Canadian Jazz Festival

Calgary, AB – JazzYYC, Calgary’s jazz society, is pleased to release the full schedule for the annual Canadian Jazz Festival!

The JazzYYC Canadian Festival will be running from November 9th to 12th bringing some of Canada’s brightest jazz stars to Calgary for a celebration of music. Our Canadian Mainstage Series runs Thursday to Sunday at the Ironwood Stage & Grill in Inglewood. Be sure to catch our Wild Rose Late Night Series at Lolita’s Lounge. Dance the night away at our special Remembrance Day concert for our annual swing night with international jazz Star Evan Arntzen! Sunday afternoon features our wildly popular annual JazzWalk, sponsored by TD and the Inglewood BIA.

JazzYYC Canadian Jazz Festival

Details and tickets: https://www.jazzyyc.com/canadian-jazz-festival-2017/

Thursday, November 9: 

Festival Launch Party: Steve Amirault
We kick off the festival with a members-only event at Art on 9^th – it pays to be a JazzYYC member! https://www.jazzyyc.com/member

Workshop: David Braid (Piano)
Master Canadian pianist and composer talks technique, theory and inspiration.
Steinway Hall – free
12-1:30pm

Mainstage: Double Bill with The North (featuring David Braid and Mike Murley) and Steve Amirault
This special double-bill is a must for piano lovers. Kicking off the evening is international award-winning Nova Scotia-born pianist/vocalist Steve Amirault performing a special solo set. The second half of the evening brings together all-star Canadian/Scandinavian quartet ‘The North,’ featuring JUNO Award winners David Braid (piano) and Mike Murley (sax).
Ironwood Stage & Grill – $35 adult/$25 students
7:00pm

Wild Rose Late Night Series: MJ DeWaal Quintet
Vocalist MJ DeWaal kicks off the Wild Rose Late Night Series at Lolita’s Lounge with an evening of tunes from her YYC Music Award-nominated album, ‘Sophisticated Lady’, as well as many of her favourites from Billy Strayhorn, Dave Frishberg, Mel Tormé and more!
Lolita’s Lounge – $20 adult/$10 students
9:00pm

Friday, November 10:

Workshop: Trevor Giancola (Guitar)
Up-and-coming Canadian jazz guitar star, Trevor Giancola, discusses jazz guitar technique, with live performance.
Long & McQuade South – free
12-1:30pm

Mainstage: Trevor Giancola Trio featuring Mike Marantz
Our mainstage Illumin8 offering for the 2017 JazzYYC Canadian Festival! Guitarist Trevor Giancola was recently named by CBC as one of Canada’s ‘Top 35 Under 35’ jazz musicians. He will be joined by rising star, NYC saxophonist Matt Marantz, who has toured with Herbie Hancock and Terence Blanchard.
Ironwood Stage & Grill – $35 adult/$25 students
7:00pm

Wild Rose Late Night Series: Bow Djangos
Calgary’s own Django jazz ambassadors bring the flavor of the past into the here and now! Their swing-dance-friendly ‘hot swing’ repertoire derives from the famous Hot Club de France of Django Reinhardt and his modern-day contemporaries. Alluring ballads, valse musettes, driving Latin rhythms, and the swingin-est of ‘django’-esque repertoire will literally make you want to jump up and dance!
Lolita’s Lounge – $20 adult/$10 students
9:00pm

Saturday, November 11:

Kawa Jazz Jam: Jon McCaslin Quartet
Jon McCaslin is one of Calgary’s top drummers and has shared the stage with jazz royalty such as Terence Blanchard, Chucho Valdes, Pat LaBarbera and Don Thompson. Bring your instrument and join the music!
Kawa Espresso Bar
3:00 – 6:00pm

Mainstage: Double Bill with Johanna Sillanpaa Quintet and Sheldon Zandboer Quartet
Our tribute to Alberta’s thriving jazz scene, this show brings together an exciting double-bill starting off with new music from pianist Sheldon Zandboer and his contemporary jazz quartet. Rounding out the evening is Canadian-Swedish vocalist Johanna Sillanpaa’s quintet featuring music from her new album ‘From This Side’ that hit #1 earlier this year across Canadian jazz radio. Special guests, trumpeter Bob Tildesley (Edmonton) and bassist George Koller (Toronto) will be joining both ensembles for a magical evening of Albertan jazz.
Ironwood Stage & Grill – $35 adult/$25 students
7:00pm

Wild Rose Late Night Series: Esteban Herrera Trio
Originally from Mexico City, pianist Esteban Herrera is a veteran performer, composer, arranger and educator whose original contemporary jazz explores a variety of musical genres. His music is innovative and energetic played with a freedom highlighting his masterful improvisation and features odd meters and complex rhythms.
Lolita’s Lounge – $20 adult/$10 students
10:00pm

Special Event: Swing Night with Evan Arntzen and Top Cat Swing Calgary
A powerful tone on both clarinet and saxophone, as well as a charismatic singing voice, Vancouver born/NYC-based Evan Arntzen is a natural musician steeped in the history of jazz. Join Evan for a high-energy tribute to the swing era that includes free dance lessons and demonstrations from members of Calgary’s Top Cat Swing with an all-star Calgarian band.
Festival Hall – $35 adult/$25 students
8:00pm – free swing lessons, 8:30pm show

Partner Event: Foothills Brass Presents Remembrance Day – Music of the Forties
Foothills Brass is celebrating 35 years of presenting high energy, interactive musical programs! The quintet will be joined by a number of special guests, celebrating the music of the war time era.
Scarboro United Church – $20 adult/$15 student-senior/$40 family, 403-508-2225
7:00pm

Sunday, November 12:

Special Event: JazzWalk – Presented by TD and Inglewood BIA
A free, family-friendly event at various venues throughout Inglewood and the Music Mile! Don’t miss your guided tour of all the afternoon’s music with Art Walk With Art. Venues include:

• Ironwood Stage & Grill
• Art on 9^th
• Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar
• Swans of Inglewood
• Kent of Inglewood
• Without Papers Pizza
• Rosso Coffee (National Music Centre)
• Cold Garden Beverage Company
• Hose & Hound Neighbourhood Pub

12:00-6:00pm – Full line up to be announced soon!

Mainstage: Auguste Quartet
Since 1997, the Auguste Quartet has played more than 450 concerts around the world beyond their home base in Montreal, reaching as far and wide as Europe, Mexico, Japan, Korean and USA. Auguste will bring some of the best music and musicians Quebec has to offer to the JazzYYC stage!
Ironwood Stage & Grill – $35 adult/$25 students
7:00pm

Festival Wrap-up Party: Sinistrio
Our yearly festival wrap up party is set to be a high energy and funky evening of music featuring B3 trio Sinistrio! Drawing comparisons to Medeski Martin & Wood, The Bad Plus and Soulive, Sinistrio will rock the Ironwood for the final show of 2017!
Ironwood Stage & Grill – $35 adult/$25 students
9:00pm – free

About JazzYYC

JazzYYC is Calgary’s jazz collaborative – the hub for all things jazz in Calgary! This charitable organization represents, supports and promotes jazz in Calgary year-round. JazzYYC offers an annual concert series, two jazz festivals, one of the largest International Jazz Days in the world, and co-present concerts totaling a remarkable 250+ shows each year. Their JazzYYC Youth Lab Band is comprised of Calgary’s top high school jazz players who learn from veteran artists and learn the art of public performance.

Jazz has many colours that range from elegant to energized to entertaining. The Calgary jazz scene is exciting and plentiful. You can find jazz in Calgary’s clubs, restaurants, coffee shops and theatres. Whether you’re a jazz musician, a diehard jazz fan or a jazz dabbler, JazzYYC has something for you. Find out more at www.jazzyyc.com