Calgary Blues Festival Takes Chill Off Winter

blues music festival, Canada Calgary Midwinter Bluesfest Feb 22-27 Festival Features Full Week of Blues Events Calgary Blues Music Association gears up for its 3rd annual Midwinter Bluesfest, slated to run Feb. 22-27 with a host of events. Starring Sonny Landreth, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Carson Downey Band, Keith Hallett Band, Tim Williams, and Hills & Lemelin, the week [...]

52nd Annual Grammy Awards

jazz, blues music news 52 Annual Grammy Awards Winners Announced Jan 31, 2010 WINNERS IN JAZZ & BLUES CATEGORIES The 52nd Annual Grammy Award winners were announced last night in Los Angeles at the star-studded gala event. Listed below are the winners in the jazz and blues categories, for complete listings visit the link below. WINNERS IN JAZZ CATEGORIES Best Contemporary [...]

Maple Blues Award Winners Announced

blues music news, Canada Maple Blues Awards 2009-2010 Ottawa’s Monkey Junk Capture Five Awards The Toronto Blues Society’s Maple Blues Award winners were announced last night at the annual gala. Topping the awards were Ottawa band Monkey Junk, who captured five awards including Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year (Steve [...]

Jazz Drummer Ed Thigpen Dies

jazz music news Ed Thigpen 1930 – 2010 Thigpen Drummer of Choice for Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald One of jazz music’s brighest stars has gone out with the death of legendary drummer Ed Thigpen, who died January 13th at the age of 79 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Thigpen, who was born in Chicago and raised in Los [...]

Coastal Jazz Presents Anthony Braxton

live jazz, Canada Anthony Braxton with his 12 + 1 tet Friday, January 29 at 8:00pm Christ Church Cathedral 690 Burrard Street Improvised Jazz Legend Leads Large Ensemble Coastal Jazz and Blues Society presents another installment in their presenting season with saxophone legend Anthony Braxton with his 12-piece ensemble, the 12 + 1 tet, in concert Friday, January 19 [...]

National Music Centre Receives $25 Million

music news, Canada Cantos Music Foundation National Music Centre City of Calgary Supports Cantos Music Foundation Initiative The City of Calgary has approved a $25 million commitment toward the building of a National Music Centre on the site of the King Edward Hotel in the East Village. The City will release a “seed money” payment of [...]

Norwegian, Canadian Jazz Connection

live jazz, Canada Harvard Wiik Trio with Simon Fisk, Jerry Granelli Feb 15 & 16 Beat Niq, Calgary Bassist Simon Fisk to Present and Perform World Class Jazz Calgary musician and composer Simon Fisk is once again putting together another world class ensemble for a weekend of top-notch jazz February 15 & 16 at Beat Niq [...]

Edmonton Jazz Supporter Craig Magill Dies

jazz music news, Canada Craig Magill 1941-2009 photo credit Brian Gavriloff, The Journal, File Jazz Community Reels from Loss Edmonton’s jazz community is reeling from the news that Craig Magill, a long-time supporter, has died December 31 while in New York. Magill, who was 69, suffered a massive brain injury after a fall, accidentally losing his footing outside a [...]

White Rock Blues Society Throws a Fundraiser

blues music news, Canada The Twisters Monday, Jan. 11 Yale Hotel, Vancouver Fundraising Event Helps Group Attend Maple Blues Awards The White Rock Blues Society is presenting a fundraiser on Monday, Jan 1 at the Yale Hotel in support of blues band The Twisters, who’ll use the proceeds to cover travel costs they’ll incur getting to a couple [...]

Winnipeg Blues Fans Rally for Venue

blues music news, Canada The Windsor Hotel “home to Winnipeg blues” Petition & Rally Supports Blues Venue Winnipeg blues fans are building momentum in a bid to stop the rumored demolition of the Windsor Hotel, home to the city’s blues scene. Forming the Facebook group “Save the Windsor Hotel-Petition with us!!!” the group have mobilized a petition and [...]

Roots & Blues Songwriter John Rutherford Releases CD

Blues CD Release, Canada CD Release Tour John Rutherford Echo Broadcast Album Marks Rutherford’s Debut as Solo Artist Blues & roots singer/songwriter John Rutherford embarks on a regional tour next week, appearing across his home province of Alberta in January and then again in March. The tour marks the release of Rutherford’s new CD, Echo Broadcast. Rutherford’s [...]

Cory Weeds, Joey DeFrancesco Headline Cellar Jazz

live jazz, Canada Live Recording Cory Weeds Quartet featuring Joey DeFrancesco Fri & Sat, Jan 8 & 9 Cellar Jazz, Vancouver Jazz Musicians to Record Live CD Vancouver’s Cellar Jazz Club is the place to be next weekend, when saxophonist Cory Weeds lays down the tracks for his next album. He’s bound to create a stellar album as [...]

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Dear Readers; Wishing one and all the very best in 2010. The new decade will surely bring an abundance of beautiful sounds, remember to support live music and enjoy the many jazz and blues recordings that paved the path for today’s music along with the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. Take [...]

Jazz, Blues & New Year’s Eve

live jazz & blues, Canada New Year’s Eve Celebrations Jazz & Blues Calgary & Area Happy New Year 2009! Dear Readers; Wishing you the very best in the New Year and may your days be filled with the glorious sounds of live music! Below is a list of New Year’s celebrations in Calgary and area that feature live jazz [...]

Celebrate New Year’s Brazilian Style

live Latin music, Canada REVEILLON 2010 Acadia Hall, Calgary Latin Music, Dance & Food Make for Spicy New Year Celebration The Brazilian Community Association of Alberta (BCA-AB) celebrates the New Year with a spicy Latin flavour in REVEILLON 2010. With a Brazilian buffet topped only by the music, the annual event is a family-friendly affair. [...]

Jazz Collective Celebrates Early New Year’s

live jazz, Canada Mark DeJong/Simon Fisk Collective Tuesday, December 29 8-11pm Communitea, Canmore Jazz Music, Storytelling Performed in the Rockies Canmore’s Communitea presents an evening of jazz in a pre-New Year’s party on Tuesday, December 29 from 8-11pm. Featured artists for the evening are the Mark DeJong/Simon Fisk Collective with special guest Samantha Whelan Kotkas. The Collective gathers [...]

Jazz Regina’s Annual Homecoming Concert

live jazz, Canada Jazz Regina presents Homecoming 2009 Sunday, Dec. 27 Regina Inn Jazz Concert Features Local Musicians Jazz Regina presents Homecoming 2009, featuring Greg Duncan (guitar), Derek Friesen (trumpet), Kris Maddigan (drums), Sam McLellan (bass) and Jeff McLeod (piano). The annual event showcases local artists who’ve gone on to tour, teach and perform across North America who return home [...]

Christmas Jazz Vespers With 3 Ladies in Jazz

live jazz, Canada Christmas Jazz Vespers Kate Hammett-Vaughn, Jennifer Scott, Karin Plato Thursday, December 24 Christmas Jazz Vespers Support Families in Need Three of Vancouver’s leading ladies in jazz gather to perform a very special Christmas Eve Jazz Vespers Performance at St. Andrews Wesley Church in Vancouver. The event is free of charge but donations are welcomed. All [...]

Cindy’s Christmas Jazz Album Picks

Cindy’s Jazz Christmas Picks Dear Readers; This holiday season our home will be filled with the sounds of jazz. Listed below are some of my favourite Christmas albums by Canadian and international artists. You’ll find information on how to purchase below each listing. May one and all enjoy a peaceful, joyful and bountiful holiday [...]

Calgary Musicians Salute Canadian Troops

Holger Peterson Celebrates 40 Years as CKUA Host

live blues, Canada CKUA Honours Holger Peterson’s 40 Years of Hosting Natch’l Blues Joe Louis Walker, Donnie Walsh & More Slated to Perform CKUA Radio celebrates Holger Peterson’s 40th anniversary as host of the popular roots & blues radio program Natch’l Blues, with a dinner and dance on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 7:00pm at Edmonton’s Cook County Saloon. [...]

Cast Your Votes for the Maple Blues Awards

blues music news, Canada Maple Blues Awards Online Vote Now Active Nominations for Maple Blues Awards Announced Submit your votes for your favourite artists for The Maple Blues Awards. Online voting began on Friday, Oct. 30, with nominees in eight different categories. Cast your votes at http://www.mapleblues.ca/register.aspx before Sunday, Dec. 13 at noon. The 13th annual [...]

Lester Quitzau Trio in Rossland

live blues, Canada Lester Quitzau Trio Monday, November 2 at 8pm Old Fire Hall Rossland, BC Guitarist Tours in Support of New Release Guitarist, songwriter and singer Lester Quitzau brings his trio to Rossland’s Old Fire Hall on Monday, November 2nd for an evening of original music. Touring in support of his new album, The Same Light, released in September [...]

MacLean & McLean’s Century Blues Tour

live blues, Canada McLean & McLean present Century Blues Tour Veteran Bluesmen Perform More Than 100 Canadian Dates Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean are on the road again in 2009 with their National Steel “Century” Blues Tour of more than 100 back to back shows spanning 9 provinces and 2 territories. The veteran bluesmen will make [...]

Johnny Tornado Stops in Alberta on Canadian Tour

live blues, Canada Johnny Tornado & the Storm Riders Storm Riders Alberta Tour Saturday, October 17 Shamrock Hotel, Calgary Sunday, October 18 Blues on Whyte Storm Riders Features an Organic, Live Off the Floor Sound Blues guitar man Johnny Tornado and his Storm Riders band make stops along their Canadian tour to perform in Calgary [...]

Monday Night Jazz Series Features Michelle Gregoire Quintet

live jazz, Canada University of Calgary Monday Night Jazz Series Michelle Gregoire Quintet Monday, November 30 at 8pm Beat Niq, Calgary Michelle Gregoire Quintet to Appear at Beat Niq Now in its sixth season, the University of Calgary’s Monday Night Jazz Series features pianist Michelle Gregoire in quintet at Beat Niq Jazz Club on Monday, November 30th. Led by Gregoire, the [...]

Dino Dominelli Quartet Returns to Edmonton Jazz Club

live jazz, Canada Dino Dominelli Quartet Friday, October 16 at 9pm Jeffrey’s Cafe, Edmonton Versatile Saxophonist Leads Quartet for a Night of Contemporary Jazz The Dino Dominelli Quartet makes a return to Edmonton’s Jeffrey’s Cafe to showcase an evening of modern Jazz. Formed and lead by Dino Dominelli (tenor & soprano saxophones), quartet members include fellow Edmonton [...]

Trumpeter Dean McNeill in Calgary

live jazz, Canada Jazz Is Presents Trumpeter Dean McNeil Fri & Sat, November 13 & 14 Irene Besse Steinway Hall, Calgary Trumpeter to Perform with Jazz Is Resident Ensemble The Jazz Is Society of Alberta presents trumpeter Dean McNeill November 13 & 14 at Irene Besse Steinway Hall as part of their 2009-10 concert season. Complementing the evening’s [...]

Prime Time Big Band Celebrates 15th Anniversary

live jazz, Canada Prime Time Big Band Fall Into Swing Saturday, Oct. 31 Beth Tzedec Synagogue Ballroom Calgary Calgary Ensemble Features Local Music Greats Calgary based Prime Time Big Band celebrates their 15th Anniversary with Fall Into Swing, a dinner and dance at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue Ballroom on Saturday, October 31. Prime Time is Calgary’s longest-running Big Band and has [...]

Vocal Legend Big Miller Honoured

jazz news, Canada Honouring Big Miller Unveiling of Statue Big Miller Park, Edmonton Statue Unveiling Pays Tribute to Jazz & Blues Singer Edmonton pays respect to jazz & blues vocal great Big Miller, when the unveiling of a sculpture of the singer by Danek Mozdzendski is unveiled on Saturday, September 26, at Big Miller Park on Tommy Banks [...]

1st Annual Rossland Jazzfest Kicks Off

jazz festivals, Canada 1st Annual Rossland Jazz Festival Sept 23-27 Rossland, BC Intimate Venue Provides Home for Jazz Rossland, BC is home to a brand new jazz festival that will feature 25 world-class musicians in the intimate environment of the village’s old fire hall, from September 23-27. Featuring 25 world-class musicians in some of jazz music’s leading ensembles, [...]

Downchild Celebrates 40th Anniversary With Concert Tour

live blues, Canada 40th Anniversary Celebration Downchild Blues Band with special guest Colin Linden Saturday, October 10 at 7:30pm Port Hope Theatre, Nanaimo, BC A Host of Special Guests Join Downchild for Celebrations In celebration of their 40th anniversary, the legendary Downchild kicks off a Canadian tour in October, performing with a stellar cast of special guests along the way. [...]

Carma Acoustic Blues Series Kicks Off New Season

live blues, Canada Carma Acoustic Blues Series features Michael Powers Saturday, September 12 Engineered Air Theatre Epcor Centre, Calgary Guitarist Michael Powers Considered the “Future of the Blues Five-time blues award nominee Michael Powers performs tonight at the Engineered Air Theatre, kicking off the 2009-10 Carma Acoustic Blues Series at Calgary’s Epcor Centre for Performing Arts. Described as a meld [...]

Jazz Duo Features Hurdy-Gurdy & Saxophone

Chabenat-Padovani Duo Friday, September 18 12:10 pm at Cantos 7:00 pm at Alliance Francaise Calgary Ancient & Contemporary Fusion of Sound in Calgary Concerts Alliance Francaise and Cantos Music Foundation present the duo of Gilles Chabenat (hurdy-gurdy) and Jean-Marc Padovani (saxophone) for a truly unique pair of concerts in Calgary. Appearing for a free noon hour performance at [...]

Calgary Jazz Community Rallies for Club

live jazz, Canada Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club Gala Event Sept. 10-12 Calgary, AB Beat Niq Jazz Revitalization Plan Calgary’s premiere jazz club, Beat Niq, is threatened with closure due to the economic slump felt in the city. With the threat of the doors closing, the Calgary jazz community is rallying to raise funds for the club [...]

Cheryl Fisher Celebrates “Moments Like This”

Jazz CD Release Cheryl Fisher Moments Like This (Catfish Records) Friday, Sept 18 Engineered Air Theatre, Calgary Saturday, Sept 19 Yardbird Suite, Edmonton Jazz Vocalist Marks Release with Alberta Concerts Jazz vocalist Cheryl Fisher releases her new CD Moments Like This with two celebratory concerts planned in her home province of Alberta. Cheryl will perform on Friday, September [...]

Canadian Jazz Guitar Great Jackie Washington Dies

jazz news, obituaries, Canada Jackie Washington 1919 – 2009 Washington One of Canada’s Most Beloved Jazz Figures Hamilton, Ontario jazz guitarist and singer Jackie Washington has died at age 89. The esteemed musician died on Saturday, June 27th at Hamilton’s St. Joseph Hospital from complications resulting from a heart attack. Washington last performed in public three weeks [...]

Sail Away on Jazz

Jazz Is presents Jazz on the Lake Saturday, July 25 Heritage Park, Calgary Calgary Jazz Group Performs Aboard Historic Sternwheeler The Jazz Is Society of Alberta continues their annual tradition of jazz, cocktails and sunsets on board the S.S. Moyie, an historic sternwheeler that sails on Calgary’s Glenmore Reservoir at Heritage Park, on Saturday, July 25th. Jazz on the [...]

Canadian Jazz Piano Giant Bob Erlendson

jazz concerts, Canada Bob Erlendson Quintet Fri & Sat, June 19 & 20 Beat Niq, Calgary Rare Calgary Performance to Feature Jazz Piano Master in Quintet Canadian jazz piano legend Bob Erlendson brings his musical brilliance to the stage this weekend in Calgary, performing with his quintet at Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club on Friday & Saturday, [...]

CJSW Radio Plans Special Jazzfest Programming

jazz festivals, Canada CJSW Radio Special Jazzfest Programming June 22-28 Daily Shows Showcase Calgary Jazzfest Artists CJSW Radio, an official radio station for Calgary Jazzfest 2009, is presenting special jazz programming from June 22-28 in honour of the Calgary International Jazz Festival’s 30th Anniversary. Adding spice to the station’s regular programming format which includes jazz shows weekday mornings [...]

Sky High Blues Festival Headline Roster

blues festivals, Canada Sky High Blues Festival August 1 & 2 Rock Creek, BC Festival Features Pacific Northwest Blues The 12th Annual Sky High Blues Festival takes place this August 1st & 2nd, in Rock Creek, BC, and features a a swath of top-notch blues artists from the Pacific Northwest. This year’s Mainstage artists will include the self-described “Rootyamericanbluesrock” [...]

Calgary Jazz Drummer Nominated for Montreal Jazzfest Awards

jazz music news, Canada Tyler Hornby Les Soirées jazz TD Canada Trust Saturday, July 4 at 7 & 9pm Montreal Jazz Festival Tyler Hornby Receives 2 Award Nominations, Appears at Festival Calgary based contemporary jazz drum master Tyler Hornby has been nominated for two awards at the Montreal Jazz Festival 2009, receiving nominations for the prestigious General Motors Grand [...]

jazz festivals, Canada Sylvan Lake Jazz Festival August 13-16 Sylvan Lake, Alberta Jazz At the Lake Festival Celebrates 7th Anniversary The 7th annual Sylvan Lake Jazz Festival takes place August 13-16 with a top-drawer roster of headline artists including legendary pianist Oliver Jones, who will appear in concert at the Stevenson Performing Arts Centre on Friday, August 14. Also [...]

Free Improvisation the Mark of Bug Incision’s Jazz

Bug Incision presents Aaron Leaney, Moller/Tufts Wednesday, June 10 at 8 & 9pm Weeds Cafe, Calgary Aaron Leaney, Moller/Tufts Star in Double-Header Concert Calgary based record label and presenters Bug Incision continues with it’s ongoing monthly series on Wednesday, June 10 in the back room at Weed’s Cafe. The evening’s program will features two sets by leading [...]

Tiempo Libre Heats Up Concert Series

Latin jazz concerts, Canada Tiempo Libre Tuesday, June 16 at 8pm Jack Singer Concert Hall Calgary Afro-Cuban Sensation Performs in Calgary Miami-based, two-time Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre appears as part of the BD& P World Music ongoing concert series. The group performs at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary on Tuesday, June 16th at 8pm. One of the hottest [...]

Triple-Bill Big Band Dance Party Tonight

Cochrane Music Society presents their 6th annual Big Band Dance

Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor Dies

Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor Dies at 80

RJS Student Big Band Concert

RJS Student Big Band Friday, June 5 Regina Inn, Cannington Room Student Musicians Perform for Public The Regina Jazz Society Student Big Band appears in concert on Friday, June 5 at the Regina Inn’s Cannington Room. Marking it’s second year in the Jazz Regina outreach program, the RJS Student Big Band is made up of students [...]

4th Annual Art of Jazz Festival This Weekend

jazz concerts, Canada Art of Jazz June 5-7 Distillery History District, Toronto Festival Celebrates Italian Jazz & Culture This year Art of Jazz honours Italian jazz and culture. The Distillery will be transformed into the festival nella distilleria where live jazz is everywhere and the cobblestone streets are filled with sweet aroma of Italian cooking, fine wines, beer, [...]

jazz festivals, Canada Medicine Hat JazzFest June 19-28 Medicine Hat, AB Southern Alberta Jazz Festival Expands Reach The 13th annual Medicine Hat Jazz Festival runs June 19-28 with more than 15 ensembles from around the world performing at a variety of free and ticketed venues. Headline acts include the Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI), Elmhurst College Jazz [...]