blues festivals, Canada

Calgary International Blues Festival
August 2-8, 2010

Little Feat, Chicago Blues Reunion, The Holmes Brothers & More

Organizers for the 6th Annual Calgary International Blues Festival, slated for August 2-8, 2010, have announced their headline roster for this year’s event.

A full week of the best in blues will feature workshops, noon hour performances and their signature late night Twilight Blues Series, culminating in four days and nights of the best in blues at Shaw Millenium Park. The family-friendly outdoor event will also feature a colourful arts market, record tent and a beer garden.

Mainstage will showcase legendary international blues acts such as Little Feat, The Holmes Brothers, Mississippi Heat and the Chicago Blues Reunion, Canadian giants such as JUNO Award winners Monkeyjunk, John Lee Sanders and Morgan Davis, and up an coming stars of tomorrow such as Kelly Kavanaugh and the winner of this year’s CBMA Singing the Blues competition, Annike Odegard, who will be accompanied by the Randy O Band.

Calgary Bluesfest is facing some challenges with the recently announced change in venues due to the City’s LRT construction, moving locations to Shaw Millenium Park from their home at Pumphouse Park. Organizers feel confident the temporary move won’t impact sales with the strength of their headline roster and the ongoing support of the loyal blues fans that populate the city.

for more info visit www.calgarybluesfest.com

jazz obituaries, Canada

Rob McConnell
1935 – 2010

McConnell Renowned for Work With Boss Brass

Canada loses another jazz legend with the death of valve trombonist Rob McConnell, who died of cancer in a Toronto hospital on Sunday, May 1. The internationally renowned musician and bandleader who best known for his work with Boss Brass, was 75.

Musician, composer, arranger, educator and recording artist Rob McConnell was a household name in Canada, his professional career beginning in the 1950s. He formed the Boss Brass in the late 60s, the ensemble going on to receive multiple Grammy nominations and a win for Best Jazz Big Band in 1984. The group also captured three JUNO Awards and appeared with multiple jazz legends through the decades such as Mel Torme, Moe Koffman, Ed Bickert, Don Thompson and Guido Basso, to name a few.

Rob McConnell was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and was received the Order of Canada in 1998.

jazz concerts, Canada

John Stetch Trio
Regina, Edmonton, Montreal
May 7-10

John Stetch Epitomizes What’s Right With Canadian Jazz

New York based jazz pianist John Stetch brings his trio with Mike Downes and Joel Haynes to his native Canada to perform select dates in Regina (le Bistro – May 7), Edmonton (Yardbird Suite – May and Montreal (Upstairs – May 9, 10).

John Stetch epitomizes all that’s right with Canadian jazz. The acclaimed artist was born in Edmonton, his father a jazz fan who exposed his young son to the music, and uncles who were performers and founding fathers of the Yardbird Suite.

Stetch first played clarinet before choosing piano and spent several years performing ethnic Ukranian music. He went on to earn his music degree in Montreal, toured across Canada, received multiple Juno Award nominations, and has won numerous commissions, grants and awards including the Montreal International Festival’s Prix du Jazz (1998). John has been frequently recorded by CBC and was commissioned to compose a piece for CBC Radio Orchestra’s farewell concert after 70 years.

Relocating to New York City in 1993, Stetch spent a decade as sideman for bassist Rufus Reid, and has since recorded and/or performed with Seamus Blake, Mark Turner, Jeff Ballard, Jorge Rossi, Charlie Haden, Victor Lewis, Hank Roberts, Ben Street, Billy Hart and others.

Stepping out as a solo artist with his 1993 release, Carpathian Blues, Stetch has since released ten albums, including the critically acclaimed trilogy, Ukrainianism, which Downbeat called “one of the best solo piano recordings in recent years.” His latest release, TV Trio, is based on TV themes from the 70’s and 80’s. The album received a JUNO nomination and placed #13 on the U.S.A. JazzWeek chart, where it remained in the Top 20 for a month.

A Steinway Artist, Stetch has been featured on several NPR shows: “Piano Jazz”, with Marian McPartland, “Jazz Set” with Branford Marsalis, “Weekend Edition” with Leanne Hansen, and “Listen Here!” with Neil Tesser and Mark Ruffin. Since his 2006 release of Bruxin’, Stetch has brought his own music to such highly regarded venues as The Monterey, Saratoga, and Tanglewood Jazz Festivals, The Gilmore Keyboard Festival, The Chautauqua Institution, The Jazz Standard, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Eastman’s School of Music, and Sculler’s.

John Stetch teaches at Cornell University and Ithaca College.

for more info visit www.johnstetch.com