- 2011 Guelph Jazz Festival a hit with sponsors, audiences and artists; city came alive like never before
- Art Auction Tickets Now on Sale!
- Raise the Sun: a benefit concert for Japan
- Jane Bunnett in concert with The Vertical Squirrels
- Musagetes and the ICASP project welcome the first Improviser-in-Residence, Jane Bunnett
- AUX OUT
- The Improvising Eye Symposium
- Raising the Profile of Jazz and Improvisational Music
- Guelph Jazz festival a major success
- Resurrection of Woods Factory during Nuit Blanche for remarkable installation
Current News
CBC Radio 2 broadcasts Breit & Lussier concert tonight
1. Breit and Lussier: CBC broadcast tonight
2. 14,000 attend 2008 Guelph Jazz Festival
3. Jazz Festival board volunteers wanted
4. Han Bennink of ICP Orchestra wins prestigious European jazz prize
5. Next year's festival: Sept. 9-13
The numbers are in, and it's official! The 2008 Guelph Jazz Festival was a resounding success and surpassed all previous years for attendance. If you were unable to make it to some of the concerts, keep watching these newsletters for regular updates about when to catch some of the Festival's performances on CBC Radio 2 (the first broadcast is tonight). Plus, there's big news for percusionist Han Bennink of the International Composers Pool Orchestra. Read on and find out more about these items as well as exciting opportunities for new festival volunteers.
1. Breit and Lussier: CBC broadcast tonight
Local guitar hero Kevin Breit and Quebec guitar virtuoso Rene Lussier played a sold-out concert at the River Run Centre's smaller concert hall during this year's Festival. Their hour-long improvised duet left audience members enthralled by their playing and showmanship. If you'd like to relive the experience or hear it for the first time, tune in to The Signal on CBC Radio 2, tonight at 10 pm.
2. 14,000 attend 2008 Guelph Jazz Festival
This year, the Guelph Jazz Festival staged an unprecedented six shows at the River Run Centre, allowing us to sell more tickets than ever before. Consequently, ticket revenue increased by 40 per cent over last year.
The 8 Upper Wyndham St. Jazz Tent acts were a huge success as well, with people enjoying free music and dancing for an additional five hours this year, closing for the first time at midnight. The tent was full throughout the evening and if beer sales were any indication, our tent audience numbers were nearly double what they were in previous years.
In summary, we're estimating our total 2008 audience at 14,000 - the combined attendance of all 23 concerts, including the 12 hours of tent programming.
3. Jazz Festival board volunteers wanted
The Guelph Jazz Festival is seeking volunteers who are willing to be part of the fun and collaborative process of putting the Festival together. If you'd like to contribute to a diverse, dynamic community organization in Guelph, please contact us about becoming a volunteer on our board of directors, or on a board committee (you needn't be a board member to serve on a committee).
In particular, the Festival is looking for individuals with these strengths:
* accounting background or experience
* human resources / management experience
* experience with fundraising and financial development
* community event management
* working with volunteers
* computer system support and website skills, including html coding
Board terms are three years long, and there are approximately 8-10 board meetings a year. However, there are other opportunities for people who can only make a shorter commitment. If you are interested or have questions, please contact info@guelphjazzfestival.com or 519-763-4952.
4. Han Bennink of ICP Orchestra wins prestigious European jazz prize
Han Bennink - whom we heard at this year's festival as drummer and leader of the Netherlands's Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (ICP) - has just won the coveted European jazz prize Hans Koller Preis 2008. Bennink long ago mastered the free jazz sound as well as traditional swing, confirming his role as an ambassador for European jazz.
5. Next year's festival: Sept. 9-13
Labour Day is late next year (the latest it can be): Monday, Sept. 7. So that makes our 2009 festival a little later as well. Mark your calendar now:
* 2009 Guelph Jazz Festival - September 9th to 13th
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