Jazzfest crosses over: Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang play main stage, jazz names move indoors
Peter Hum, Ottawa Citizen
The TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival is betting heavily on rock and pop stars to attract Confederation Parkfilling crowds this summer.
Robert Plant & The Band of Joy kick off the jazz festival on opening night June 23. The next night, Elvis Costello and the Imposters play in Confederation Park. On June 25, the main attraction is k.d. lang and Siss Boom Bang. Other park headliners also depart from the festival’s tradition of putting jazz front and centre on its largest stage.
Meanwhile, leading jazz names such as the duo of Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau, singer Kurt Elling, pianists Vijay Iyer and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler will be presented indoors, at the National Arts Centre’s Studio or Fourth Stage, playing for several hundred people instead of several thousand.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Jazzfest crosses over
Majestic Salif Keita brings passionate vocals to Ottawa this April
Ottawa (Monday, March 21, 2011) – International afro singer-songwriter sensation, renowned for his unforgettable live performances, soaring vocals and emotionally-fueled songs, Mali’s Salif Keita will perform again in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 8pm at Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper Street (corner Cooper and O’Connor), presented by the Ottawa Jazz Festival. In his last sold-out Festival appearance in 2008 the Ottawa Citizen wrote, “… the whole concert was a happy event. Salif’s voice – it’s been called ‘majestic’ – moves effortlessly from guttural to pure, high and plaintive.”
Salif Keita has faced and conquered many challenges in his life. Born with albinism – a sign of extreme bad luck in Mandinka culture – into the royal family that descended from the founder of Mali, Keita was ostracized by his family. He left home as a teenager to create a new life for himself as a musician, a profession forbidden to the royal caste.
Exposed to and influenced by the first electrification of Mandingo music and the integration of Afro-Cuban influences, he performed with well-known Mali bands. He fled the political unrest in his homeland in the mid-1970s and performed in the Ivory Coast. In 1984 he moved to Paris to launch a successful solo career.
With help from Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter and a number of carefully picked musicians from Mali and France, and after his first album Amen was produced Salif became the first African band leader to win a GRAMMY nomination. Although Salif Keita now tours internationally extensively, and is based in Paris much of the year, he now also resides in Mali. He tours with a mixed Malian/American 11 piece ensemble including singers, drums, percussion, bass, guitar and keyboards.
Reserved tickets are $45. General admission is $37 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.
TD Ottawa Jazz Festival receives $395,000 in support from Ontario
The TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival is delighted to be the recipient of $395,000 in support from the Ontario government through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture!
The Festival’s dynamic programming continues to draw tourism to the city. Located at Confederation Park, along the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site, the Festival is situated in the ideal urban park setting right in the heart of downtown Ottawa. Visitors to the Park take in majestic sunsets over the skyline while reveling in the music of significant artists from around the world and across Canada.
The Festival continues to experience tremendous growth which is directly attributable to this vital investment through the Celebrate Ontario program since 2006. These are some of the milestones achieved in 2010:
- attendance in 2010 increased by 11.5% to 292,000
- 13% of the Festival’s audience reside 80km or more from Ottawa
- 10% of tourists were from Europe (an increase from 5.9% in 2009)
- visitors spend an average of 4 days in Ottawa at the Festival
- average expenditure is $614 (as opposed to $518 in 2009 – this figure does not include Festival expenditures)
- Direct economic impact by tourists attending the 2010 Festival more than doubled to $22.8 Million (from 10.6 Million in 2009)
- Box office revenue increased by 12%
“These results exemplify the extraordinary return on investment in culture and the arts on our economy,” explains Executive Producer Catherine O’Grady. “The province’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s belief in our proven track record is an example of innovative leadership and allows us to present the best programming possible.”
On April 13, 2011 at the National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage, 4pm, Festival officials will announce the unprecedented line-up to appear this summer at the 31st edition of the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival!
Province provides more than $2.1-million in funding to Ottawa festivals
OTTAWA—The recipients of 2011 Celebrate Ontario funding have been announced, and this year the provincial government’s commitment to several Ottawa area festivals is over $2.1-million, marking an increase of over half a million dollars from last year’s investment.
The twelve festivals benefiting from this year’s funding are the Canadian Tulip Festival, Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, Festival franco-ontarien, Music and Beyond, Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival, Ottawa Folk Festival, Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa International Children’s Festival, Ottawa International Writers Festival, Rideau Canal Festival, Summer Solstice Aboriginal Arts Festival, and the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival.
“It is very encouraging to see an increased commitment from the province,” says Barb Stacey, Executive Director of Ottawa Festivals, a not-for-profit organization that represents more than 50 not-for-profit festivals, special events and fairs that take place in Canada’s Capital Region, “There is no question that these events have tremendous socio-economic impact on the community by providing affordable access to cultural and community-based activities while also attracting more visitors. These events help showcase Ottawa’s identity while also creating significant economic impact that supports increased prosperity, jobs and opportunities for our community.”
Created to help festivals and events improve their programming and services to attract new audiences, increase visitor spending and create jobs; Celebrate Ontario is investing a total of $20-million in 230 events across the province.
Win Tickets to see Omara Portuondo
Cuba’s sensational Omara Portuondo is unquestionably the quintessential voice of the golden age of Cuban jazz.
The sixth caller through to the Ottawa Jazz Festival office, 613-241-2633, to purchase tickets to Omara Portuondo on Thursday, February 17, 8pm will win two tickets to the Salif Keita concert on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.
Petr Cancura named Ottawa Jazz Festival’s new Programming Manager
The TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival welcomes saxophonist and band leader Petr Cancura as its new Programming Manager, replacing Jacques Emond who retired in 2010.
“This [TD Ottawa Jazz Festival] is one of the great festivals, and I am thrilled to be a part of it: a great and driven team of people to work with, along with a supportive and inspiring community to collaborate with. Thinking about working with the music I love in a place I feel very close to is a dream for me. I am excited about the possibilities of how we can grow as a festival and as a community in Ottawa,” explains Cancura.
No stranger to the Festival, since 2007 Petr has been featured as resident artist and coordinator at the Festival’s Ottawa Composers Collective as well as the Ottawa Folk Festival’s Cross-Cultural Experiment.
“The board and staff enthusiastically welcome Petr Cancura as Ottawa Jazz Festival’s new Programming Manager. After an extensive, national search the Festival is fortunate to have this talented and diverse artist agree to join our team. Petr brings a lot of joy to his work as well as vision, insight, and a serious knowledge of the music and the music community. We’re happy to have him on board,” says Executive Producer Catherine O’Grady.
Born in the Czech Republic, raised in Canada and now living in Brooklyn, Petr received an award in 2004 to study at the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston, where he completed the Master’s program. During this time, he led many successful groups and projects – including the artistic residency program with Boston’s esteemed Modern Improvised Music (MIM) Society.
His band, The Petr Cancura Trio, has been featured on CBC Radio’s Signal, and continues to tour internationally to great critical acclaim.
Today Cancura continues to record and perform with artists from all over the world, with musical projects spanning from jazz to world and folk music. Petr’s current project, Down Home, is jazz inspired from original black & white photographs and the music of the deep south (Mississippi and Kentucky). Other current projects include: The Richie Barshay Group; his own groups PeopleMusic, a quartet with Polish marvel Jacek Kochan, guitar legend Joe Morris, Brazilian Bluegrass band NationBeat and the GRAMMY-nominated Danilo Perez Big Band.
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.
6 Concert Extravaganza in one night with all-star Canadian musicians!
Ottawa (Thursday, October 14, 2010) – The Ottawa Jazz Festival has programmed the most sublime Canadian jazz artists performing back-to-back in six concerts in one evening on Saturday, November 6, 7:30pm at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage for only $15.
In concert with the annual CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association/l’Association canadienne des organismes artistiques) conference, this is a rare opportunity to see some of the finest young talent on the touring circuit today: Read more
New York Voices Harmonize, Cool, and Jive at the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival July 2!
Ottawa (Tuesday, June 22, 2010) – Grammy award- winning New York Voices will sing at the TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival this summer! On July 2 at 7:30pm, New York Voices will be beautifully harmonizing at Confederation Park’s Main Stage.
Since the release of their 2007 album, A Day Like This, the vocal quartet has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. New York Voices has an eclectic musical palette that will please the lovers of big band sounds, al cappella, and soft jazz.
New York Voices will perform on the Main Stage at Confederation Park at 7:30pm on July 2, as part of the Concerts Under the Stars series. Souljazz Orchestra will perform their signature tropical jazz immediately before them at 6pm on the Main Stage as part of the Great Canadian Jazz series, and James Farm featuring Joshua Redman, Aaron Parks, Matt Penman, and Ari Hoenig will play some sultry jazz at 9pm on the Main Stage as part of the Concerts Under the Stars series as well.
New Platinum Passes are 65$ a day for designated up-close seating. Tickets are available on a nightly basis through the TD Ottawa Jazz Box Office, the Rideau Centre kiosk, or online at ottawajazzfestival.ca.
Gold Passes are SOLD OUT. Bronze Passes are $140. Student Passes are $65. Please note the Anniversary Series in the Library and Archives Canada is NOT included with the Bronze and Student Pass. Single concert tickets for July 4 are $50 for this evening’s concerts.
For more information on the Mobile Event Guide App, line-up, bios, music samples and ticket information, please visit ottawajazzfestival.com.
No rushing Bill Frisell: Jazz guitarist likes to go wherever his music takes him
By Doug Fischer, The Ottawa Citizen
Bill Frisell plays two concerts this week at Ottawa’s Jazzfest.
When: June 25 (with the Beautiful Dreamers trio) and June 26 (with the 858 Quartet), 8 p.m. both nights
Where: National Arts Centre Studio
Tickets: $30 for each concert, at ottawajazzfestival.com or 613-241-2633
When Bill Frisell answers the phone in his Seattle home, he reveals he’s been sitting on the floor among boxes piled to the ceiling — he’s moving in a few days — thinking about how life moves along too fast.
Read more: No rushing Bill Frisell
