If you’re a jazz fan or just appreciate good music, here are nine reasons you won’t want to miss the annual All-Canadian Jazz Festival in Port Hope, which takes place from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th.
1. Enjoy a free concert at Memorial Park on Friday night
Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Switzerland, Shakura S’Aida now calls Canada home and has been part of the Canadian music scene for over 25 years. Along the way, she has enriched the jazz, blues, and classic R&B communities with her soulful voice, enthusiastic personality, and commitment to deep soul music.
Memorial Park holds 1400 people and seats 400, so make sure you arrive early!
“Don’t Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the Queen of Rock & Soul” – Shakura S’Aida
“Up To Me / That Old Feeling” – Union Duke
2. See guitarist Rob Tardik perform at The Capitol on Friday night
Tardik has been serving up his brand of positive energy-induced, infectious, genre-bending, and eclectic music to audiences all over North America in a career spanning over two decades. With contemporary jazz to pop, world, lounge, Latin and Spanish/flamenco overtones, Tardik has established himself as an multi-award winning guitarist, successful teacher, and entrepreneur.
Reserved tickets are available for $35 from The Capitol box office or online at www.captioltheatre.com
Interview with Rob Tardik
3. Take your family to a free street party on Saturday morning
There’ll be clowns, face painting balloons, nibbles, beads, bands, and the resurrected Queen of Jazz will provide loads of interactive fun for you and the kids.
4. Play a canoe on Saturday morning!
For the uninitiated, the Conundrum is a canoe, created by artist David Hynes, with skins/hides laced over the hull to provide a whimsical engaging “monster of a kettle drum”. Its length allows several people to drum at once and work together as a band (or not).
Its presence at the festival comes courtesy of the festival’s headliner, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, who perform on Saturday night.
“Conundrumming”
5. See the next generation of Canadian jazz musicians
The TD Young Jazz Showcase has been a highlight of the festival since 2002, bringing five or six of the finest high school jazz musicians to Port Hope each September for intensive workshops, culminating in two sets on the main stage at the festival.
This year’s artists are 17-year-old pianist Noah Franche-Nolan from Vancouver, 17-year-old drummer Ethan Olynyk from Nanaimo, 18-year-old alto saxophonist Brandon Tse from Toronto, 20-year-old tenor saxophonist Matt Lagan from Toronto, and 16-year-old bassist Evan Gratham from Vancouver.
The TD Young Jazz Showcase performances take place at Memorial Park on Saturday, September 12th at 3:15 p.m. and on Sunday, September 13th, at 12:30 p.m.
“Stay With Me” (Sam Smith) – Brandon Tse
“Billie’s Bounce” – Evan Gratham
6. Learn how to play the harmonica
Between main stage sets, Canada’s top harmonica player Carlos Del Junco will bestow brand new harmonicas on five lucky participants during four instructional workshops on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons in Memorial Park.
For obvious reasons, participants get to keep their “harp” and all bragging rights.
Ticket-holders can sign up at www.allcanadianjazz.ca to reserve their free harp and a lesson with the “master”.
“Heaven’s Where You’ll Dwell” – Carlos del Junco and Jimmy Bowskill
7. See festival headliners Jane Bunnett and Maqueque with 2ish perform on Saturday night
Maqueque band members are Jane on flute and soprano sax, virtuoso drummer Yissy García, dynamic percussionist Daymé Arceno (who is also a powerhouse vocalist), Yusa on tres guitar and fretless bass, pianist Danae, and Magdelys on batás and congas.
Instrumental duo 2ish (Saskia Tomkins on nyckelharpa, viola and violin and Brandon Scott Besharah on acoustic fingerstyle guitar, saxophone, Hurdy Gurdy) open the evening at 7 p.m. Their “heavy wood” music is influenced by musicians like Michael Hedges, Django Reinhardt, and Stephane Grappelli, and their original compositions contain strong jazz and folk elements.
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque
“Thud Puppy” – 2ish
8. Tweet during the festival for a chance to win a guitar
All pictorial tweets will appear on four big screens and one bandshell projector to the festival audience. The “wall of tweets” will go live on the festival website before the competition starts.
9. Get great value for a full weekend of entertainment
Tickets for the festival are only $90 for a weekend pass that includes access to all 14 acts, $25 for Saturday in the Park or Sunday in the Park performances (five acts each, 12 to 5:30 p.m. on both days), and $45 for the Saturday Night in the Park concert featuring 2ish at 7 p.m. and headliners Jane Bunnett and Maqueque at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.allcanadianjazz.ca or at the gate.
Ticket-holders get wrist-banded at the gate, which allows re-entry to the park at any time after enjoying shopping and dining in Port Hope (many establishments are featuring jazz “specials”).
And supporting the All-Canadian Jazz Festival in any way keeps musical arts programs in Canada and brings tourism to Port Hope and Northumberland.
All photos courtesy of All-Canadian Jazz Festival Port Hope except where noted.
