title sponsor for his jazz festivals in Newport starting this year and New York starting in 2010, The Montreal International Jazz Festival today announced that it has a new presenting sponsor.

TD Financial Group (Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries) is stepping up to succeed longtime primary sponsor General Motors. GM Canada is bowing out this year, not surprising given the financial pain felt throughout the auto industry. The TD Canada Trust presenting sponsorship begins with next year's 31st annual Montreal event.

TD has been a Montreal International Jazz Festival sponsor since 2004, most visibly at the Club Jazz TD Canada Trust outdoor stage... >

Interestingly, TD has a branch office in the Maison du Festival Rio Tinto Alcan, the festival organization's own new building (the former Blumenthal Building) at the corner of Bleury and St. Catherine Street West, overlooking the festival site.

And how about the timing of these developments. George Wein and his Newport All-Stars will perform at Montreal tomorrow night in what is billed as a tribute to the father of all jazz festivals. Wein will be joined by Lew Tabackin, Randy Sandke, Howard Alden, Peter Washington and Lewis Nash for the Theatre Jean-Duceppe music event.