Friday night’s opening of the Ottawa Jazz Festival brought the cool back to our downtown with funky beats, soulful vibes, and all.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue kicked brass on the main stage in Confederation Park, where die-hard jazz fans and general lovers of music came together for an electrifying experience that combined rock, pop, jazz, funk and hip hop.
“This is Jazz Fest,” remarked Veronica Farmer with a detectable trace of incredulity in her voice. The vice president of marketing for Wesley Clover watched the musicians draw energy and excitement from an audience large enough to make things feel lively but still small enough to maintain a level of intimacy. “This is what downtown is and needs to be.”
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Farmer was one of dozens of guests invited to watch the show from the VIP area catered by award-winning chef and restaurateur Joe Thottungal from Thali and Coconut Lagoon restaurants. The evening also featured a live performance from Montreal-based Bellbird.
Guests included U.S. Ambassador David Cohen and his wife, Rhonda, who hail from the great jazz city of Philadelphia. Also spotted were Canadian Live Music Association president and CEO Erin Benjamin, Ottawa Music Industry Coalition executive director Mélanie Brulee, and Tara Shannon, new executive director of the Ottawa Festival Network.
It’s an exciting time to lead the organization, said Shannon of the synergistic collaborations happening between arts organizations, businesses and community partners. “There’s so much going on with the city, and I feel like I’m in a position to help and serve,” said the singer-songwriter, mentor and entrepreneur.
Downtown city councillor Ariel Troster and her colleague Glen Gower from the suburban ward of Stittsville were seen soaking up the vibes. “These are the most incredible musicians on the planet, and they’re all right here in Ottawa,” said Gower, who was just so happy to be there. He’s an avid piano player.
Mathieu Grondin showed up a little later on, as one does when they’re Ottawa’s new nightlife commissioner.
On hand were members of the jazz festival board, led by its chair, Ian Burgess. New to the board is Alex McMahon, owner of Arlo Wine and Restaurant — one of the six Ottawa restaurants to make the list of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants in 2024. He likes that the festival is showing music lovers a broader definition of jazz. “I think the festival is going in a really cool direction,” said McMahon, who’s pretty much one big smooth vibe himself.
Festival partners include the Fairmont Château Laurier, which is hosting free jazz piano performances in its lobby this Friday and Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m.
With advanced ticket sales “well ahead” of where the festival was the past couple of years, the event is shaping up to be a success, artistic and executive director Petr Cancura told OBJ.social.
Cancura was also particularly proud of this year’s lineup of artists. “When the stars align, the stars align,” said Cancura, who used to work, tour and record as a trained jazz saxophonist. “Everything is, from my point of view as a musician, going to give you goose bumps. It’s inspiring music, and I think that’s what we do really well, and then we do it in this setting — Confederation Park.”
While Friday night’s weather cooperated perfectly with the festival’s opening night, Cancura acknowledged he’s been keeping a close eye on the forecasts. “I look at it, like, 50 times a day, and it changes every 15 minutes. That’s the nature of it. In 2018, we had an 11-day festival and it rained every day, all day long, and people still came out.”
One could almost hear the melancholic sound of the minor key play when Cancura discussed the subject of funding, not just for the Ottawa Jazz Festival but for festivals in general. Government grants and sponsorship are not keeping up to increasing expenses. The organization has partnered with Toronto-based Cosmo Sports and Entertainment Group to explore alternative revenue streams, aiming to avoid another round of ticket price increases, said Cancura. The festival is also actively seeking partnerships with additional businesses.
Cancura has plans to meet with the directors of other festivals to talk strategy, after the jazz fest wraps up. Festivals are facing “tough times” in the area of funding, he acknowledged. “If something doesn’t change, we’re not going to be around as whole.”
The Ottawa Jazz Festival continues until Sunday, June 30. The lineup also features Kathleen Edwards, Al Di Meola The Electric Years, Lake Street Dive, Laufey, Norah Jones and Veronica Swift. For the full lineup and venue locations see ottawajazzfestival.com.
caroline@obj.ca
