NANAIMO – On September 15, 16 and 17, New Orleans – the birthplace of Jazz – is coming to town to celebrate Nanaimo’s Inaugural International Jazz Festival, and the 100th Birthday of the First Jazz Recording. Direct from New Orleans, the John Ellis quintet Double Wide will headline the Saturday concert.
For 3 days and nights, the downtown will be hopping with the beats and grooves of live jazz, including a New Orleans-style “second line” parade starting in the Old City Quarter.
There will be Jazz in Diana Krall Plaza and other public spaces. Carmella Luvisotto’s Dukes of Wellington kick things off on Friday along with Bryan Stovell’s NMA Band, and Andrew Homzy’s NOLA Nighthawks will play a Friday night Swing / Jazz dance at the Best Western Dorchester.
Featured on Saturday afternoon is Steve Jones’ Decadence. On Sunday morning its free Gospel & Blues (thats where Jazz started!). A Sunday afternoon double bill at the Port Theatre features Rick Scott and Nico Rhodes: Roots & Grooves followed by the Greg Bush Sextet.
This Festival is “Jazz for You” – for all ages. Five free and four ticketed events are all Downtown, all weekend long.
Complete Festival details, member discounts and schedules are posted at nanaimojazzfest.ca.
Tickets are now on sale the Port Theatre http://www.porttheatre.com
Produced by the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival Association with support of the TD Bank, the City of Nanaimo, the Nanaimo Foundation, the Nanaimo Hospitality Association, Long & McQuade, and the Best Western Dorchester Hotel.