Twenty-five years of jazzing up Victoria
Al Di Meola.
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Patrick Blennerhassett
News staff
JazzFest International celebrates a quarter century this year with a summer lineup that is stronger than ever.
The festival kicked off yesterday and runs through July 5 at venues around Victoria. Among the highlights are jazz pianist Michael Kaeshammer returning home to perform at the Royal Theatre, and the return of the Derek Trucks Band to JazzFest.
Festival artistic and executive director Darryl Mar said the show by Jacksonville, Fla.-based guitarist Trucks and his band – after a few years’ absence – has been widely anticipated.
Trucks has released a new album since he was here last and was on the cover of Rolling Stone. “It’s really a show everyone is looking forward to,” Mar said of the June 28 show (8 p.m.) at the Royal.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s former jazz golden boy, Kaeshammer, headlines a double-bill show with 15-year-old singer Nikki Yanofsky on Saturday, July 4. With Kaeshammer now based in Toronto, Mar said it’ll be great to see him back on stage in Victoria.
“It’s a bit of a different bill for him. He’s actually going to be bringing a horn section with him. And Nikki is this young protégé who first made her debut at the Montreal Jazz Festival at the age of 13.”
Here’s a list of other selected shows for JazzFest:
King Sunny Ade and His African Beats play Centennial Square this Saturday (June 27) at 7 p.m. One of the most popular musicians ever to emerge from Africa’s music scene, King Sunny Ade has been performing for more than 40 years. His career began in the 1970s, as his 20-member African Beats ensemble evolved into a multi-layered outfit that featured several guitarists, talking drums, vocal harmonies and dancers.
Jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitar legend Al Di Meola performs at the Royal on Tuesday, June 30.
Also on Tuesday, Victoria jazz songstress Emily Braden (as the Emily Braden Quartet) will perform as part of a twin bill with Misha Piatigorsky at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, 907 Pandora Ave. Both shows start at 8 p.m.
The Vic High R&B Band, comprised of members of the school’s Rhythm and Blues Career Preparation Program, play Centennial Square on Friday, July 3 at 7 p.m. Georgia soul musician Ryan Shaw is also on the bill.
For tickets and more information about JazzFest call 250-388-4423, send an e-mail to info@jazzvictoria.ca or go online to http://jazzvictoria.ca.
patrickb@vicnews.com
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