Cuban singing legend Omara Portuondo heats up February in Ottawa
The Ottawa Jazz Festival presents Cuba’s sensational Omara Portuondo on Thursday, February 17, 2011, 8pm, at Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper Street, (corner Cooper and O’Connor). This is a rare opportunity to see this legendary Cuban superstar!
“Flowing in the present, but with deep roots in the past – the Cuban singer Omara Portuondo… is still impulsive onstage.” – New York Times
As a young artist, Omara toured extensively throughout the USA with her sister until the Revolution.
Under the Castro regime, she continued to tour internationally (except for America) and became known for her signature “boleros”. A living legend, Portuondo has been the subject of a documentary, Omara, which won an award at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.
For more than sixty years Omara Portuondo has passionately exuded her country’s musical culture. The Cuban-born diva became synonymous with Cuban music after the instant success of the recording “The Buena Vista Social Club” and the band’s first international tour produced by Ry Cooder. Here she left her indelible mark alongside the legendary BVSC co-stars, Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo and Reuben Gonzalez.
Ottawa audiences will recall her two sell out performances with the Buena Vista Social Club and subsequently with the critically acclaimed Barbarito Torres. Omara is unquestionably the quintessential voice of the golden age of Cuban jazz.
Reserved tickets are $40. General admission is $32 and Student prices (11 to 25 years, with valid student ID) are $22 (HST included). Tickets are on sale at the Ottawa Jazz Festival office: 294 Albert, Suite 602, 613-241-2633 or through our website at ottawajazzfestival.com; Compact Music (2 locations); CD Warehouse (all 3 locations) and Ottawa Festivals – 47 William St. in the Byward Market.
Of spirit and song
In the case of Kurt Elling, divinity’s loss was jazz gain.
The Chicago-raised, New York-based vocalist was a degree shy of obtaining his master’s degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School, when he set his studies aside to pursue music.
Singing had always been part of his life. His father was the musical director at a Lutheran church. But the jazz bug bit, and for the last 15 years he has dominated the ranks of male jazz singers, thanks to his unmistakable, four-octave baritone voice and performing flair. His last CD, Dedicated To You, won the Grammy Award this year for best jazz vocals album.
Elling, 43, performs in Ottawa on Monday, Dec. 13, with his group, as the star attraction at the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival’s annual fundraiser. He spoke recently with the Citizen, discussing his forthcoming CD, The Gate, his path to jazz and the spiritual thinking that girds his music, even if he left formal religious studies behind.
Read more on the Ottawa Citizen website: Of spirit and song
Festival passes on sale now in time for Christmas!
Due to popular demand after last summer’s triumphant TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival, advanced Festival passes are on sale now! Festival Gold Circle ($282.50 – HST included), Bronze ($158.20 – HST included) and Student ($73.45 – HST included) Passes are on sale for Festival members only until December 17 and for the general public on December 18! In partnership with some of Ottawa’s finest restaurants, the first one hundred purchasers will receive a $25 gift certificate for a sumptuous meal.
This offer is available on our tickets page or by calling the office at 613-241-2633 (the office will be closed from December 21 to January 2, 2011 but online ticket purchases will be available throughout the holidays). Tickets will be processed when the office opens January 3, 2011.
Visit ottawajazzfestival.com for more details.
Gem concerts cap off 30th Anniversary celebrations for the Ottawa Jazz Festival
The Ottawa Jazz Festival is pleased to announce this year’s fall/winter Concert Series, featuring seven performances by internationally acclaimed, award-winning artists from around the world:
Sixteen-time Grammy winner Chick Corea will convene an all-star trio in Ottawa on Sunday,
October 3, 7pm at Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper Street, (corner Cooper and O’Connor). Christian McBride, the most acclaimed bassist of his generation, and drummer extraordinaire Brian Blade, a longtime member of the Grammy-winning Wayne Shorter Quartet make up this dynamic trio. Reserved tickets are sold out
Jazz pianist, John Taylor will perform with Ottawa’s well-known bassist, John Geggie, Saturday, October 9, 7:30pm at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage. “…John Taylor proved once again how those British pianists with real class never stopped getting better. To a rippling touch and a warm lyricism he has added several layers of complexity, approaching each tune from different angles and building a variety of elaborate structures…” – The Guardian
In concert with the annual CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association/l’Association canadienne des organismes artistiques) conference, the Ottawa Jazz Festival is delighted to offer an evening of back-to-back jazz at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage on Saturday, November 6, 7:30pm. This is a rare opportunity to see some of the finest young talent around. Visit www.capacoa.ca and ottawajazzfestival.com for the details.
After blowing out the candles, the TD OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL ‘Blows its own horn’ after celebrating the most artistically successful Festival ever in 30 years!
From its roots as a weekend-long Dixieland bash to its current status as one of the National Capital Region’s largest annual events, the Festival has been thrilling music fans for 30 summers. Just over 290,000 attended the Festival’s most successful year in its 30-year history in 2010, up by 28,000 from 2009! On Canada Day more than 92,000 attended free concerts, performed by some of the most innovative and cutting-edge Canadian artists at Confederation Park.
More than 850 artists performed in 250 concerts, in 10 different series and in 8 different venues located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital.
“In an industry where success often depends on things beyond organizers’ control, the festival took major risks this year to build for the future, and everything it added worked according to plan.” – Ottawa Sun
Besides the star-studded line-up on the Main Stage there were gems to be found in the successful OLG Stage, Improv Invitational, Friends and the Late Night Jam Sessions at the Crowne Plaza.
“This year, the festival introduced the OLG Tent, a new stage in Confederation Park. Its eclectic, late-night shows were very successful, easily drawing listeners from mainstage concerts that had just concluded. The tent could not hold all who wanted to hear acts such as Bonobo or Gypsophilia.” – Ottawa Citizen
“the Improv Invitational series, experienced the best overall attendance in its five-year history, with some of its best programming to boot.” – Ottawa Sun
“The festival’s nightly jam sessions, run by Ottawa bassist John Geggie, were consistently impressive, with visiting stars such as the saxophonists Joshua Redman and Joe Lovano sitting in to play. An hour or so after the big band of Roy Hargrove finished playing in Confederation Park, the trumpeter and many of his musicians staged a benevolent takeover of the festival jam.” – Ottawa Citizen
Join us next year from June 22 – July 3 as we celebrate the 31st edition of the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival.
Benson hits the groove where jazz meets soul
Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa Citizen
The scattered showers and cool temperatures were a minor inconvenience for smooth-jazz master George Benson at Confederation Park on Wednesday. He’s such a pro, he made everyone feel like they were in a cushy seat in a posh casino instead of a damp lawnchair.
“It’s party time, people,” the good-natured musician said at one point. “The rain ain’t gonna get us.”
The 67-year-old singer-guitarist began with a couple of instrumental pieces, Collaboration and Weekend in L.A., that demonstrated his effortlessly fluid style on a hollow-body guitar. Cascades of notes tumbled from his fingers in the form of elegant melodies, showcasing a unique playing style that was flashy but, at the same time, restrained.
Full review on the Ottawa Citizen website: Benson hits the groove where jazz meets soul
Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra preaches to the converted (concert review)
Peter Hum, Jazzblog.ca
Jensen’s orchestra returns to Ottawa on June 26, when it plays the 10:30 p.m. outdoor show in Confederation Park during the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival.
Read more: Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra preaches to the converted
Eric Vloeimans at the National Arts Centre – Mar. 8
Considered one of Europe’s best performers, Dutch trumpet player Eric Vloeimans will perform at the National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage, on Monday, March 8, 2010, at 8-10 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. This show is another in the Ottawa Jazz Festival’s ongoing series exploring Dutch improvised music.
To read the full article, see City of Ottawa’s Spotlight on Eric Vloeimans or send an email to info@ottawajazzfestival.com.
TD Jazz Youth Summit @ Ottawa Int’l Jazz Festival – Call for Applications
TD Jazz Youth Summit
For the 6th consecutive year, the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival is pleased to invite young jazz musicians between the ages of 17 and 22 to participate in a jazz intensive workshop during the 2010 Festival from June 24 to July 4. The results from the week long summit will be showcased during a special Canada Day presentation on July 1, and again on July 4 on the Festival’s Main Stage in Confederation Park. All eligible young jazz musicians may apply for this exciting musical adventure by March 30th, 2010.
Jim Lewis, the director of this intensive summit, is a renowned jazz professor at Humber College and the University of Toronto. He will select 15 – 20 young musicians from across Canada to participate in this event, consisting of daily 4-hour work sessions, visits from Festival headliners, and other workshop guests.
All Summit participants will receive:
- all access pass to all concerts during the 11-day TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival
- all travel and accommodation expenses for out of town participants (Summit participants are responsible for their own food and beverages)
- a guided tour of Ottawa provided by the National Capital Commission
- eligibility to be selected for a $2,000 scholarship donated by the Festival, and a $1,000 scholarship donated by Harvey Glatt through Rogers
Applications must be received by March 30th, 2010.
Contact Catherine O’Grady at 613.241.2633 or 1-888-226-4495 for detailed information.
Jazz festival to stage “Friends” series at NAC’s Studio Theatre
Loss of NAC sponsorship forces major changes
By Peter Hum
The Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa International Jazz Festival will be revamped for next year’s 30th anniversary edition, with an ambitious concert series added, a longstanding series cancelled and an indoor series moved outdoors.
“If anything, there will be more programming” as a result of the re-organization, says Catherine O’Grady, the festival’s executive producer.
O’Grady says the event will stage a new “Friends” series at the National Arts Centre’s Studio theatre, featuring several A-list jazz artists giving concerts over two and three nights with different bands of their choosing.
She would not disclose whom the festival has invited to take part in this series, but premium tickets would apply.
The “Friends” concerts — so named because they would involve musicians who previously gave memorable Ottawa festival concerts — are to be staged in the evening, and would conflict with the festival’s mainstage offerings.
As it did this year, the festival will offer super-sized, three-concert evenings most nights in Confederation Park, O’Grady says.
Meanwhile, the festival’s 10:30 p.m. series will relocate from the NAC’s Studio to the OLG tent in Confederation Park. Facing a budget shortfall, the NAC this year ended its sponsorship of the festival’s late-night series, and rather than rent the Studio, the festival will save money by shifting the concerts to the park.
To read the full article, click here.
