Hello, my Steemit friends!
Edmonton is hosting TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival this week. It started on Saturday, June 24 and will be ending this Sunday, July 2.
This years schedule is very versatile with more that 60 shows spread all over the city. The jazz artists are not only Canadian, but also from United States, Australia, Russia and Europe.
Since I am a big music fan, jazz being one of my favorite, I decided to help out. I was volunteering yesterday afternoon at the Needle Vinyl Tavern on Jasper Avenue and had an amazing opportunity to enjoy the show of Donny McCaslin Group.
The only predictable thing about Donny McCaslin’s first ten albums was their unpredictability. Each new release arrived with a new line-up and not infrequently a new direction, often providing the perpetually curious saxophonist/composer with fertile new ground to explore.
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The show was amazing and the public was more than impressed. The group had two 45-minute sets with one break in between. All the CD copies of Donny's last album Beyond Now, that was released last year, were sold by the end of the evening. Of course I made sure that I got one myself.
We were lucky enough to get the autograph and a chance to chat with the saxophone master.
Although the show must have been exhausting for Donny, he took more than an hour for anyone that wanted to take the photo, chat or get his autograph. Not many performers do that and I felt like he was really appreciative and humble.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was incredible. I will most certainly visit the Needle Vinyl Tavern for some more music shows after the TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival ends.
Tonight I will be helping out at the Bellamy’s Lounge at Chateau Lacombe. It will be hosting Josh McHan Quartet. The show starts at 10 PM.
Josh is one of western Canada’s most in-demand bassists. A graduate of the McGill Jazz Performance program in Montreal, Josh now makes his home in Edmonton where he is a regular feature on the jazz scene, playing with such Edmonton luminaries as Tommy Banks, PJ Perry, Jim Head, and Chris Andrew. He is also in high demand as a sideman for various singer/songwriters, performing both live and in the studio. Having recently received his Masters degree in Double Bass Performance, Josh can now also be seen performing within the classical realm, including several concerts with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Josh also teaches at MacEwan University.
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Any other Steemit jazz lovers out there?
Have a wonderful day everyone :)
This must be a great experience, so nice to see that you're making the most out of summer events there. I'm sure there's a great atmosphere, I miss such festivals. Your photos are really nice too.
Sounds like an extraordinary time spent for every jazzfan 🎷🎶
It was. I have to admit Donny McCaslins performance was quite abstract for me. However, seeing the musicians work so well with each other was unbelievable.
Thanks for the info regarding the TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival. Seem like a lot of fun. It's has been a while since I have been to a Jazz Festival.
This year is my first year attending Jazz Festival in Edmonton. Also my first time volunteering in such event. Nice experience and a lot of interesting people I have met.
You were blessed to volunteer for such a wonderful venue. I love JAZZ and even play some. That is a memory you will always have. Thanks for sharing.
It takes a lot of my free time and I am a bit tired from my full time job and the Festival. However, it is only ten days and it seemed like a great event to be a part of. I am looking forward to tonight's performance of Tommy Banks and Al Muirhead.
Nice! Love Jazz Festival. I will attend myself this summer.
That is a great plan. What kind of jazz do you prefer? :)
All that Jazz! woot woot!!
That's the spirit!
I love jazz but it's been some time since I went to jazz festivals.I miss going to festivals :(
The show I saw yesterday had a 'Jam Session' at the end and anyone could join. There was almost 20 people from the audience that brought their instruments and played. It was a delight to listen :)
:( I wish I had gone
hoping to make a festival myself! at least a workshop or two.
How are you planning to do that? :)
The A train probably, maybe take a caravan? ;)
Nice !! Great post, I do love Jazz , I enjoy it a lot more when its live. At home I listen some but very little. But when there´s something going live around me, I will be there, pint in hand and staring blankly to the musicians (trance)
Thanks for sharing!
I agree with you. It is much better live. This is why I decided to go. At home or in the car I can not really focus on the music. Live performance is a pure stress relief.