Ottawa (Wednesday, March 16, 2016) - This year's 36th annual TD Ottawa Jazz Festival takes over Confederation Park and the National Arts Centre from with dozens of concerts from one of our most musically diverse lineups ever.
"[A] success inside and out... the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival marked its 35th anniversary by successfully reaffirming its two-pronged appeal to jazz and non-jazz fans alike." - Peter Hum, The Ottawa Citizen (2015)
Each year we welcome hundreds of thousands of spectators to the heart of downtown. Here are just a few of the names that will have them enthralled over eleven unforgettable summer nights:
Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Tour - Celebrating the golden anniversary of the landmark LP that changed the sound of pop music forever, Beach Boys architect Brian Wilson performs his magnum opus in its entirety for the last time, accompanied by an all-star lineup including special guest fellow Beach Boys Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. (July 3)
Sarah McLachlan - One of the most successful Canadian singer-songwriters of all time, Sarah McLachlan's catalogue has sold over 40 million units, including her breakthrough Fumbling Toward Ecstasy and the smash hit Surfacing. (June 25)
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis - Nine-time Grammy Award Winner Wynton Marsalis leads 15 of the world's finest jazz performers in a marquee performance that has drawn raves around the world. (June 29)
Also appearing on the main stage will be Michael Franti & Spearhead (July 2), Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite (June 23),the SFJAZZ Collective: The Music of Michael Jackson and Originals (June 24), Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (June 26), Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (June 27) and Buffy Sainte-Marie (June 28).
These luminaries join the previously announced trio of Chick Corea, Christian McBride & Brian Blade. The iconic Return to Forever founder Chick Corea returns to Ottawa Jazz as part of a virtuoso trio featuring superstar bassist Christian McBride (Sting, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner) and renowned drummer Brian Blade (Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, The Fellowship Band). The trio's epic 2015 collection, Trilogy, took home a Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz recording. (June 30)
The superb facilities at the National Arts Centre have long been the home of the Festival's programming for true jazz aficionados, and this year's lineup is sure to see the NAC's Theatre, Studio and new Back Stage (replacing the Fourth Stage, currently under renovation) with appreciative fans.
These series' are headlined this year by the hottest name in contemporary jazz, Kamasi Washington in a special pre-Festival kickoff performance at the NAC Theatre on June 22nd. In 2015 Washington was featured on the year's most acclaimed album, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, and released his own triple-LP The Epic to rave reviews in both the jazz and mainstream press. Far from intimidating with its sheer size and scope, Washington's opus has helped spark a renewed public interest in jazz music.
This year's featured artists also include a double helping of Montreal-based genius Colin Stetson, performing with Arcade Fire violinist Sarah Neufeld and presenting his new Sorrow ensemble; guitar wizard Charlie Hunter; John Scofield and Joe Lovano Quartet; Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, a roiling, Bayou-inflected R&B group;the unclassifiable Myra Melford's Snowy Egret; Claudia Quintet, featuring drummer John Hollenbeck; mind-altering Scandinavian trio The Thing ( Mats Gustafsson, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love); and many more.
The highlights continue on the OLG After Dark Series, a late night series featuring exciting alternative and independent talent, and on the Laurier Avenue Music Stage across from Confederation Park in Marion Dewar Plaza.
Festival Passes are now on sale at OttawaJazzFestival.com, by phone at 613-241-2633 and in person at the Festival Box Office. Early Bird Pricing will be in effect until March 31, 2016, or while quantities last:
GOLD PASSES - $310BRONZE PASSES - $190
YOUTH PASSES (25 and under) - $90
Field Service Tech by day, Live Music Nut by night! My family and I call the Thousand Islands region of Ontario home. I'm a blogger, social media geek, tech, and live music fanatic. I founded Sound Check Entertainment in 2010 to help promote festivals and emerging artists from across Canada and the world! I now act as festivals liaison, manage media relations and, of course, cover events in the National Capital region. I'm also a diehard Habs fan but Sens fans fear not; as long as they aren't playing against my Habs I cheer just as loud for the Sens.
