Sudbury’s annual jazz festival is set to take place in the downtown core September 8-10.
This year’s Jazz Sudbury Festival will again be based at Place des Arts, with the New Orleans-style Jazz Walk held at various venues downtown.
Every year Jazz Sudbury features the best musicians of their genre. This year’s lineup includes both traditional and fusion jazz, along with blues and Cuban jazz.
Headliners this year include:
- Juno-award winning blues artist, Crystal Shawanda, who grew up in Wiikwemkoong on Manitoulin Island
- Juno award-winning jazz vocalist Emile-Claire Barlow, performing with Reg Schwager, originally from Sudbury and a multiple winner of jazz guitarist of the year.
- Multiple Juno nominee Denzal Sinclaire
- Juno nominee Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks
- Cuban jazz duo Okan
- Jazz fusion group Queen Kong
“Jazz Sudbury attracts the very best musicians, not just in jazz but in other genres with strong ties to jazz such as blues, soul and fusion, and that’s because musicians love coming here to play this festival,” explains Al Walsh, Jazz Sudbury’s artistic director.
“You don’t to be a jazz fan to attend, just a fan of great music. Come on out. You will be pleasantly surprised.”
Again this year, northern Ontario will be well-represented at Jazz Sudbury. In addition to Crystal Shawanda and Reg Schewager, the Jazz Sudbury line-up features local performers such as the Nickel City Stompers dixieland jazz band, the Tony Simpkin Trio, the Underground Trio and the Sudbury Guitar Masters.
Jazz Sudbury offers more than the mainstage concerts.
There is the Saturday afternoon Jazz Walk concert series in the downtown core, the after-hours open jam session Saturday night for anyone who wants to join the action on stage, and the RBC Emerging Artist Showcase workshop for up-and-coming musicians on Sunday morning at 11 o’clock at Kuppajo’s.
Jazz Sudbury is also a partner in weekly jazz concerts in downtown Sudbury as a lead-up to this year’s festival. Wednesday night jazz concerts are featured at Place des Arts, while the Night Owl is the host venue for Thursday night concerts.
Tickets for Jazz Sudbury can be purchased through the Place des Arts box office.
For the full Jazz Sudbury schedule and ticket information, visit www.jazzsudbury.com.
