Kicking off with live albums from Nina Simone and Etta James, The Montreux Years collections will be available in multiple-format configurations, including double LP and two-disc CD editions. Each collection will be accompanied by exclusive liner notes and previously unseen photography.

Naturally, these feature sublime collections of the musical icons' finest Montreux Jazz Festival performances, including previously unreleased material. The audio will also be available on digital download and streaming services and in full master quality on TIDAL.

We are told to expect legendary performances by the world's most iconic artists alongside rare and never-before-released recordings from the festival's rich 55-year history. Furthermore, the albums have been mastered by Tony Cousins at London's illustrious Metropolis Studios, incorporating MQA to capture the original sound of these special live performances.

Taking to the Montreux stage for the first time on June 16th 1968, for the festival's second edition, Nina Simone built a lasting relationship with Montreux Jazz Festival along with its Creator and Director, Claude Nobs. Apparently, this unique trust and electricity can be clearly felt on the recordings.

Simone's multi-faceted and radical story is laid bare on Nina Simone: The Montreux Years. From Nina's glorious and emotional 1968 performance to her fiery and unpredictable concert in 1976, one of the festival's most remarkable performances ever witnessed, the collection includes recordings from her five legendary Montreux concerts – 1968, 1976, 1981, 1987 and 1990.

Similarly, Etta James: The Montreux Years is a treasure trove of timeless classics, powerful and electrifying performances and raw, soaring vocals by one of the greatest ever female vocalists. The collection, featuring recordings from James' live at Montreux concerts in 1977, 1978, 1989, 1990 and 1993, encapsulates and reflects Etta's dynamic artistry and long-lasting impact. Spanning performances from across three decades, Etta James: The Montreux Years offers profoundly personal and intimate snapshots into James' acclaimed musical journey, highlights and her phenomenal career.

Thierry Amsallem, Claude Nobs' Universal Legatee, Chair/CEO of Montreux Sounds and Chair of Claude Nobs Foundation, told StereoNET:

The Montreux Jazz Festival has always been a leading showcase for the international music scene, as well as a meeting place for musicians and music lovers. The magic of Montreux lay in the encounters between musicians. There were unique events that will never be repeated. The idea was to allow artists to get off the beaten track and avoid replaying their usual repertoire. But here, we treated them like royalty and offered them the best conditions in the world, in terms of sound quality and audio-visual recording technology.

Mathieu Jaton, CEO of the Montreux Jazz Festival, added:

I am thrilled to be able to continue the fabulous history of albums recorded at Montreux Jazz Festival with the new collection The Montreux Years. And who better to launch this series than the incredible Etta James and Nina Simone, who both left their mark on the Festival! I am especially pleased that these albums will be released both in digital and analogue formats. I have always thought of the Montreux Jazz Festival as the vinyl of festivals because of its exceptional listening quality and the authentic feeling it gives to music lovers. The Festival has also always been at the forefront of new audio-visual technologies. This is totally in line with our current strategy of a hybrid model between events and digital content.

Nina Simone: The Montreux Years and Etta James: The Montreux Years are the first releases of Montreux Jazz Festival and BMG's upcoming multi-format live album collection series. More "The Montreux Years" releases are soon to be announced.

Nina Simone: The Montreux Years and Etta James: The Montreux Years will be available from Friday, May 28th 2021, with pre-orders being taken now.