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Ottawa Jazz Festival

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Ottawa Jazz Festival
Main Stage at Confederation Park
GenreJazz Festival
DatesJune 21–30, 2025 [1]
Location(s)Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Years active1980–present
Websiteottawajazzfestival.com
[[Jermaine Holmes - Fri, Oct 11, 2024 at 8pm Flat Earth Society Orchestra - Wed, Nov 6, 2024 at 7:30pm]]

The Ottawa Jazz Festival held in Ottawa, Canada, is a music festival held annually, and celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2025.[2] It showcases a wide range of jazz genres, including swing, jive, fusion jazz, hot jazz, boogie as well as diverse cultures and traditions. The festival claims to bring "a wide range of Canadian and international musical greats to Canada's capital."[3] Additionally, it features new and emerging talent covering a spectrum from pop and rock to lush harmonies.[4] While jazz is the core focus, the festival also includes music from genres such[5] as such as blues, rock and indie.[6]

Ticketed and free shows are held in various venues, including Confederation Park, Marion Dewar Plaza, the National Arts Centre and select local clubs. In previous years, the event has drawn up to 300,000 visitors and featured over 850 artists and more than 100 concerts.[7][8]

History

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The festival was established in 1980 when local musicians Bob Misener, Tony Pope and Bill Shuttleworth came together to organize a weekend of jazz music in Major's Hill Park.[9] In 1989, the jazz festival relocated to what is now the location of its Main Stage at Confederation Park. In 1996, Catherine O'Grady took over as Executive Producer of the festival. Since her arrival, management has worked alongside the board of directors and a supportive community to achieve a 300% increase in audience attendance.

In 1999, Wynton Marsalis's group, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, helped the festival achieve a new attendance record with 8,000 people, which helped put the event on the map.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the festival.[10] In place of the event, a virtual concert series named Tenacity was streamed to both domestic and international audiences.[11] In August 2021, despite many pandemic-related restrictions, the festival returned for a four-day span of live and virtual concerts with over 50 artists performing.[12] Finally, in 2022, the festival made a full in-person return with a nine-day lineup featuring artists like the Punch Brothers, Kamasi Washington, Holly Cole, Cory Wong, Cory Henry, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and more.[13]

Under the direction of Catherine O'Grady, the Ottawa Jazz Festival has served as a key economic driver for Ottawa's downtown core, leading to increased tourism and boost to local businesses each summer.[14] Since 2009, the festival has brought in over $448 million in tourism spending.[15]

Programming

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The first several decades of the festival's programming were initially shaped by Jacques Émond, and Petr Cancura took over the role in 2011. [16]

The festival has showcased numerous dynamic jazz artists on its stages, including Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Buddy Guy, The Roots, Earth, Wind & Fire, Salif Keita, Dave Brubeck, Mavis Staples, Roy Haynes, Toots Thielemans, Branford Marsalis, Béla Fleck, Kenny Werner, Stanley Jordan, Sonny Rollins, Terence Blanchard, Diana Krall, D.D. Jackson, Maynard Ferguson, Kenny Rogers and John Mayall.

Winter Jazz Festival

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The Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival hosts shows that aim to foster an environment for creative interactions among jazz artists in the off-season.

In 2023, a two-day festival ran in February and featured performances by artists such as Sarah Neufield, Kenny Barron and Thus Owls.[17][18]

Current Stages[19]

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References

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  1. ^ "Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Jazz Festival. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ottawa Jazz Festival".
  3. ^ "Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Tourism. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "At the 2023 Ottawa Jazz Festival, female Canadian jazz musicians are flourishing".
  5. ^ "Ottawa Jazz Festival". ottawajazzfestival.com/. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "Who to see at the Ottawa Jazz Festival: Herbie Hancock, Feist, Kokoroko and more". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "TD Ottawa Jazz Festival receives Celebrate Ontario Funding to enhance programming and increase tourism". Ottawa Festivals. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  8. ^ "2019 Media Marketing Report". AnyFlip. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "About - Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Jazz Festival. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  10. ^ "TD Ottawa Jazz Festival cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic". CTV News. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  11. ^ "About - Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Jazz Festival. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  12. ^ "Ottawa Jazz Fest returns with mixed live and virtual lineup". Charlatan. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "2022 Festival Headliners - Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Jazz Festival. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  14. ^ "Music lovers catch early summer vibes at Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Business Journal. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "Ottawa Jazz Festival to boost local nightlife, tourism and economic impact for the city". Ottawa Business Journal. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "About - Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Jazz Festival. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "Herbie Hancock to headline the 2023 Ottawa Jazz Festival; Winter Jazz Festival lineup unveiled". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "Ottawa Jazz Festival recovering but more international travellers would help". Capital Current. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  19. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions - Ottawa Jazz Festival". Ottawa Jazz Festival. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  20. ^ "Azrieli Studio - National Arts Centre". National Arts Centre. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "Fourth Stage - National Arts Centre". National Arts Centre. Retrieved September 26, 2023.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents
[edit]
  • [1] "CNN - Where to travel in 2023: The best destinations to visit"
  • [2] "DownBeat - Ottawa Jazz Festival Performers Brave the Elements"
  • [3] "Elle Canada - 10 In-Person and Virtual Music Festivals and Events Happening Across Canada This August"
  • [4] "Exclaim - Brekky Boy Made It Well Worth the Trip"
  • [5] "Exclaim - Feist Was Charismatic and Unpredictable in Ottawa"
  • [6] “Jerusalem Post - Israeli bands at one of Canada’s most prominent jazz festivals”
  • [7] “Narcity - This Ontario City Was Named One Of The Best Travel Destinations In The World For 2023”
  • [8] "Narcity - 30 things to do in Ottawa that you have to add to your winter bucket list"
  • [9] "NCPR - Music that tells a story at the Ottawa Jazz Festival"
  • [10] “Ottawa Citizen - At the 2023 Ottawa Jazz Festival, female Canadian jazz musicians are flourishing”
  • [11] “Ottawa Citizen - Remembering Tony Bennett: A Review of his 2001 Ottawa Concert”
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