Ottawa (Tuesday, June 9, 2015) — While jazz is historically an American form, in recent years much of the most daring and popular jazz has originated on the far side of the Atlantic. To celebrate its 35th year, the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival has partnered with the European Union (soon commemorating the 40th anniversary of its diplomatic mission in Ottawa) and its Member States to curate the Spotlight on Euro Jazz featuring 21 cutting edge artists from 15 EU countries. France leads the way with two major performances, including Cyrille Aimée, whom The Wall-Street Journal calls “one of the most promising jazz singers of her generation.” The Franco-Dominican Aimée’s music has an effortless freshness, held together by her unerring rhythmic instincts and a voice “like fine whiskey – oaky and smooth, with a hint of smokiness” (Washington Post). Richard Galliano and Sylvain Luc’s tribute to another French chanteuse, Edith Piaf, will also be a highlight. Galliano is regarded as the master of jazz accordion, and is among that rare class of musicians who can truly claim to have expanded the expressive possibilities of their instrument. The Festival is also extremely pleased to present Enrico Rava Tribe featuring Gianluca Petrella. Rava, the grand master of Italian jazz, has been active for over 60 years, playing with the likes of Chet Baker and Charlie Haden and is famed for scoring the classic film Cinema Paradiso. He is now acting as a bridge to the music’s future through his collaboration with Petrella, a trombonist whose own mingling of electronica and avant-garde sounds with the traditional jazz represented by Rava is a revelation. From the symbiotic musical partnership of Portugal’s Maria João & Mário Laginha to the rhythmic gymnastics of the UK’s Cloudmakers Trio, this year’s Festival will be a musical tour of Europe like none other. This year’s TD Ottawa Jazz Festival runs from June 18 – July 1st in a variety of venues throughout Ottawa’s downtown core.
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