Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2009

Posted on | March 25, 2009 | No Comments

by Nou Dadoun

The curtain has been pulled back a little farther on this year’s jazz festival lineup with the announcement of the series at the Centre for the Performing Arts. Looks like it’s going to be another action-packed fest:

Friday June 26th 2009: David Sanborn plus The Sojourners

With his recent “Here and Gone”, David Sanborn has recently returned to his R&B and blues roots and his early inspirations like Ray Charles, Fathead Newman, (his former employer) Paul Butterfield and Hank Crawford. Saw him ripping it up on Letterman the other night with Sam Moore wearing a t-shirt that said “Sam and Daves”.

Although the Sojourners were nominally formed to back Jim Byrnes on his “House of Refuge” project, their individual and collective roots in the gospel community run deep, soul deep.

Saturday June 27th 2009: Derek Trucks Band plus Steve Dawson

Last time guitar virtuoso Derek Trucks came to town, he tore up the Commodore with a blazing set that featured a special appearance from his partner Susan Tedeschi. This past week, he’s been making headlines with special guests in his alter-ego as co-lead guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band.

Steve Dawson has stepped out from the Strang music he made with Jesse Zubot to show that he can play anything with strings on it.

Sunday June 28th 2009: The Monterey Quartet feat. Dave Holland/Gonzalo Rubalcaba/Chris Potter/Eric Harland plus The October Trio with Brad Turner

The Monterey Quartet has been an sporadic project for these four heavyweights for the last couple of years but are making their first Vancouver appearance as a collective in advance of their debut recording to be released in June.

The October Trio recently released their second CD “Looks Like It’s Going To Snow” with Brad Turner stepping out of the producer’s chair trumpet in hand.

Monday June 29th 2009: Al Dimeola World Sinfonia plus Celso Machado

The award-winning guitarist describes his new project, Al Di Meola World Sinfonia, as “a very South American/European mix of classical jazz-tango improvisation with Middle Eastern overtones.”

Celso Machado first came to Vancouver to play the very first Vancouver Internation Jazz Festival and ended up staying in BC. Although visiting guitarists will often seek him out for a lesson, he can make incredible music with anything at hand including garden hoses, teapots and common household appliances.

Tuesday June 30th 2009: Kenny Werner Quintet feat. Randy Brecker, David Sanchéz, Scott Colley, Antonio Sanchez plus the Fred Hersch Trio

Although Kenny Werner is best known for the effortless mastery of his piano trio and duets work, he’s been branching out over the last couple of years with groups like the Delirium Blues Project, the Lawn Chair Society and this new all-star quintet.

Pianist/composer Fred Hersch is widely recognized for his ability to reinvent the standard jazz repertoire from Debussy to Monk —investing time-tested classics with keen insight, fresh ideas, and extraordinary technique—while unfailingly creating his own unique body of work.

Thursday July 2nd 2009: Remembering the Miles Davis Classic ‘Kind of Blue’: 50 years on with Jimmy Cobb’s So What Band plus John Stetch Trio

At 80 Jimmy cobb is the last surviving member of the sextet that produced one of the most iconic highly-regarded (and best-selling) jazz recordings ever.

John Stetch has reimagined standards, and deconstructed Monk, he could take the Star Trek theme and make it swing (and he does!). Nominated for a Juno this year for TV Trio.

Friday July 3rd 2009: ‘Dedicated to You’ Kurt Elling Sings Coltrane/Hartman with Ernie Watts plus Enrico Rava/Stefano Bollani duo

Coltrane playing with Johnny Hartman was producer Bob Thiele’s idea but it produced an essential recording, Elling and Watts pay tribute but have some things of their own to say too.

Italian trumpeter Rava and pianist Bollani have been playing in a duo (and occasionally with Paul Motian) since the early 90′s; they have several recordings including the 2006 ECM release The Third Man.

Saturday July 4th 2009: Chucho Valdés Quintet plus Hugh Fraser Quintet

Although Chucho Valdés made his name as the leader of Cuban supergroup Irakere, for the last few years he’s been carving out a place in the jazz piano pantheon with a series of jaw-dropping releases on Blue Note.

Hugh Fraser needs no introduction to Vancouver audiences with Ross Taggart and Cam Ryga, you never know who’s going to be sitting in the piano chair!

Sunday July 5th 2009: Michael Kaeshammer plus Nikki Yanofsky

Kaeshammer started out as a boogie-woogie piano wunderkind but has branched out in the last few years, still a force to be reckoned with.

Vocalist Nikki Yanofsky is on her way up, also nominated for a Juno this year for channeling Ella Fitzgerald.

Tickets for Sonny Rollins are on sale now, tickets for the Centre Series go on sale March 26th.

With this embarassment of riches, you should be aware that if you want to buy tickets for these or any Coastal Jazz tickets through the year, you should look into the CJBS Jazz Friends program which offers numerous benefits including avoiding Ticketmaster service charges; in fact it pretty much pays for itself after a couple of pairs of tickets, see Jazz Friends or call 604-872-5200 for details.

Full Jazz Festival lineup to be announced on April 29th.