Sudbury jazzman Allan Walsh is often heard, but not seen.
CKLU 96. 7 FM fans are familiar with his voice if they listen to his popular weekly jazz show. And thousands of people who saw the YES production of "Chicago" this summer heard Walsh play clarinet and saxophone with the show's pit band.
He plays a more visible role as the artistic director of the Jazz Sudbury Festival. This year's festival starts this coming weekend.
The accomplished but unassuming musician contributes hours of his time and talent to Jazz Sudbury, which is considered one of Top 100 Festivals in Ontario.
He is also largely responsible for bringing free jazz nights, sponsored by Jazz Sudbury, to Place des Arts Bistro on a weekly basis.
The festival, which began in 2009, is a passion for Walsh, who has been artistic director for nine years. He is also vice-president of the board.
In 2022, Walsh was honoured by the Sudbury Arts Council for outstanding contributions to the arts.
Sudbury can thank his wife, Paula Groulx, for getting Walsh, originally from Prince Edward Island, to settle down in the city.
The couple met at Northern Lights Festival Boréal. Walsh, who studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, was playing with Francophone singer/songwriter Robert Paquette, a Sudbury native, and living Montreal at the time.
"This young woman came up to me and said she liked the way I played saxophone. We went on a date and eventually married," said Walsh, who taught at Laurentian University and Cambrian College for more than 30 years, and is a mentor to many young musicians.
Sadly, Laurentian and Cambrian have cancelled their music programs. To fill the void, Walsh began teaching with the Sudbury Symphony Music Conservatory. He is taking a hiatus this year.
Walsh was also instrumental in establishing the Jazz Sudbury youth band for senior high school students.
"I think there are 18 members. And they are very committed. Anyone who has ever been in a band understands team work and peer pressure" to play better, he said.
Walsh, 70, has been playing music most of his life.
"From the time I was in Grade 8, I've played in ensembles. I was in a military band that played for the Queen in 1973. It was the centennial year for Prince Edward Island. We played all over the Atlantic Provinces."
He has played with Sudbury Symphony Orchestra as well as the Northern Ontario Jazz Quartet, and as a member of numerous local trios and quartets. He has performed with blues legend Jackie Washington and jazz great Oliver Jones.
Organizers of the 2025 jazz festival are keen to make music performances accessible by offering free family concerts Sept. 8-9 from 2-5 p.m. in Memorial Park.
"We are collaborating with the Downtown BIA, the City of Greater Sudbury and the Canadian incubator program called Play the Parks to offer free jazz concerts," Walsh said.
The Zak Martel Trio, Sarah Craig Trio, Jeff Stewart's Afro Drums, Harvey King and the Grindstone, The Northern Jazz Octet and Cassidy Houston are scheduled to perform at the park.
Multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist and CBC Music national radio host Laila Biali is the festival headliner Sept. 6 at Place des Arts.
Vince Maccarone's Los Variants open for Bialli. A sought-after performer, studio musician and producer, Maccarone is originally from Sudbury.
Los Variants is a six-piece band that performs world music such as Flamenco, Middle Eastern groove and Caribbean rhythms.
Maccarone is bringing Kevin Turcotte with him. Turcotte, another Sudbury export, is a sought-after musician, provided the trumpet tracks for Chet Baker's (Ethan Hawke) performances in the 2014 film "Born to Be Blue," which was shot in Sudbury.
Hot new jazz singer Kalya Ramu and Turbo Street Funk, a New Orleans-inspired brass-rock quintet from Toronto, will perform Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at Knox Hall on Larch Street.
Walsh will be playing with the Nickel City Dixie Stompers, a travelling band that takes jazz fans on a New Orleans-style walk in downtown Sudbury on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 7) with stops at the Refettorio, La Fromagerie and Knox Hall.
Planning the 2024 festival without staff has kept Walsh and other board members spinnng, but it is a 'labour of love" he said.
Tickets for all events are available on the Place des Arts Sudbury website at MaPlacedesArts.ca or by going directly to maplacedesarts.ca/en/events/jazz-sudbury-festival-2024/#tickets.
Vicki Gilhula is a freelance writer. Helpers is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.