CANADA'S JAZZ MAGAZINE SINCE 1958 THE OTHER SrnE OF Charles ~ayle FREE JAZZSAXOPHONIST TURNS TO THE BLUES ON SOLO PIANO DISC MARC ATKINSON BRINGING OJA.NGOTO THE FOLKS FESTIVAL GurnE FREE JAZZ BEFORE 0RNETTE THE BACKROOM REVOLUTION IN VIENNA lN '°= -0 --J= 0~ LN=== ~ iiiiiiiiii.o ~ and pianist Luis Perdomo on the second. ART OF JAZZ ORGANIZATION Chicago guitarist Fruteland Jackson hosts Can Swing Saturday afternoon and the AIMS TO RAISEJAZZ'S PROFILE Kids Soul Rebels band headline a benefit performance for New Orleans musicians on IN CANADA Sunday. After hours jam sessions, projecToronto area is directed towards once-a-year jazz festivals, with the music almost igno:red at other times. It's to fill this gap that AOJ's outreach programs are directed, she adds. New mid -size venues are needed as well, adds Bunnett. "There has to be something between the Rex [jazz bar, in Toronto] and Massey Hall. Jazz should receive the same respect as [chamber ensemble] Tafelmusik." That situation will be rectified during the celebration with con certs taking place in locations in the Distillery District, including Lesterwant to the 385-seat Marilyn and expandthe yearCharles Baillie Theatre at the roundaudiencefor jazz through their Young Centre for the Performing multi-facetedArt of Jazzorganization. Arts, home of the Soulpepper PHOTO/IVAN OTIS Theatre Company. The first jazz ever to be perlautist Jane Bunnett and singer Bonnie formed at that venue, the initial tribute on Lester want to make things perfectly May 18 is for pianist and educator Barry clear. Even though their organization, the Harris, with performances by pianist Hank Art ofJ azz (AOJ), is putting together a five Jones, alto saxophonist Charles day celebration of jazz and its master musiMcPherson, bassist Earl May, drummer cians in Toronto in May, AOJ is much more Leroy Williams and tap dancer Jimmy than that. Slyde. The next night bassist Don While the celebration that takes place in Thompson is honored by a band featuring Toronto's Distillery District May 17 to May saxophonist John Handy, guitarist Jim ~1 serves as an introduction to AOJ, the Hall, saxophonist Phil Dwyer, bassist Dave group is formulating ambitious plans for Holland and drummer Terry Clarke. "This educational and outreach programs as well is the first time Jim Hall has been here in as regular concerts throughout the year. ~6 years, and it's because of respect for Don," notes Bunnett. Established in ~005, by flautist Bunnett, trumpeter Larry Cramer, pianist/educator Saturday night is an Afro-Cuban Dance Howard Rees and Lester, whose backParty with Bunnett' s Spirits of Havana plus ground encompasses marketing commu percussionist RayVega,tuba player Howard nications, AOJ plans to build the audience Johnson and the Ricky Franco Salsa for jazz. Regular concerts are part of this, Orchestra; while Sunday is the debut of the but so is an educational component that Art of Jazz Orchestra, featuring arrangewill see professional musicians-local and ments by Bunnett, Holland and others. international-mentoring students as well Jazz duos perform on Saturday and as other musicians. Sunday afternoons, with singer Shelia 'We have a rich history of jazz in Canada Jordan and bassist Cameron Brown plus and we want to raise its profile locally so that saxophonist Sonny Fortune and drummer it's treated as an art form like opera, ballet Rashied Ali on the first day and pianist and the symphony," explains Lester, AOJ Kenny Barron and trumpeter Eddie president. Too much attention in the Henderson plus saxophonist Ravi Coltrane F 8 CODA tion of jazz films, readings and clinics take place in various venues during the weekend, including the first-ever piano clinic by Jones. A gala fundraiser May 17, with performances by Thompson, Harris, Jones, Slyde and vocalist Denzal Sinclaire launches the celebration. (Details: www.artofjazz.org). "This is the first time Jim Hall has been here in 26 years, and it's because of respect for Don." Although the organization is committed to honoring one international and one local jazz master annually, that's just the beginning, explains Lester. Regularly during the year AOJ will host conc·erts featuring the AOJ orchestra, young artists, Latin jazz players, jazz vocalists and visiting jazz masters. Veteran musicians who are also educators will participate in clinics, master classes and other programs when they're in Toronto. This fits in with the AOJ's objective of year-round education for students of jazz and the general public. These clinics/workshops will take place in the Distillery District as well as at selected school and community centres. Outreach to areas in which youngsters lack exposure to jazzwill be a particular focus, notes Lester. Within a coupe of years the group hopes to launch a summer jazz camp and a high school jazz orchestra. Chartered as a not-for-profit charitable organization, AOJ began with seed money from private donors. Now it's seeking more funding, and so far the response from corporations has been positive, reports Lester. Never losing sight of its dual goals AOJ will "lay the foundation for a strong home for jazz in Toronto and across the country," she states. c KEN WAXMAN .- .. a . ~ 1800MUSICIANS 400 PERFORMANCES 40 VENUES " ... Notefor noteand musician for musician, the Vancouver International JazzFestival is stilltheplacefor theintrepidfan to be." MarkMiller, TheGlobeandMail, Toronto TonyBennett ElvisCostello WithAllenToussaint McCoy TynerTrio E.S.T. SeuJorge BobbyHutcherson Quartet Dr.John AndyBeyQuartet , NelsClineSingers NilsPetterMolvaer JimBlack'sAlasNoAxis JoostBuis"AstroNotes" OrkestRova "Electric Ascension" Belmondo Brothers withYusefLateef NOWOrchestra withMarilynCrispell JerryGranelli"SandhillsReunion" SheilaJordan BaabaMaal MarkHelias TheThing andplentymore! Jazz1imes~ ... more th■ n • magazine THE LISTEL HOTEL TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival Vancouver, British Colnmbia, June 23 - Jnly 2 Dirty Dozen Brass Band,The Duke Robillard Band, The Tilden Webb Trio with David 'Fathead' Newman, Harry Manx and Friends,Ember Swift, Creaking Tree String Quartet,Jane Leroux Quintet. Phone/Box Office: (604) 872-5200 or 888-GET-JAZZ Ticketmaster: (604) 280-4444 JazzFest International E-mail: cjbs@coastaljazz.ca Victo1ia,Blitish Colnmbia, Jnne 23 - July 4 -Victoria group folded in 1998, the JazzFestival Calgary Society assumed production duties, and the festival gained stability through the TD Canada Trust sponsorship arrangement. Venues include bars and restaurants throughout the city, as well as two free stages. Program Highlights: TBA Web: www.coastaljazz.ca Phone/Box Office: (250) 388-4423 or 888-671-2112 Now in its 2,1st season, the Vancouver festival has established itself as one of the most innovative of all the major jazz festivals on this continent. The event routinely features the biggest NorthAmerican mainstream acts along with progressive European improvisers and a host oflocal talent. For musicians, a new element this year is the creation of the Vancouver Creative Music Institute (VCMI), by the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society and Vancouver Community College. This intensive 9-day program brings together 3o apprentice participants with some of the world's leading improvisers-including artistic directors Marilyn Crispell and Mark Helias-in a series of workshops designed to develop personal approaches to improvisa tion and composition. E-mail:info@jazzvictoria.ca,boxoffice@jazzvictoria.ca Web: www.jazzvictoria.ca The Victoria Jazz Society has been producing this festival since 1985.JazzFestInternational attracts over 35,000 people from around VancouverIsland and beyond, to see over 300 musicians in 70 paid and free performances. The Victoria Jazz Society also produces the Vancouver Island Blues Bash, which takes place over the Labour Dayweekend. Program Highlights: Bobby Hutcherson Quartet, Kenny Werner/Claudia Villela Duo Baaba Maal, Mike Stern Band, Paquito D'Rivera Quintet, Joe Coughlin, Roberto Occhipinti Quintet, Dr. John and the Lower 911, Divine Brown,Jacksoul. Medicine Hat JazzFest Medicine Hat, Alberta, June 19- 45 Program Highlights: Seu Jorge, Esbjorn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.),McCoy Tyner Trio, Michel Phone: (403) 529-4807 Donato's European Quintet, Pink Martini, Bobby Web: www.medicinehatjazzfest.com Hutcherson Quartet featuring OrkestRova "Electric Renee Rosnes, Ascension," Belmondo Brothers with Yusef Lateef, NOW Orchestra with Marilyn Crispell, Jerry Granelli's "Sandhills Reunion," Andy Bey Quartet, Nels Cline Singers, Nils Petter Molvaer, Jim Black's AlasNoAxis, Joost Buis's Astra Notes, Mike Stern Band, Paquito D'Rivera, Roberto Occhipinti Quintet, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Neko Case. Kaslo Jazz Festival Kaslo, British Columbia, August 4 - 6 Phone/Box Office: (250) 353-7548 E-mail: kaslojazz@netidea.com Web: www.kaslojazzfest.com This small town of 1,000 on the western shore of Kootenay Lake in Southeastern British Columbia effectively doubles its population during this three-day festival held on the August 1 long weekend. The Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges make for a breathtaking natural amphitheatre, and there is limited camping next to the floating main stage site (patrons can even swim around the stage). After the main stage shuts down for the night the jazz jam contin ues at a local pub. overhanging the bay. Program Highlights:Michael Franti and Spearhead, Jane Bunnett and the Guantanamo Blues Project, E-mail: info@medicinehatjazzfest.com Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, this festival in NorthernAlberta has grown from a grassroots community- based event, to one that now boasts an impressively diverse lineup of international touring acts. This year's edition also expands festival activities to a full week for the first time. Not bad for a town of only 56,000 people. Like the other big-city presenters, the Medicine Hat Jazz Society is also beginning to expand its activities beyond the festival season presenting spring and fall concerts from national touring acts like Jane Bunnett and Rich Underhill. Program Highlights: Paquito D'Rivera, Bobby Hutcherson, Gospel Hummingbirds, Roberto Occhipinti, Carol Weisman, Ryan Cohan, Groove Society, Maraca. TD Canada Trust Jazz Festival Calgary Calgary,Alberta, Jnne 16 - 45 Phone: (403) 262-1500 E-mail: info@jazzfestivalcalgary.ca Web: www.jazzfestivalcalgary.ca The CalgaryJazzFestivalwas founded in 1980 under the auspices of the province ofAlberta's 75th birthday. After the original production Yardbird Jazz Festival Edmonton, Alberta, June 43 - July 2 Phone/Box Office: (780) 432-0428 Ticketmaster: (780) 451-8000 E-mail:jasiek@yardbirdsuite.com Web: www.yardbirdsuite.com When the Edmonton Jazz City Festival qui etly folded under the weight of accumulated deficits last spring, it appeared as though the festival circuit in Western Canada would be left with a huge hole. But then the volunteer- based Edmonton Jazz Society came to the rescue. In the space of only 12,weeks the board and local musicians pulled together a plan for a back-to-grassroots event that featured a wealth of local Alberta talent and international acts including Dave Holland, Sheila Jordan and Matthias Lupri (see CODA 32,3). Having had a full year to plan the second edition must have seemed like a luxury to the organizers this time around. Program Highlights: Mike Stern, Paquito D'Rivera, E.S.T,Alberto Pinton, Michael Bates's Outside Sources, Les Projectionnistes, Marc Atkinson Trio. SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Jnne 43 - July 4 Phone/Box Office: (800) 638-1211 (April to July) or (306) 652-4700 E-mail: sask.jazz@sasktel.net Web: www.saskjazz.com Another festival marking a major anniversarythis year (their2,oth), the event is appropriately named for the province and not a city, as there are performances in Regina, Moosejaw, Prince Albert and North Battleford. The main stage in Saskatoon is situated on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River in the shadow of the Delta Bessborough Hotel. This festival is a surprising gem in the heart of the prairies. Program Highlights: McCoy Tyner, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Nimmons 'n' Braid, E.S.T.,. Roberto Occhipinti Quintet, Bobby Hutcherson, Michel Donato, Michael Kaeshammer, Harry Manx, Marc Atkinson Trio, Jesse Cook, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. CODA 13