UK singer/composer Gwyneth Herbert is among the performers at the 2018 Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
The 33rd Annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival just announced 150 free concerts at indoor and outdoor venues this summer, between June 22—July 1.
This year’s festival features hundreds of musicians participating in over 300 concerts at 35 indoor and outdoor venues. The 150 free concerts feature local, national and international artists. Venues include St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson St.), The Ironworks (235 Alexander St.), Granville Island in the afternoons (and all day on Canada Day), and at several venues on the North Shore.
Find out more below.
Two of the biggest free outdoor presentations take place on the historic grounds of the Vancouver Art Gallery/Robson Square (June 23-24) and David Lam Park Jazz Weekend (June 30-July 1). The two multi-act lineups bookend the festival and draw up to 400,000 attendees to their respective stages.
Artists appearing at free performance venues include:
Red Baraat—The Brooklyn-based group “is a Bollywood party infused with an explosion of funk,” according to coastaljazz.com. “Versatility is one of the band’s hallmarks. Red Baraat can mesmerize an audience with a funk groove, turn a switch, and drive the same crowd to the brink of delirium.”
Kevin Breit presents Johnny Goldtooth and the Chevy Casonovas—The new project from Canadian guitarist Kevin Breit (Norah Jones, k.d. lang) posits the “swaggering, edgy, mythical” character of Johnny Goldtooth. “Breit creates a captivating instrumental narrative with Ian De Souza bass, Gary Taylor drums, Perry White sax,” according to the coastaljazz.com writeup.
Gwyneth Herbert—Called “A remarkably gifted talent” by the Guardian, Herbert is an award-winning composer/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist. She’s collaborated with writers, choreographers, visual artists, academics, clowns, pirates, and young people in her genre-defying interdisciplinary work.
Alsarah & the Nubatones—Nubian pop from vocalists Alsarah and Rami El Aasser. The songs reflect on modern migration patterns and the cultural exchanges between Sudan and Egypt. Armenian–American oud player Haig Manouki and French-born, Togo-raised bass player Mawuena Kodjovi join Alsarah and Rami.
Alsarah & The Nubatones. Photo by Nousha Salimi.
Ghost-Note—The funky new brainchild from two members of Brooklyn-based, Grammy Award-winning Snarky Puppy, Ghost-Note has a rotating cast of players. The band describes itself as “conscious funk,” in which the musicians “communicate with each other rhythmically.”
Other performers include Maciej Obara Quartet, Tony Wilson’s Tribute to Sonny Greenwich, Wayne Horvitz Snowghost Trio with Peggy Lee, François Bourassa Quartet, and many more.
For more info, visit coastaljazz.ca.
