The Montreux Jazz Festival (formerly Festival de Jazz Montreux and Festival International de Jazz Montreux) is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. In 1995, the author went to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland for the first time - and was so captivated by the experience that he returned another 12 times. During his Montreux years, he explored beguiling music of differing shades and colors; photographed beautiful landscapes and varied places; made friends and spoke with world-class musicians; and discovered more about himself on a journey that reached its zenith in its final year. The author tells you of his passions for music and traveling, and how they changed his life.