Local Means Fresh: Some of Ottawa’s Best at Jazz Fest
Each year the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival is proud to present some of the city’s finest artists. This year we are presenting 36 groups with over 350 musicians taking part from the Ottawa area.
Although there are many fantastic artists, I (Petr Cancura, Programming Director) would like to focus on a few groups that the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival is proud to feature.
Joe McPhee, Nicolas Caloia, Jesse Stewart (June 20th, 8pm at the NAC: Fourth Stage)
Ottawa’s very own Jesse Stewart is a Juno Award winning artist, professor at Carleton University, and a collaborator with some of the best improvisers the world has to offer. He has put together a beautiful project with the legendary American multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee and Montreal’s bassist Nicolas Caloia. Joe McPhee has been recording since the ’60s with artists like Ken Vandermark and Evan Parker to name a few. Joining the two is bassist Nicolas Caloia, one of Montreal’s well-known improvisers, noted for his work with The Ratchet Orchestra.
Rebecca Noelle (June 26th, 7:30pm at Laurier Avenue Music Stage)
You may have heard the fantastic Rebecca Noelle last year with Delbert and the Commotions. Her powerful voice can also be heard with the Pep Tides. Noelle is rooted in blues and rock, and has been collaborating with some of the best in the city. The TD Ottawa Jazz festival is proud to present Rebecca’s solo project, featuring co-conspirator Brian Asselin on tenor sax, Jeff Asselin on drums, Fred Paci on trumpet, David Gaw on guitar, Ken Seeley on bass and Steve Boudreau on keyboards.
trio \ DEF (June 27th, 2pm at Laurier Avenue Music Stage)
trio \ DEF is Marc-Andre Drouin (bass), Wayne Eagles (guitar), Ian Froman (drums). Of course, DEF = Drouin/Eagles/Froman
Spearheaded by Ottawa’s outstanding guitarist and improviser Wayne Eagles, this group brings together two other fantastic artists from New York City and Montreal. The trio plays original contemporary jazz with a focus on dynamic interaction/interplay. Influences range from European textualism to earthier early jazz fusion. Marc-Andre Drouin is a Berkley educated bassist currently living in Montreal, having spent time in Boston and Los Angeles. Wayne Eagles is a long-time performance instructor and ensemble director for the Music program at Carleton University in Ottawa, who has worked with such artists as Billy Kilson and Adam Nussbaum, with many acclaimed recordings. NYC’s Ian Froman was mentored by Elvin Jones and Miroslav Vitous. An associate professor at Berklee, he teaches at Drummers’ Collective, New School University & City College. A former member of Metalwood, he plays with Sheryl Bailey, Dave Liebman and John Abercrombie.
They’ll be launching their first CD together at the performance!
Jenna Glatt (June 27th, 6:30pm at Laurier Avenue Music Stage)
It is not uncommon for Ottawa to produce outstanding singers, look at Kellylee Evans, Kathleen Edwards and Alanis Morissette for starters. The next generation is here and Jenna Glatt is at the helm! She attended the prestigious Berkley College of Music in Boston and feels just as comfortable singing jazz as she does pop. She will be opening for the remarkable Snarky Puppy on the main stage as part of the festival’s Great Canadian Series. She will have great cast with her including Bryan Allen on keys, Najoule Morris on bass, Trey Taylor on drums, Joel Reid – guitar.
See you at the shows! – Petr