JazzFest Performers

Alberta Latin Jazz All-Stars

2011-05-13T13:45:00.002-07:00

This year’s Latin dance party returns to the newly renovated open-air Medalta site, with a band featuring Alberta’s own top talents and a fresh twist on the Latin jazz cocktail. This promises to be an unforgettable evening of great dance music. As usual, bring the whole family and those trusty lawn chairs—but be prepared to spend the evening on your feet!

With an inventive mix of instrumental, percussion, and vocal music, the group combines classic Cuban standards with Afro-Cuban song and drumming, original modern Latin jazz, and North American jazz and soul flavours. Representing cultural backgrounds from Canada, Cuba, Brazil, and Venezuela and a truly all-star line-up, the band features violinist Aldo Aguirre, Jorge Nunez on vocals and guitar, Raul Tabera on drums and timbales, Rubim de Toledo on bass, Chris Andrew on keyboards, and Luis “el Pana” Tovar on congas and percussion.

In various combinations, the members of this group have toured jazz and folk festivals across Canada to great public and critical acclaim. They have also performed in over 30 countries and have won numerous awards and nominations in Canada and internationally.

Feed your soul, body, and mind with the life-affirming energy of son, salsa, danzon, cha cha cha, rumba, timba, songo, Cubop, Afro-Latino percussion, samba, choro, and modern Latin jazz!

Listen Here

Thursday, June 23 - 7:30PM
Medalta
$25 + Esplanade S/C

Concert has been moved inside due to potential rain. Visit our Facebook page for more information.

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Alex Goodman

2011-05-13T13:45:00.001-07:00

Some of you will remember guitarist, composer, pianist, and arranger Alex Goodman playing with Brent Mah last year at the Ottoman Lounge just prior to JazzFest. Now he returns to Medicine Hat to take the lead for one of JazzFest’s late-night shows.

This young artist is certainly making his contribution to the shaping of jazz for a new generation. His music is strongly melodic and rooted in tradition, but it is also intelligent, searching, and captivating. The thoughtful compositional nature of Goodman’s music at times walks the line between classical and jazz worlds, and yet once the dust clears, there is a carefree nature that always holds an underlying sense of swing, grounding it firmly to jazz. The recipient of multiple scholarships and awards at the University of Toronto and the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, Goodman has studied performance and composition with international jazz giants Ben Monder, Wayne Krantz, Jim McNeely, and Ethan Iverson.

Goodman is a core member of the National Jazz Award–winning Ed Vokurka Jazz Violin Ensemble and plays regularly with his own band as well as with Karma Police, Building Block, the Human Project, and the Runaway Five, a jazz tribute to videogame music.

His debut album Roots was released in 2007, and his international performances include appearances in Thailand, India, Spain, and New York.

Hailed by jazz critic Peter Hum as a “genius who rocks the jazz world,” Goodman is one young musician to keep an eye on! He will be appearing with Nick Morgan on saxophones, Darcy Myronuk on piano, Dan Fortin on bass, and Maxwell Roach on drums.

Listen Here

Tuesday, June 21 - 10:30PM
The Studio Club (Esplanade Studio Theatre)
$18 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Alex Pangman

2011-05-13T13:44:00.001-07:00

JazzFest steps back to the swing era and beyond. Canada’s “sweetheart of swing” Alex Pangman grew up a couple of generations late to have sung with Teddy Wilson, but with pipes aplenty, she has the taste, talent, and historical sensibility to breathe new life into the standards of the classic jazz era.

Pangman first discovered the music of the 20’s and 30’s in her teens, through the songs of Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden and singers like Mildred Bailey, Julia Lee, and Maxine Sullivan. Since that time there has been no turning back for Pangman, who is now a scene-maker in Toronto’s clubs and concert halls and at festivals across Canada.

A superb song stylist with growing compositional chops, Pangman delivers with enthusiasm and authenticity the sounds of a bygone era when the lines between jazz, blues, and country were still blurry enough to ignore. With facets of Ella Fitzgerald, Connie Boswell, and Ruth Etting clearly discernible in Pangman’s sound, her zesty delivery and crisp, clear voice are nevertheless her own.

Her 1999 debut album They Say was produced by Jeff Healey, as was a 2001 follow-up, You Can’t Stop Me from Dreaming. Her new album, 33 (marking the era that inspires her and the age she was at the time of recording) features guest vocalists Ron Sexsmith and Denzal Sinclaire. Pangman’s unique niche and talent have earned her several recognitions, including nominations from the National Jazz Awards, a Genie for best original song, and a song featured in the opening scene of the 2003 feature film Falling Angels.

Pangman appears with her longtime band The Alleycats, comprised of Chris Banks on bass, Glen Anderson on drums, Peter Hill on piano, and Drew Jurecka on fiddle and alto sax.

Listen Here

Wednesday, June 22 - 7:30PM
The Studio Club (Esplanade Studio Theatre)
$25 + Esplanade S/C

Thursday, June 23 - Workshop - 2PM
The Studio Club (Esplanade Studio Theatre)
$5 at the door

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Aytahn Ross

2011-05-13T13:42:00.001-07:00

Medicine Hat will remember this debonair Montreal circus artist from JazzFests past: Aytahn Ross, the gentleman comic known for his elegant silliness and unpretentious skill. A great fan of jazz, Ross has performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Upstairs Jazz Club, and the National Arts Centre with Lady Kim of Sony Village Records. He has also toured with Just for Laughs and entertained celebrities, diplomats, and royalty in 13 countries. There could be no finer act to accompany our musical features!

Watch for Aytahn at the school show, the Medalta show, and the Parkade show. Knowing Aytahn, he’ll be showing up in a few other places as well...

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Battle of the Bands, featuring Kool Ray and the Hip Katz and Hippodrome

2011-05-13T13:41:00.002-07:00

Something brand new for JazzFest 2011, borrowed from a great jazz tradition: a two-band concert in the vein of the great New York ballroom contests of the 1930s. This show will feature two of southern Alberta’s best dance-party bands, set up side by side, vying for the audience’s favour in an alternating performance that is sure to edge their playing to new heights!

Now, jazz isn’t boxing, or hockey, for that matter. (Any Tigers or Hurricanes fans out there??) But it thrives almost as much on competition as camaraderie, and we all know that there’s nothing like a little friendly rivalry to bring out the best on both sides. If you’ve ever happened upon two marching bands meeting on the street in New Orleans, you’ll know that band battles are still very much alive.

Lethbridge fans—come on down the road and support your band!

The Parkade concert is already established as a Medicine Hat favourite, and this year’s is going to be a hard one to top. Bring the whole family and the lawn chairs, and don’t forget those dancing shoes! This will be a sizzling night with great music and lots of fun for all ages. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

See below for band bios.

Saturday, June 25 - 6:30PM
Downtown Bus Terminal Parkade (City Transit Terminal), lower level as back-up
FREE - bring a lawn chair.

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Bizzy & The Bee Threez

2011-05-13T13:41:00.001-07:00

Check all preconceived “organ trio” notions at the door: Bizzy and the Bee Threez are gearing up to throw it down. A Calgary all-star mashup, this group is the illegimate love child of some of Calgary’s funk, r&b, and electronic bands: URBANdivide, Mocking Shadows, and MXmissile.

Vocal stylings by Bizzy and Darren Bourne (Darren also rocks on the Hammond B3 organ) plus way down low Jae Cho on bass and Jimmy the Johnston on kit.

Thursday, June 23
Friday, June 24
Saturday, June 25
5:30-8:30PM
earls
$10 on the patio

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Ernesto Cervini

2011-05-13T13:40:00.001-07:00

Canadian drummer Ernesto Cervini has established a strong presence in the North American music scene both as sideman and band leader. Known for having a unique and deep musicality, Cervini’s style is imaginative and explosive, and his compositions stretch musical boundaries with innovation. Cervini is also an accomplished pianist and clarinetist, and his diversity has allowed him to travel extensively, performing in some of the world’s greatest concert halls and jazz clubs.

As one would expect, Cervini’s compositions are rhythmically interesting, but he is also adept at writing beautiful ballads and intricate melodic lines.

Cervini has shared the stage with a host of legendary jazz musicians, including Joe Lovana, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Cleo Laine, Eddie Daniels , Phil Nimmons, and Ranee Lee. He has opened for Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Roy Haynes, and Poncho Sachez. Currently he is drummer for the ACQ, MEM3, Strange Attractors, and Monday Off, a four-part vocal group. In addition to two CDs as leader (Here, 2006, and Little Black Bird, 2009), he has recorded albums with many other bands; Code Breaking by the Tara Davidson Quintet was recently nominated for a Juno award.

Cervini has studied at the University of Toronto and Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his master’s degree. His love for performance and education set him up well to be a force in the global jazz scene for years to come.

Joining Cervini at JazzFest will be Joel Frahm on saxophones, Adrean Farrugia on piano, and Mark Cashion on bass.

Listen Here

Wednesday, June 22 - 10:30PM
The Studio Club (Esplanade Studio Theatre)
$18 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Hal Miller

2011-05-13T13:39:00.001-07:00

Hal Miller returns to JazzFest with more vintage jazz film footage, more fascinating anecdotes and stories—just what we’ve come to expect from two previous visits by this New York–based collector.

A music historian, jazz drummer, Latin percussionist, and writer, Miller is also the owner of the largest private jazz video collection in the world—over 15,000 items. With footage that includes performances by all the greats, from Louis Armstrong to John Coltrane, Benny Goodman to Dave Brubeck, and everything in between, there is no one more qualified to set the stage for JazzFest!

Miller is director of jazz programming for Jazz Video Networks, a company that provides jazz-video material to high schools and colleges, and associate producer for Jazz Icons (volumes I, II, and III), a series of videos presenting rare concert performances of some of the most outstanding historic jazz musicians. He divides his time between touring with Carlos Santana, and sharing his video collection across North America. For years he has also served on faculty at the Skidmore Summer Jazz Institute in Saratoga.

As a writer, Miller’s liner notes have accompanied the albums of such notables as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Weather Report. His poems and liner notes also appear on numerous Santana albums, and his video footage was the backbone to the hit PBS series Ken Burns Jazz.

Monday, June 20 7PM
Tuesday, June 21 12NOON
Wednesday, June 22 12NOON
Medicine Hat Public Library Theatre
FREE

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Hilario Duran’s Latin Jazz Band with Jane Bunnett

2011-05-13T13:38:00.002-07:00

Cuban-born Hilario Durán is one of the world’s most innovative creators of Afro-Cuban music and Latin Jazz. A celebrated pianist, composer, and arranger, Durán’s compositions summon a range of styles and musical traditions, from familiar North American jazz sounds to Cuban melodies and rhythms, Afro-Cuban prayers and gospel harmonies, Flamenco-influenced melodies, and Argentinean music traditions.

He comes to Medicine Hat with an outstanding 13-piece band on a tour themed “From Cuba to Canada with Thanks,” sharing a new repertoire of Cuban-Canadian compositions and arrangements created with special guest and longtime collaborator Jane Bunnett. The show is a celebration of a 35-year musical career, the fusion of cultures, and friendship through music—exactly the spirit of our festival!

Durán’s musical career features achievements both in his homeland and in Canada, where he has lived since 1998. In 1983 he was awarded one of Cuba’s most prestigious music prizes, the Premio EGREM for Best Arranger of the Year, and in 2009 he was named one of the ten most influential Hispanic Canadians in his new homeland. Winner of two Juno awards and more nominations, over a dozen National Jazz Awards, and two Grammy nominations, Durán has performed with greats Dizzy Gillespie and Michel Legrand, and with Cuba’s legendary Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna as Chucho Valdés’s replacement. Durán is now an adjunct professor of piano and ensemble director in the jazz faculty at Humber College in Toronto.

Jane Bunnett is a distinguished Canadian soprano saxophonist, flutist, and composer who has been exploring the traditions of Afro-Cuban music and Latin jazz since her first trip to Cuba in 1982. Her music reflects a mixture of Caribbean and African elements, and universality has earned her wide recognition. She has received two Juno awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Album, as well as numerous other Juno nominations and two Grammy nominations. In 2004, she was awarded the Order of Canada for her outstanding achievements.

Performing with Durán and Bunnett are Luis Deniz on alto sax, Jeff King on tenor sax, Pol Coussee on tenor and baritone sax, Alexander Brown and Dave Dunlop on trumpet, Christopher Butcher on trombone, Francisco Luviano on bass, Ahmed Mitchel on drums, Joaquin Hidalgo on percussion, and Yailen Durán and Luis Mario Ochoa on vocals.

Listen Here

DOUBLE BILL
with Kellylee Evans

Tuesday, June 21 - 7:30PM
Esplanade Theatre - $35 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

School Show
(must be accompanied by a student)
Tuesday, June 21 - 10AM (sold out) and 11:30AM
Esplanade Theatre - Call 403-529-4857 to reserve your seats.

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Hippodrome

2011-05-13T13:38:00.001-07:00

Rock-solid rhythms, dynamite horns, and a frontline of fantastic vocalists are what you can expect from this popular Lethbridge rhythm-and-groove band. Funk, soul, disco, rhythm and blues, and yes—even some jazz!—are part of a repertoire that has had this energetic group going strong for seven years. Loaded with experienced musicians, this is a premiere dance band!

The band is Brad Brouwer on drums, Adam Mason on percussion, Paul Holden on bass, James Oldenburg on guitar, and Don Ponech on keyboards; the horn section is filled by Ryan Heseltine on sax, Don Robb on trumpet, and Sarah Harmon on trombone. Providing vocals are Juran Greene, Erica Hunt, and Shawna Romolliwa.

Listen Here

Saturday, June 25 - 6:30PM
Downtown Bus Terminal Parkade (City Transit Terminal), lowerlevel as back-up
FREE

Bring a lawn chair.

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Hutchinson Andrew Trio

2011-05-13T13:37:00.001-07:00

One of our favourite ensembles is back, and we’re putting them in a brand new venue setting for JazzFest—the lobby of the Esplanade. The mastermind of theatre technician Phil Stark, this setting promises to bring new levels of intimacy and ambiance as one of western Canada’s top trios brings this architecturally beautiful space to life.

Formed in 2005, Hutchinson Andrew Trio has quickly gained recognition across the country as representative of the new wave of young jazz giants. Last in Medicine Hat backing up the iconic Lee Konitz, Hutchinson Andrew have been on CKUA’s top 10 list, #3 on Calgary’s CJSW radio, and on regular rotation on CBC radio. The CBC recorded them live in 2006, and their inaugural album Lost but not Forgotten received a Western Canadian Music Award nomination. The band competed for the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award and GM Grand Prix Award on the mainstage of the Montreal Jazz Festival. Their second album, Music Box, was released to rave reviews across the country.

Double bassist Kodi Hutchinson has established himself as one of the top bassists in Western Canada. He has worked with the likes of P.J. Perry, Dave Restivo, Hugh Fraser, Ingrid Jensin, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.

Pianist Chris Andrew is one of the busiest musicians in Alberta. He was recently honoured with the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award. He has played with the likes of Joshua Redman, Sonny Fortune, Bud Shank, Joe LaBarbera, and Paquito D’Rivera.

Drummer Karl Schwonik has been to Medicine Hat several times as leader of his own ensemble. Among other awards, his CD Visions from the Farm was nominated for a 2010 Western Canadian Music Award and won a DownBeat magazine composition award. Schwonik has been featured on CBC Radio 2 as part of a series on Canada’s music future as well as on Canada Live.

Perennial favourites in Medicine Hat, The Hutchinson Andrew Trio make a welcome return for a feature concert on our late-night series. Come see what Phil cooks up in the lobby, enjoy a late-night beverage, and experience the richness of this dynamic trio.

Listen Here

Friday, June 24 - 10:30PM
Esplanade Lobby (club setting) - $18 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Jacek Kochan

2011-05-13T13:36:00.001-07:00

This quartet of leading Canadian musicians was conceived 20 years ago as a trio presenting live interpretations of Kochan’s compositions with guest artists. Boundless, exploratory, intelligently reflective—this is music that nudges jazz into the next generation. The current quartet met in 2009 and, in Kochan’s words, is the personification of the music he hears in his head.

Drummer Jacek Kochan began his musical career in jazz, funk, and r&b bands in New York, where he also composed for choirs and orchestras and played ethnic music. In Toronto he performed and recorded with artists like John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Pat Labarbera, Lorne Lofsky, and Dave Restivo. Since 1995 he has been composing, playing, touring, and recording music in Europe with artists like Dave Liebman, Joey Calderazzo, Seamus Blake, and many more. Kochan has recorded 17 CDs on seven different labels in Canada, Austria, Germany, Poland, and Japan, and has performed at festivals and venues in almost every country of Europe.

Dave Restivo is a highly influential jazz artist and is hailed as “one of the most exceptional jazz pianists of his generation that Canada has produced” (Edmonton Journal). Restivo is a three-time winner of the National Jazz Awards Pianist of the Year honour. He currently teaches at Humber College and the University of Toronto.

Canadian double bassist Chris Jennings has been based in Paris since 2002 and established himself as double bassist with guitarist Nguyen Lê’s New Quartet. A performer, composer, leader, arranger, and teacher, Jennings plays a wide variety of musical genres and styles on both upright and electric basses and leads the Chris Jennings Trio. Jennings studied jazz performance at the University of Toronto and earned his master’s degree in music from the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, Holland.

Seamus Blake is a New York–based tenor saxophonist, composer, proponent of contemporary jazz, and one of the most in-demand tenor men in the world. His music is known for its sophistication, bold improvisations, and “sheer swagger.” Blake entered the New York jazz scene after graduating from Boston’s Berklee College. In 2002 he won first place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition; his win earned him performances with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

Listen Here

Thursday, June 23 - 10:30PM
The Studio Club (Esplanade Studio Theatre)
$18 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

Wednesday, June 22 - 2PM Workshop
The Studio Club (Esplanade Studio Theatre)
$5

Tickets available at the door.

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Jesse Peters Trio

2011-05-13T13:35:00.001-07:00

No stranger to Medicine Hat audiences, Jesse Peters has been making waves in the Canadian music scene since 1998. His two albums (recorded with the Peters Drury Trio, before Peters was 21) earned acclaim from critics and listeners in Canada and abroad, and his vocal and songwriting talents have earned praise from such distinguished jazz artists as Ingrid Jensen and Diana Krall.

Peters is the face and voice of funksoul band Paramedic, whose hybrid of hip hop, soul, jazz, and funk is familiar to many from their frequent appearances in our city. The band’s sophomore album, Love, Doubt and Soul was a Top Five Pick for 2009 by CKUA’s Tony King; it also received a nod from the Western Canadian Music Awards.

This young artist has already played with some of Canada’s elite jazz artists: Hugh Fraser, Campbell Ryga, Ross Taggar, and Alan Matheson. This year he releases his debut solo jazz album, Face Time. It’s our guess that we’ll only be hearing more about this young artist in the near future.

With band members Travis Switzer and Matthew Atkins, the Jesse Peters Trio slips into the netherworld between jazz, pop, funk, and soul and comes out the other end swinging! No matter what you call it—this is music that will leave you wanting more.

Listen Here

Thursday, June 23
Friday, June 24
Saturday, June 25
5:30-8:30PM
Local Public Eatery
$5 (cover charge at the door)

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Jonas Kullhammar Quartet

2011-05-13T13:34:00.001-07:00

This is a powerhouse quartet of young but prolific recording and touring musicians from Sweden’s music scene. As one of the highlights of JazzFest 2005, countless requests have been made for this high-energy band’s return.

With intensity and artistry reminiscent of the John Coltrane ensembles of the ’60s fused with a witty and fun-loving approach to life and to improvisation, Jonas Kullhammar and his quartet are simply explosive in their approach to the music.

A professional jazz musician since the age of nineteen, Kullhammar is a whirlwind of the Swedish jazz scene whose energetic saxophone playing has earned him multiple awards from Sweden’s music world. He has recorded five albums, one of which was nominated for a Swedish Grammy award, and has participated in more than 100 other recordings as well as toured around the world. An accomplished musician and composer, he is inspired by the flowing rhythms and dense spirit of jazz giant Sonny Rollins.

Jonas Holgersson is one of Sweden’s most skilled drummers and is in high demand on the music scene there. Since 1997 he has given over 1000 performances, appeared on over 30 albums, and toured all over Europe, Canada, and Asia. He has performed and recorded with such familiar artists as Chris Potter, Phil Markowitz, Benny Golson, Jackie Terrasone, Bobbo Stensson, and many others.

Torbjörn Gulz has been working as a professional jazz piano player since 1990 and has toured with many different Swedish jazz groups, in Sweden and in many other countries. He is responsible for jazz theory education at the Royal College of Music. In 2001 he published a book on jazz arranging; he has also appeared on 25 albums with various groups.

Bass-player Torbjörn Zetterberg formed his first band, the Torbjorn Zetterberg Hot Five, in 2000 and released his debut album with the band in 2002. Since then he has made six albums as leader and received two Grammy nominations. Over the years he has worked with musicians such as Bobo Stensson, Nicolas Payton, Ron Blake, Benny Golson, and many others.

The Jonas Kullhammar Quartet is supported by Svensk Musik AB and the Swedish Arts Council.

Listen Here

Saturday, June 25 - 10:30PM
The Studio Club (Esplanade Studio Theatre)
$18 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Kellylee Evans

2011-05-13T13:33:00.001-07:00

Once again, Medicine Hat has the honour of hosting one of this year’s Juno award recipients: Kellylee Evans, the 2011 Vocal Jazz Album of the Year award for Nina, her third album.

Mixing the styles of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Dianne Reeves, with a dash of Madeline Peyroux, Evans’s is a fresh Canadian voice taking its place alongside these greats while adding its own unique flavour that is—well, delightfully Kellylee!

The Ottawa-based singer-songwriter has toured North America and France opening for such luminaries as Tony Bennett, George Benson, Maceo Parker, and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and has collect a host of honours along the way. It was Evans’ second-place win at the 2004 Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocals Competition (whose judges included Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, and Dee Dee Bridgewater) that brought her an invitation from the French label Plus Loin Music to record an album of standards.

Evans’s choice of a Nina Simone repertoire for this album met an enthusiastic response, and in November of 2009 the project was recorded in a mere two days. Nina reached the top of the iTunes Jazz charts shortly after the album’s release, and Evans was soon earning both critical and popular acclaim for her energy-charged performances as she toured the album.

Evans’s previous two albums (the urban-jazz Fight or Flight, 2007, and an alt-soul-pop collection of original tunes titles The Good Girl, 2010) have earned the artist both Juno and Gemini nominations as well as a win for best female artist at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.

This show promises an unforgettable experience that melds jazz standards with an urban twist and soul-searching original compositions, all presented through the vocal lens of a highly expressive artist and songwriter whose star is on the rise.

Appearing with Evans are Matthew Lima on bass, Giampaolo Scatozza on drums, and Dave Thompson on guitar.

Listen Here

DOUBLE BILL
with Hilario Duran's Latin Jazz Band

Tuesday, June 21 - 7:30PM
Esplanade Theatre - $35 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Kool Ray & The Hip Katz

2011-05-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

This Medicine Hat-based dance band was formed in 2006 and has been putting in regular appearances at JazzFest ever since. Showcasing music that spans hits from the fifties to the present, this group of experienced professional musicians features full rhythm and horn sections, powerhouse vocals, and a reputation for keeping the dance floor hopping!

Co-led by Ray Martens on keyboards and drummer James Evangelos, the group features Will Nickel on trumpet, Mark Ward on trumpet and vocals, Bob Wagner on bass, Pete Mueller on guitar, Erica Bodnaruk on sax and vocals, and Teague Bates on trombone.

Listen Here

Saturday, June 25 - 6:30PM
Downtown Bus Terminal Parkade (City Transit Terminal), lower level as back-up
FREE

Bring a lawn chair.

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Marc Atkinson Trio

2011-05-13T13:31:00.001-07:00

If you love guitar music; if you love gypsy jazz; if you simply love music—you will not want to miss the dynamic sounds of this West Coast trio. The Marc Atkinson Trio returns to JazzFest after a ten-year hiatus to play in one of our favourite new venues: the terrace of the Esplanade, overlooking the South Saskatchewan River.

Melodically captivating, sensuous, and ferociously technical, Atkinson’s compositions transport guitar beyond the usual repertoire and sound. Their fiery but elegant guitar style embraces a wide range of influences and has been called “flawless,” “sizzling,” and “supremely melodic” by music critics.

Formed in 2000, the trio has toured North America, England, and Europe to widespread acclaim, and in Canada has received enthusiastic reviews at festivals across the country, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Vancouver International Folk Festival, and DjangoFest Northwest. The band’s second album, The Marc Atkinson Trio II, was voted one of the top five albums in North America by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. The similarly self-titled album III was nominated in 2006 for an outstanding album award at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Album IV pushes the boundaries of this instrumental group even further with compositions that move easily from unusual melodic lines to raucous rhythms.

Technical accomplishment aside, there is a laidback humour and “good time” vibe in the trio’s performances that is sure to resonate with the Medicine Hat audience.

Joining Atkinson will be Brett Martens on acoustic rhythm guitar and Joey Smith on stand-up bass.

Bring an umbrella or a parasol if you’d like a little shade. The Esplanade Studio Theatre serves as a back-up.

Listen Here

Friday, June 24 - 2PM
Esplanade Terrace (the Studio Theatre as back-up)
$15 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Sinne Eeg

2011-05-13T13:30:00.001-07:00

Over the years, we’ve taken pride in introducing new talent to the world. At times, we’ve gotten in on the ground floor with new stars on their way to global recognition. (We were the first jazz festival to present Sophie Millman, some will recall!) We think we’ve found another star, already shining brightly in Europe and now making her first and only Canadian appearance at our festival.

Sinne Eeg is one of the strongest new acts on the Scandinavian jazz scene. Her distinctive vocals are earning her a loyal and fast-growing fan base around the world as well as in her native country. With a voice that her reviewers describe as warm and expressive, she possesses an emotional range that stretches effortlessly from delicate to explosive. Her influences include Nancy Wilson, Betty Carter, and Sarah Vaughan, but there is a touch of soft darkness and Scandinavian melancholy deeply embedded in her music. Eeg’s performances include a repertoire of jazz standards, her own compositions, and old Danish songs.

Eeg has five albums to her name, all of which have received high praise from the critics. She has also won her share of awards: Waiting for Dawn (2007) and Don’t Be So Blue (2010) each received the Danish Music Award for best jazz vocal album, and the artist received the Danish Radio Jazz Award for 2009.

European reviewers promise that you won’t be able to resist the talent and style of this Danish star who is just breaking onto the North American music scene. Don’t miss her Canadian debut!

Joining Eeg will be Nikolaj Hess on piano, Joshua Ginsburg on bass, and Jochen Rueckert on drums.

Listen Here

DOUBLE BILL
with Verismo

Friday, June 24 - 7:30PM
Esplanade Theatre - $35 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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The F-Holes

2011-05-13T13:28:00.002-07:00

Don’t let the tongue-in-cheek name fool you: this band’s raucous live performances and unique blend of musical styles have garnered serious praise and acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

Formed in Winnipeg in 2004, the F-Holes have been taking their concoction of gypsy jazz, Dixieland, blues, and roots music across the country since 2009, first with the release of their debut self-titled album and then with a 2010 cross-country tour. They have shared the stage with the likes of Gord Downie, Martha Wainwright, and Fred Eaglesmith, and on the way they have earned rave reviews for their unique instrumentation, attention to musicianship, and honest songwriting.

The band’s second album is scheduled for August 2011 release.

Band members are Patrick Leclerc on vocals, upright bass, and harmonica; Eric Lemoine on banjo, pedal steel, electric bass, and vocals; Blake Thomson on guitar, saxophone, and vocals; James Mckee on trumpet, euphonium, and vocals; Evan Friesen on drums.

Uptown magazine promises that the band’s “fiery” sounds are sure to “knock you on your feet.” What better setting to offer this energetic group than our popular downtown Tim Horton’s stage!

Listen Here

Friday, June 24
Saturday, June 25
12-2PM
Tim Hortons Downtown
FREE

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URBANdivide

2011-05-13T13:28:00.001-07:00

Sunday night on the Esplanade Terrace, celebrating a week of great music with the hip grooves of URBANdivide… This concert was such a hit last year, we had to do it again!

A mainstay of the Calgary music scene, URBANdivide has been spinning out cool tunes for nearly a decade. In true throw-back style, URBANdivide produces cool takes on great funk standards and original tunes in a style all their own—newfunksoul. Whether playing James Brown or Jamiroquai, this high-energy band aims to keep you on your feet.
URBANdivide has performed at festivals and venues across the country and has opened for legends like Kool & the Gang, Colin James, Tom Cochrane, Antibalas, and Great Big Sea. They released their second CD, Funk You, just last year.

Powerhouse Amber Boucher leads on vocals, with Darren Bourne on organ and vocals, Jim Johnston on drums, Jae Cho on bass, Jason Kendal on guitar, Jordan Ganchev on trombone and vocals, and Jon Borremeo on trumpet and flugelhorn.

So bring your dancing shoes (or kick them off, as some did last year…) and unwind with us at the final knock-out concert of the festival!

Listen Here

Sunday, June 26 - 7:30PM
Esplanade Terrace (the Studio Theatre as back-up)
$20 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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Verismo

2011-05-13T13:27:00.001-07:00

We’ve tried for a few years to nab this Calgary quintet and its five busy members—and this year we’ve done it. Composed of some of Calgary’s elite musicians, the group is hailed for its unapologetic, straightforward jazz style. They are a band in the best sense: each a powerful musician in his own right but together achieving a rare cohesiveness, both on disc and in performance.

Founded by Calgary mainstay Pat Belliveau and University of Calgary professor Jeremy Brown, both on saxophone, the band is completed by veterans Derek Stoll on piano, John deWaal on drums, and Hutchinson Andrew Trio co-founder Kodi Hutchinson on bass. From the beginning, their goal was to explore their own original compositions and promote artistic growth. Judging from the reviews, they’ve accomplished this—and soared beyond, as well.

When good players and good tunes pair with a taste for challenge and an unmistakable groove—well, people notice. About the band, the Montreal International Jazz Festival has raved, “A fresh Chinook blows out of the West!”

Verismo has recorded for the CBC program Jazz Beat, and in 2005 released a self-titled CD that was hailed across Canada for its virtuosity, originality, and cohesiveness. They have performed at the Calgary International Jazz Festival and appeared to enthusiastic audiences at the 2007 Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Listen Here

DOUBLE BILL
with Sinne Eeg

Friday, June 24 - 7:30PM
Esplanade Theatre - $35 + Esplanade S/C

Tickets available at the Esplanade and Tixx Central.

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