A decade ago, when Jazz Sudbury Festival was in its first year, the headliner was Canadian jazz pianist Michael Kaeshammer.
“I thought 'Why don't we bookend this 10th anniversary by having the headliner that we had for the first Jazz Sudbury Festival?'” said the festival's artistic director, Allan Walsh.
Kaeshammer is headlining the Saturday night of the Sept. 5-9 festival. Mainstage events take place at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre in Bell Park, with multiple other events happening at eight downtown venues.
Also headlining the Saturday night of the festival is Canadian pop and jazz singer-songwriter Molly Johnson.
Walsh said she's “one of Canada's greatest voices,” adding that he's been "trying to get Johnston to come to the festival for quite a few years now, and finally it's happening this year.”
Jazz Sudbury Festival released its full lineup at a press conference at Science North Wednesday morning (see below to read the exciting list of mainstage musicians booked for this year's festival).
Mayor Brian Bigger was on hand to sing some Michael Bublé tunes, accompanied by local musicians Sarah Craig and Brian Quebec. (The verdict? His Worship would make a decent karaoke singer.)
Also during the press conference, local artist Tracy Baker showed off the piano she painted as part of Jazz Sudbury's Keys to the City project.
Last year, a piano decorated in a Canada 150 theme by local artist Joanna Westby was placed at Kuppajo Espresso Bar in the downtown for anyone to play.
The piano decorated by Baker in a “space” theme will be located at Science North for people to play.
“Thank you to Jazz Sudbury for asking me to do this,” she said.
Early bird pricing for Jazz Sudbury Festival tickets is in effect until Monday, July 9.
To purchase tickets to this year's Jazz Sudbury Festival, or for further information, visit www.jazzsudbury.com.
Full mainstage lineup:
Friday, Sept. 7
A native of Termoli, Italy, violinist Luca Ciarla easily transcends the boundaries among genres to trace an innovative musical path, a magical acoustic seduction in perfect balance between written compositions and improvisation, traditional and contemporary sounds. He has successfully performed in jazz, classical and world music festivals and concert series in more than fifty countries in the world.
Winner of the Stingray prize for best composition at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal 2017.
Jazzamboka is the coming together of ‘jazz’ and ‘yamboka’, meaning village or country in the Congolese language of Lingala. Despite the name, the band, made up of five Quebec residents, two of Congolese origin, does not limit itself to conventional Jazz. They prefer instead to draw on their diverse musical backgrounds including Hip-Hop, Soukous, Be-Bop, Funk, Rock, Electronic and, above all, the music of Central Africa. Incorporating a variety of traditional and ancestral musical instruments namely the lokolé and the ngoma into the band’s core instrumentation helps create Jazzamboka’s unique, signature sound.
2018 Juno Award nominated Alysha Brilla is a critically acclaimed Indo-Tanzanian Canadian songwriter and producer who just released her fourth album, “Rooted”. Brilla’s new music draws on the influences of her unique background; blending Indian & East African sounds with a contemporary aesthetic.
Lyrically, Brilla writes about the value of love, equity and spirituality in times of global and personal turmoil. She produces music with and for other artists as well. One of the few female producers actively working in the Canadian music industry, she represents for a lot of young women a voice of belonging. Brilla has been producing music for over ten years; inspired by producers such as Mark Ronson, Stephen Marley and Linda Perry as well as the talented producers she has personally worked with (Boots, Ron Lopata, Brian West, Marcus Kane). Brilla uses vinyl sampling, acoustic recordings, programming and experimentation to achieve a warm blend of retro vibes with a modern twist.
Born in Mont-Laurier, Quebec, Canada, he grew up in a rural setting in a family with a love for country music. Influenced by Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan as well as Otis Redding and Ray Charles, he is often compared to Paolo Nutini. Bazini made his commercial recording debut in 2009 with the single "I Wonder," which became a hit on both French- and English-language radio stations in Quebec. For his first two albums, the singer/songwriter wrote alone and dreamed up an earthy breed of guitar-driven soul that earned him multiple Juno Award nominations. But for his third full-length and second for the US, the 27- year-old Quebec native decided to change up his approach and collaborate with esteemed songwriters from Los Angeles, Nashville, and London. His newest album, “Summer is Gone” was released this past year.
Lucky Chops has been unleashing high-energy brassy funk on the world since forming in NYC in 2006. The intensity of the band’s energy is fueled by their desire to share the healing and inspirational power of music with others. Lucky Chops maintains a busy schedule touring across several continents and is also committed to music education, regularly performing clinics and educational outreaches to help train and inspire the next generation of musicians.
Saturday, Sept. 8
Award-winning jazz singer, songwriter and recording artist Ori Dagan is taking jazz to new and exciting places. His rich baritone voice and impressive abilities as an improviser produce an instantly recognizable sound. In live performance, he surrounds himself with Canada’s finest musicians, performing an engaging mix of material which is always fresh and in the moment.
In recent years he has won numerous accolades for his witty original songs, from “Googleable,” his ode to a search engine, to the anthem for the rhythmically challenged, “Clap on the 2 and the 4.” The latter of these was screened at 15 film festivals worldwide, netting “Best Educational Jazz Short” at the inaugural New York City Jazz Film Festival. Dagan’s third recording, Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole (2017 Winner: Silver Medal for “Best Album” at the Global Music Awards) is a unique homage to the legendary jazz musician and pop icon.
Winners of the 2018 Jazz Sudbury Emerging Artist Showcase, The Anthony D’Alessandro Trio is a swinging piano trio featuring Nick Donovan on drums and Evan Gratham on bass. The Trio was assembled by pianist Anthony D’Alessandro as a means to pay homage to the rich tradition of the jazz piano trio, while simultaneously composing new and exciting music that audience of the modern generation can appreciate and enjoy.
This trio is heavily influenced by the great Oscar Peterson Trio. The Anthony D’Alessandro Trio has performed in many of Toronto’s finest venues and concert series, including the Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar and Lula Lounge.
The roots of Canadian Jazz run deep in Northern Ontario and continue to do so. The number of jazz musicians hailing from the region are not only numerous but notable to the overall national jazz scene. The GNABB is an initiative of Jazz Sudbury Festival Artistic Director Allan Walsh. The band unites musicians from across Northern Ontario with roots in Sudbury to return and play the festival stage.
Big Band members include five time Juno award winner Kevin Turcotte, Reg Schwager, trumpeter Brian O’Kane, Sundar Viswanathan, Shirantha Beddage, Christian Overton, tenor saxophonist and vocalist Elena Kapeleris, Terry Promane, Mike Malone, and Mark Promane.
Borealis Jazz Quartet musicians Tony Simpkin, Brian Quebec and Jack Broumpton will form the rhythm section for the Big Band. Other players include well know musicians and educators; Peter Scherzinger, Blair McNally, Marc Taillefer and Jean-Yves Bégin. Well known musician and educator Dick Van Raadshooven will conduct the band.
Born in Sudbury, Patricia Cano grew up in a Peruvian family. She studied theatre and Spanish literature at the University of Toronto. The acclaimed singer-songwriter and Peruvian Canadian presents her show entitle Madre-Amiga-Hermana. Created with percussionist Luis Orbegoso, this concert pays homage to femininity. The 11 songs (9 originals) center around themes of maternity, race, heritage, love, and environment including the ode Merveilleuse à la Pachamama (Mother Earth), sang in Spanish and in Quechua. Afro-Peruvian rythms, samba, and hints of latino-american folk mix with jazz, and Cano’s unique multilingual style. The artist captures the essence and spirit of all of the cultures she embodies.
Known as one of Canada’s greatest voices, award-winning jazz vocalist Molly Johnson is a mother, singer-songwriter, artist and philanthropist, who has just released her highly anticipated new album, “Meaning To Tell Ya”. Produced by multiple GRAMMY Award winning Producer, Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Norah Jones); it is more than a jazz record. It’s funk, it’s soul, it’s groove played by some of Canada’s best musicians.
Molly has performed throughout Canada, the United States, and France and alongside renowned artists including Tom Cochrane, Blue Rodeo, Tom Jones, Jackie Richardson, Anne Murray, Stéphane Grappelli, Peter Appleyard and more. Molly has also graced the stage performing for some of the world’s most prominent icons including the Prince and late Princess of Wales on the Royal Yacht Britannia, as well as Nelson Mandela and legendary producer and trumpeter Quincy Jones.
Michael Kaeshammer's loyal legions of fans around the globe have come to expect the unexpected from the B.C.-based pianist/singer/songwriter/producer. Unconstrained by genre barriers and any music industry pressures, he follows his own muse, creating work designed to stimulate his own artistic needs, first and foremost. Michael Kaeshammer's recording career now spans 22 years and 12 albums. His last record, 2016's critically acclaimed No Filter, was nominated for a 2018 Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, his eighth nomination (he has won twice). As Kaeshammer’s recent album “Something New” illustrates in compelling and entertaining fashion, Michael Kaeshammer is an artist in complete control of his sound and vision. Following this creative journey continues to be a richly rewarding experience.
