In contrast to last year's youth movement, this year's star power at Confederation Park includes Branford Marsalis, legendary pianist Dave Brubeck, the Dizzy Gillespie Tribute Big Band, Don Byron and world-renowned singer Cesaria Evora. "This is jazz in capital letters," festival artistic director Jacques Emond said at yesterday's announcement. "There are no border-line artists this year, just the best players in the world.
Everyone wants to play here now." The Connoisseur Series at the National Archives will feature such artists as Joey Calderazzo, Renee Rosnes and the Bill Frisell Quartet, Dick Hyman and Peter Appleyard, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, Aki Takase and the Fats Waller Project as well as some from jazz's next generation, including Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto, lounge orchestra Pink Martini and 15-year-old wunderkind Matt Savage.
In all, the festival will feature 600 musicians playing in 115 concerts at nine venues from June 21-July 1. With a budget now topping $2.4 million and sponsorships up substantially over last year, the 2007 edition is the healthiest ever.
That's major cause for celebration, says GM Catherine O'Grady, who over the past year has watched cracks grow in the foundations of the tulip and chamber music festivals. "We have wonderful talent playing here this year, but without the support of the board, the administration and the community at large, you don't have an event," she said. "The festival experience is one of the best in the market because we've stuck with our core audience while developing niche opportunities.
"We've made coming to the jazz Festival an event people in Ottawa want to be a part of.
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