The Jazz Sudbury festival is still fairly new to town, but the performers aren't. Oliver Jones will headline the show with Juno-winner Ranee Lee at the second-annual festival running from September 10 to 12 at Science North.
Jones, a “Jazz legend,” was a music professor at Laurentian University in the late 1980s, and was awarded an honorary degree in 1992, according to a press release from Jazz Sudbury.
“Both Oliver Jones and Ranee Lee have had storied careers that have seen them perform at the greatest venues in the world,” Paul Lefebvre, festival chair, stated.
“Having these two performers headlining Jazz Sudbury really puts our festival on the map. If you love jazz, then you already love these two artists; if you aren't too familiar with jazz but love great music, Oliver and Ranee are the perfect introduction to live jazz music because they're simply the best at what they do.”
Other artists performing at the festival include Alex*Cuba, Brandi Disterheft and Manteca.
“Our goal this year was to showcase, not only the best jazz musicians in the country, but also to bring artists that will appeal to a wide audience,” Lefebvre stated.
At the press conference held on June 10 to announce the Jazz Sudbury lineup, Rick Bartolucci, Sudbury MPP, said $75,000 would be given to the festival from the Celebrate Ontario 2010 program.
According to the press release from Bartolucci's office, the money will be used to enhance the festival, attract new crowds and create local jobs.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the festival, visit www.jazzsudbury.ca or phone 673-7770.
