Ottawa: Your perfect destination
KEITH CARMAN FOR METRO OTTAWA
Yet while all of this is draining our potential fun time, there is an alluring, inexpensive and geographically ideal vacation locale for everyone from teenagers to seniors: Ottawa. As fiduciary responsibilities grow, the stay-cation becomes an enticingly sound option, reducing drain of every sort and compelling us to explore our own neighbourhoods.
Many hotels offer their own promotional campaigns, but one of the quickest and easiest methods of arranging a no-frills leave is as simple as contacting Capital Tickets (ottawatourism.ca/888-688-2928), the official booking agent for Ottawa Tourism.
Chatting with their representatives reveals an endless array of personalized getaways literally steps from our front door. With booking options for all surrounding hotels, events (Bluesfest, Jazzfest, Tulip Festival and more), shows (concerts, musicals, theatre), restaurants and government attractions (Art Gallery, War Museum, Museum Of Canada) with rates subject to availability/package choice, planning a miniscule holiday couldn’t be easier.
Full article: Ottawa: Your perfect destination
Note: Ottawa Festivals is now a ticket outlet for CapitalTickets. You can find us right in the ByWard Market at 47 William Street.
TD Canada Trust renews its commitment to Jazz in Canada: TD extends corporate sponsorship of major Canadian jazz festivals through 2014
Today, TD Bank Financial Group announced that it has extended its sponsorship of eight major Canadian jazz festivals through to 2014. TD Canada Trust is currently the title sponsor of the Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax jazz festivals and a major sponsor of the Saskatchewan jazz festival. In 2010, TD will assume the role of title sponsor of the Winnipeg and Victoria festivals and as announced in July of 2009, next year marks the year TD becomes presenting sponsor of the renowned Montreal International Jazz Festival.
“We’re excited to extend our partnership with these jazz festivals across Canada and we look forward to playing a bigger role in Victoria, Winnipeg and Montreal next year,” said Tim Hockey, President and CEO, TD Canada Trust. “TD has been supporting jazz in Canada for many years and in that time, millions of fans have enjoyed the performances of thousands of artists at these terrific festivals.”
“We are thrilled to have TD’s continued support at our festivals. Each festival has become the success it is because of our volunteers, community support and TD’s commitment to music,” said Patrick Taylor, Executive Producer & CEO, TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival. “And we’re very pleased to announce that with TD assuming the presenting sponsorship position of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and title sponsor of the Winnipeg and Victoria jazz festivals, it is now one of the biggest supporters of jazz music in the world.”
In addition to their commitment to music, the Canadian jazz festivals will continue to work closely with TD to educate their communities about the environment. In efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, Canadian jazz festivals have launched a range of eco-friendly initiatives like recycling programs, locally sourced organic food options, and sourcing renewable energy to power the stages.
“Music programs, festivals, and talented performers all contribute to keeping our communities culturally vibrant,” continued Hockey. “After years of sponsoring jazz festivals and youth outreach programs across Canada, we have seen firsthand how much music means to Canadians as both an expression of cultural identity and a source of enjoyment.”
About TD Music
TD Bank Financial Group is committed to supporting music across Canada. In addition to supporting eight major jazz festivals across the country over the last seven years, TD Bank Financial Group is committed to various programs and events including Opera Ontario, the Toronto Symphony, National Youth Orchestra and The Nathaniel Dett Chorale who performed during President Obama’s Inauguration. TD also supports a variety of local, regional and national programs across Canada promoting literacy, health, education and the environment.
About TD Bank Financial Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Financial Group. TD Bank Financial Group is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves approximately 17 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in key financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Insurance; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an investment in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking through TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD Bank Financial Group also ranks among the world’s leading online financial services firms, with more than 5.5 million online customers. TD Bank Financial Group had CDN$545 billion in assets on July 31, 2009. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol “TD” on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.
Ottawa Jazz Festival Fall and Winter Concerts
Download the flyer containing information about the Ottawa Jazz Festival’s Fall and Winter Concerts. (About a 1MB JPEG image file)
Record attendance at festival
TRACEY TONG | METRO OTTAWA
The Ottawa International Jazz Festival wrapped up last night, and while attendance numbers aren’t in yet, organizers said signs point to this being one of the best festivals ever.
In 2008, the festival attracted 180,000 people and an additional 72,000 on Canada Day.
This year the festival is set to break that record.
“Festival passes and student passes are up this year, and on Canada Day, we had a record attendance,” said festival spokeswoman Suzan Zilahi.
Full story available on Metro Ottawa online: Record attendance at festival
Chucho Valdes Quintet at 2009 Ottawa International Jazz Festival
Marcia Hillman | All About Jazz – Philadelphia, PA
The rain held off and skies cleared just in time for the Chucho Valdés Quintet to delight the audience at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Confederation Park. The group-consisting of Chucho Valdés on piano, Lazaro Alarcon on bass, drummer Juan Carlos Rojas, percussionist Yurali Abreu and vocalist Mayra Caridad Valdés (who appeared later in the set)-started the set with an Ellington medley. “Satin Doll” smoothly segued into “In A Sentimental Mood” and then “Caravan.” Valdés is a master at his instrument and travels from jazz to classical and further, but never loses the Cuba in his soul. This was clearly demonstrated in the next selection, “Poinciana,” which featured a polyrhytmic figure in his left hand and in the drums playing against a delicate melody line in his right hand. The figure was then played by bass and piano behind a dazzling conga solo by Abreu.
Full review on AllAboutJazz.com: Chucho Valdes Quintet
Mellow doesn’t apply to Al Di Meola
Alex Hutchinson, The Ottawa Citizen
Clad in a pristine white leisure suit and sporting his trademark Miami Vice beard, guitar god Al Di Meola started his concert at Confederation Park last night with some small talk. “It was nice playing here last year,” he said, “but tonight is going to be even more fun.”
It was welcome confirmation that this really was the same guy who rocked out with fusion supergroup Return to Forever for a jazzfest-record crowd of 11,500 last summer.
Full review available on the Ottawa Citizen website: Mellow doesn’t apply to Al Di Meola
Ending with a bang at Jazz Fest
TRACEY TONG | METRO OTTAWA
With one of the best lineups yet, the Ottawa International Jazz Festival is entering its final weekend, but there’s still time to check out some of the acts.
“The festival has been going great,” said festival spokeswoman Suzan Zilahi. “We had a record-breaking attendance on Canada Day – we had more than 80,000 people throughout the day – and two stages that were continually attended,” Zilahi said Thursday.
Between the shows at Confederation Park and the National Arts Centre and the late night jam sessions at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, “this year’s lineup is considered to be incredibly rich and having a depth to it,” said Zilahi. “People have been telling us that they’re blown away by the lineup. We have a very broad range of artists covering different genres within jazz and we’ve received tremendous feedback about the lineup.
“We definitely do have something for everyone.”
Please read the full story on the Metro Ottawa website: Ending with a bang at Jazz Fest
Jazz Fest: Saxophone under troubled skies
Denis Armstrong, Sun MediaThe forecast for the Ottawa International Jazz Festival Thursday night called for overcast skies and stormy weather with brilliant flashes of tenor saxophone.
And, as usual, the forecasters were right on the money. But then, with jazz heavyweight Wayne Shorter headlining the Concerts Under the Stars stage, who even noticed the weather?
Certainly not the spartan crowd of 4,000 or so at Confederation Park last night.
Full review on the Ottawa Sun website: Saxophone under troubled skies
Ottawa Jazz Festival 2009: Days 4-6, June 28-30, 2009
John Kelman | All About Jazz, Philadelphia, PA
As the festival moves into its second quarter, one of its busiest most exciting days was coming up on June 29, with more “can’t miss” shows in one day than anywhere else during the festival. And with two lunchtime “Jazz Matters” panels at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage kicking off on the same day—featuring journalists and authors including Mark Miller, Ashley Kahn, Ron Sweetman, Jesse Stewart and others—moderated by Ottawa’s own James Hale, there’s the opportunity to sit in on roundtable discussions about modern jazz piano and the seminal year of 1959, when artists including Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Ornette Coleman, Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus contributed breakthrough works or performances that would change the shape of jazz forever.
Read more of this in-depth coverage and reviews on the All About Jazz website: Ottawa Jazz Festival 2009
Good Reverend A’mighty
By Pam McLennan, Epoch Times Staff
Who can sing, dance, posture for the crowd, and chew gum all at the same time? Al Green was doing all that and more on the Concert Under the Stars stage in Confederation Park on the opening weekend of the 2009 Ottawa Jazz Festival.
Looking sharp in a three piece suit and his trademark bouquet of red roses that he tossed to his fans throughout the set, Green sang as well as I have heard him. What made the Reverend so great wasn’t just the vocals, the dance moves that take you back to the 60s, or his signature falsetto that had the crowd cheering every time he hit a high note-it was the tight group of musicians he has assembled for the tour.
More on the Epoch Times website: Good Reverend A’mighty
