2011 TD WINNIPEG INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL COMES TO A CLOSE

After 10 days of outstanding music at packed theatres, clubs, and outdoor stages in downtown Winnipeg, the 2011 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival closed Saturday night with a slate of sensational shows. Boasting world-class performances from the best jazz, blues and urban artists in the business, the festival kicked off on June 16.

Final attendance and calculations are still underway but preliminary estimates show the 22nd annual festival was a huge success with 25 sold out performances.

“This was my eighth year with Jazz Winnipeg and, in spite of an inevitable challenge or two, it seems to have been one of our most successful. We enjoyed great music, great weather and great audiences,” said Paul Nolin, Executive Producer.

On June 14th, a festival preview show featured a stunning performance from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Showcasing 15 of the world’s finest jazz artists, the orchestra wowed a large, enthusiastic crowd at the Centennial Concert Hall.

The festival officially kicked off with thousands of people converging on Old Market Square for the Free Opening Weekend. Thursday night’s program featured Latin sounds from artists including Trio Bembe, De La Rosa, Marco Castillo & Brazilian Beats and Papa Mambo.

On Friday, the music continued with great performances from the Paul De Gurse Quartet, Larry Roy & Friends, Ministers of Cool, Brent Parkin and Sheena.

Despite ominous forecasts, spectacular weather brought record crowds out on Saturday. The day kicked off with afternoon performances by This Hisses and Les Jupes. The night continued with fantastic music from Nova, The Liptonians, Royal Canoe and Toronto band Born Ruffians.

The great weather continued on Sunday and music fans flocked to the Exchange District for afternoon concerts by Paradigm Brass, The Tight Fits and The Blue Fisher Band. The evening was filled with outstanding music from The Noble Thiefs and The Lytics, followed by festival favourites Moses Mayes.

The Theatre Series officially kicked off on Monday night with a performance at the West End Cultural Centre by New York’s Ollabelle. Montreal’s The Lost Fingers played an energetic show to an appreciative audience on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday night, a near capacity crowd at the Centennial Concert Hall witnessed a stunning performance from rock legend Robert Plant and the Band of Joy. On Wednesday, the Gary Burton Quintet played to a full house at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

New Orleans sensation Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue brought a sold-out house to its feet for a raucous show at the West End Cultural Centre on Thursday. Also on Thursday, klezmer band The Black Sea Station celebrated the release of their debut album with an outstanding show at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

On Friday, the wildly talented Robert Glasper Trio delivered a captivating performance to a capacity crowd at the West End Cultural Centre. The Theatre Series was capped off with a fantastic show from eclectic jazz orchestra Pink Martini. Singer Lucy Woodward, brought in to replace the ailing China Forbes, charmed and delighted 2200 enthusiastic fans.

The Club Series enjoyed its best attendance figures in several years as Winnipeg music fans turned out in droves to hear stellar performances from some of today’s best artists.

Wall-to-wall crowds were treated to a roster of A-list acts at the Pyramid Cabaret. Innovative trio Blonde Redhead kicked off the week with a sold-out show. A last-minute addition to the line-up, Dam-Funk delivered a performance that was the sleeper hit of the festival. The music continued Wednesday night with the outstanding double-bill of Blue King Brown and Orgone. Hip Hop artist Pete Rock gave the festival yet another sell-out show on Thursday. Friday featured Juno-winning artist Shad and the week was capped off with a high-energy performance from The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King kicked off a week of blues at the King’s Head Pub. Guitar duo Greg Lowe and Jack Semple gave the crowd two great performances. The week of blues finished with packed houses for up-and-coming Canadian blues band Monkeyjunk.

The Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club was once again extremely popular with festival fans and featured performances by Romi Mayes, Woody Holler & His Orchestra as well as Colin Linden.

At Aqua Books, Le Garage Café and new venue The Winnipeg Free Press News Café, audiences were treated to amazing shows from touring artists such Kellylee Evans, Son of Dave, Mark McLean’s Playground as well as the best local acts performing today. Aqua Books featured nightly jam sessions that brought great artists together. On Friday night, the jam brought The Robert Glasper Trio to Aqua Books for an impromptu performance with local musicians which delighted the audience.

The popular Jazz for Lunch Series featured performances from the Paul De Gurse Quartet, Big Jay’s Jump Blues Revue, Son of Dave, Kellylee Evans, and the Air Command Big Band.

Festival artists led free workshops throughout the week at the TD Jazz Labs. Presented with support from Canadian Heritage, the sessions were led by Winnipeg-born pianist Glenn Patscha, Montreal’s The Lost Fingers, Toronto drummer Mark McLean, guitarists Jack Semple and Greg Lowe, pianist Robert Glasper and singer-songwriter Colin Linden.

Jazz Winnipeg would like to thank the nearly 300 volunteers, its sponsors and government funders for their essential support. Most of all we’d like to thank the thousands of music fans who came out to make it such a success.

The TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival is generously supported by its community partners including title sponsor TD as well as Pitney Bowes, Cisco Systems, Great-West Life, the Fairmont Winnipeg, St. John’s Music, CBC Radio 2, the Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, Stella Artois, Epic Information Solutions, Tetro Design, MTS, Piston Ring Service, the Exchange District BIZ, the Richardson Foundation, Uptown Magazine, McNally Robinson, The Prolific Group, 101.5 UMFM, CKUW 95.9, Manitoba Film & Music, Winnipeg Parking Authority, Canadian Heritage, Manitoba Culture, Heritage & Tourism, the Winnipeg Arts Council, the City of Winnipeg.