Vancouver Jazz Fest

[Lois Gilbert]

From June 20th to July 1st Vancouver plays host to one of the biggest and most culturally diverse music celebrations in the world. Each day from noon to the wee small hours, jazz of all styles and stripes, blues, funk, Latin, fusion, electronica and world music resonates from venues big and small across the city.

This year¹s 18th annual event produced by the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, once again offers a multi-genre mix of world class artists, many of whom are unique to Vancouver and not often heard on U.S. festival programs. Selected artists set to appear are: Cesaria Evoria, Susie Ibarra Trio, Cinematic Orchestra, Wayne Shorter Quartet, George Lewis/Marilyn Crispell/Miya Masaoka/Hamid Drake Quartet, NOJO with special guest Sam Rivers, Holly Cole, Fredrik Nordstrom Quintet, Paul Rutherford/Torsten Miller Ensemble and Dylan van der Schyff Project with Michael Moore, Brad Turner, Achim Kaufman and Mark Helias.

The complete schedule will be announced on April 30.

From Water Street in historic Gastown to concerts in the venerable artist-run Western Front; from hip bistros like Studio 16 to great concert halls like the Orpheum Theatre and the Commodore; from the coolly lit CBC recording studio downtown to the airy Performance Works on Granville Island; from the waterfront plaza at Lonsdale Quay to the huge du Maurier stage at David Lam Park‹Vancouver comes alive with a spirit and energy seldom experienced during the rest of the year.

This year¹s festival features over 1700 musicians from Canada and around the world performing at over 40 venues including major theatres, nightclubs and outdoor stages. There are many free events including a two-day street festival held in Gastown on opening weekend (June 21-22), a free two-day indoor/outdoor extravaganza at the Roundhouse/du Maurier Stage at David Lam Park on closing weekend (June 28-29), and daily free outdoor performances at the du Maurier stage at the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza (June 24-29).

Over 430,000 people attended the Jazz Festival in 2002 easily making it Vancouver¹s biggest cultural event of the year.