This year, the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival is about celebrating community, and will do so for three days in mid-September.
Although, Jo毛lle Rabu, one of the festivalB次元官网网址檚 co-ordinators, said itB次元官网网址檚 always been about coming together and celebrating great talent from across Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淵ou can see by a lot of the performers, a lot of the artists are from Victoria, all the way up to Comox and Campbell River even,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd thereB次元官网网址檚 something in the water in Nanaimo. There really is B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e been here for almost 30 years B次元官网网址� and the talent, the skills, that have come out of this town. ItB次元官网网址檚 formidable B次元官网网址� And I really believe it has a lot to do with the mentors.B次元官网网址�
For decades, Nanaimo has fostered a bounty of home-grown musical talents, some of whom have risen to international acclaim while others cultivated their passion and nurtured future generations.
From Sept. 15-17, more than 127 musicians will celebrate with performances throughout six downtown Nanaimo venues, including the Port Theatre, the Old City Quarter, the, the Vault Caf茅, Modern Caf茅, the Nanaimo Bar and the Courtyard by Marriott.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 festivities kick off with a noon performance by the Shineolas on Wesley Street as the Old City QuarterB次元官网网址檚 Sounds of Summer outdoor concert series closes and the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival begins.
The Wesley Street stage concerts will continue on Sept. 15 with hourly performances by the Teighan Couch Quartet, Doc Fingers, Duncan Symonds, Super Fly Weight and more.
In keeping with tradition, the jazz festival invites all music lovers to participate in the New Orleans-style musical walk on Sept. 16 at 11:45 a.m., starting at Maffeo-Sutton Park, during which people can walk, dance, prance, skip and cartwheel along the waterfront with an eight-piece band.
The evening of Sept. 16 will include an all-star concert with more than 40 musicians at the Port Theatre as they celebrate and pay homage to one of NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 most beloved music mentors, Bryan Stovell. The award-winning Wellington Jazz Band will provide pre-show music in the lobby.
Stovell will be B次元官网网址減ut to workB次元官网网址� for the finale as he conducts the Nanaimo MusiciansB次元官网网址� Association Big Band, now celebrating its 56th year, featuring a repertoire of classic jazz, swing, Latin, fusion, New Orleans sounds.
B次元官网网址淏ryan has such a history, not just as a teacher, but as a musician back in the day. HeB次元官网网址檚 got such incredible stories,B次元官网网址� Rabu said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 one of those special teachers who has devoted himself to teaching, in essence. HeB次元官网网址檚 a wonderful musician whoB次元官网网址檚 devoted himself to giving back B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of musicians out there, not all of them can teach. And the ones who can, are the greatest gift because it means thereB次元官网网址檚 continuity.B次元官网网址�
Full event details and schedules for the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival can be found online at .
READ MORE:
mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
