Edmonton’s Yardbird Jazz Festival Kicks Off Next Week

Canadian jazz festivals

Yardbird Jazz Festival Kicks Off Next Week

Edmonton’s Yardbird Jazz Festival returns for the second year starting June 23, showcasing local and international artists. The festival has taken over from Jazz City, which folded last year, leaving the city in the lurch for a jazz festival event.

Rallying artists, Yardbird Suite directors and community persons, the festival met great success last year, and is sure to repeat that success anew in 2006.

The lineup is heavy on Edmonton artists, refreshing in a nation that often places emphasis on touring artists from other countries, proving that Canadian jazz musicians meet world class standards, and recognizing those who have created and nurtured the scene for decades.

With a variety of clubs, theatres, and outdoor venues, the festival will run a full ten days, with music ranging from solos to big bands, fusion to funk, and latin to contemporary jazz.

for more information visit www.yardbirdsuite.com

Below is a schedule of events:

FRIDAY JUNE 23

Edmonton Jazz Orchestra w/Littlebirds
MacLab Theatre

Michael Donato Quintet
Yardbird Suite

Mo Lefever Quartet
Catalyst Theatre

Lane Arndt Trio
Four Rooms

Marco Claveria
Bravo Bistro

Andrew Glover Trio
La Table De Renoir

Rhonda Withnell
Jeffery’s Cafe

SATURDAY JUNE 24

Michael Bates Quartet
Yardbird Suite

Zanussi 5
Catalyst Theatre

Mo Lefever Trio
Four Rooms

Harley Symington Trio
Bravo! Bistro

Charlie Austin Trio
La Table De Renoir

Anna Beaumont Trio
Jeffery’s Cafe

RCA Quintet (noon)
Big Miller Park

SUNDAY JUNE 25

Mike Stern Band (with opening act Mike Lent Quartet)
MacLab Theatre

Jeanette Lindstrom Quintet (In the Middle of this Riddle)
Yardbird Suite

Rubim De Toledo Project
Catalyst Theatre

Peter Belec Trio
Four Rooms

Modo Trio (noon)
Big Miller Park

MONDAY JUNE 26

Paquito d’Riviera Quintet
MacLab Theatre

E.S.T. (with opening act Rhonda Withnell & Don Bradshaw)
Yardbird Suite

Drumheller
Varscona Theatre

Jim Head Trio
Four Rooms

TUESDAY JUNE 27

Rollanda Lee’s Canadian Hot Stars Jazz Band
Le Dixieband
MacLab Theatre

Roberto Occhipiniti Quintet
Yardbird Suite

Don Berner Quintet
Catalyst Theatre

Les Projectionnistes
Faculte St. Jean

Mobius
Four Rooms

WEDNESDAY JUNE 28

Alberto Pinton Quintet
Yardbird Suite

Bobby Cairns Quartet
Catalyst Theatre

Marc Atkinson Trio
Varscona Theatre

Hecubus Trio
Four Rooms

Sillan & Young Duo
La Table De Renoir

Louise Dawson
Jeffery’s Cafe

THURSDAY JUNE 29

Mad Satie Trio
Yardbird Suite

Sheri Sommerville
Catalyst Theatre

Allister Spence Trio
Varscona Theatre

Audrey Ochoa Quartet
Four Rooms

Sillan & Young
La Table De Renoir

Divine
Jeffery’s Cafe

FRIDAY JUNE 30

David Virelles Quintet
Yardbird Suite

JIm Head Quartet
Catalyst Theatre

Joost Buis Astronotes
Varscona Theatre

Glen Halls Trio (7pm)
Toque (10 pm)
Four Rooms

Harpe Jazz Trio
La Table De Renoir

Shelley Jones
Jeffery’s Cafe

SATURDAY JULY 1

Susi Hyldgaard Trio
Yardbird Suite

Late Night Jam
Yardbird Suite

P.J. Perry Quintet
Catalyst Theatre

Pierre Cartier
Chansons de la belle esperance
La Cite Francophone

Dave Babcock Group
Four Rooms

Dixie Group
Andrew/Hutchinson/Dubyk
Toque
Brenan Bros.
Maraca
Big Miller Park

SUNDAY JULY 2

P.J. Perry Quintet
Yardbird Suite

Late Night Jam
Yardbird Suite