Beloved for its dedication to jazz music in all it’s beautiful diversity since 1980, the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival has been the steadfast prelude to the Canada Day celebrations. Split over 15 different stages, including three within the National Arts Centre (NAC) and one stage dedicated to open jam sessions by festival performers, the festival features an international roster of gospel, R&B, soul, jazz fusion, world music, with a little bit of country and folk thrown in for good measure.
With those unsure of the variety of music available, here’s an idea of what to expect from the 2017 edition of the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival.
Hannah Georgas
Not to be outdone by the prestigious evening and headlining stages in neighbouring Confederation Park and the NAC, the OLG After Dark Series offers to keep the party going well into the night. On June 23, Hannah Georgas will take the stage at Marion Dewar Plaza in front of City Hall for anyone not ready to rest after the evening’s headliner, Serena Ryder.
Mavis Staples
No stranger to the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the R&B legend will be bringing her soulful singing to the NAC’s Theatre stage on June 26.
Caravan Palace
When they take the TekSavvy Main Stage as part of the festival’s headlining Concert Under the Stars series with their fusion of electronica and traditional jazz, France’s Caravan Palace will treat Ottawa with a sound that comfortably sits in the perfect halfway point between Django Reinhardt and Daft Punk. Caravan Palace performs June 27.
Hiromi Duet Featuring Edmar Castañeda
Refusing to work within the confines of jazz, classical and pop piano, Japan’s Hiromi will be returning to the NAC’s Studio stage on June 27. She will be joined by harpist Edmar Castañeda.
Feist
Thanks to a calendar year with the traditional end of the festival falling after July 1st, the influx of tourists not ready to let the swell of 150th party celebrations die down will be treated to Canadian favourite, Feist, on July 2nd.
Connect with TD Ottawa Jazz Festival:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Born and raised with thoughts and aspirations of becoming a famous bassist in Sarnia, ON; Emily Plunkett now lives in Gatineau, QC, and considers National Capital Region home sweet home. A product of the Beatles, MuchMusic and the Southwestern Ontario summer festival circuit (circa 2000), her interest and love in concert photography came almost completely by accident when her journalism program at Algonquin College required courses in photojournalism (and she quickly realized that photos taken at concerts using a DSLR are enormously better than ones she was taking on a point-and-shoot she bought for a trip to England). She is extremely proud of the fact she has seen Sloan in some form or another 25 times.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login