Schedule
Friday, October 1
Project Jazz in and around Old Market Square, 8-11pm
Jon Gordon, Rachel Browne Theatre, 7pm
Rayannah, The King’s Head, 9:30pm
A Tribute to Sting, Rachel Browne Theatre, 9:30pm
Saturday, October 2
Project Jazz in and around Old Market Square, 8-11pm
Curtis Nowosad, Rachel Browne Theatre, 7pm
Blues Night with Romi Mayes and Curtis Newton, The King’s Head, 7pm
A Tribute to Sting, Rachel Browne Theatre, 9:30pm
Sunday, October 3
Jazz Jam, The King’s Head, 7pm
Please note: All attendees of events held at the Rachel Browne Theatre and the King’s Head Pub, including ticketholders and guests of ticketholders, must show verification of double vaccination at the door.
Project Jazz
October 1+2, 8pm
In and around Old Market Square
A public art installation project for Culture Days 2021, featuring three projected tableaux brought to life by the innovative and creative energy of jazz. Featuring visuals from filmmakers Mike Maryniuk, Leslie Supnet, and Hugh Conacher and inspired by music from Derrick Gardner, Jocelyn Gould, Richard Moody, and Casati, Project Jazz uses public outdoor spaces in Winnipeg's historic Exchange District as projection surfaces, creating an immersive multimedia experience. This installation is free to experience as part of Culture Days and Nuit Blanche programming.
Jon Gordon
October 1, 7pm
Rachel Browne Theatre
A native New Yorker, saxophonist and composer Jon Gordon was born into a musical family and began playing at age ten. In addition to private saxophone studies he attended Performing Arts High School and won numerous competitions, including the Julius Grossman, Goldman Band, and Performing Arts Concerto competitions. This led to performances as a soloist with the Julius Grossman orchestra, Goldman Band and the Performing Arts Orchestra.
Jon has led his own groups at various European, Canadian and US jazz festivals and clubs including Ronnie Scott's and The Pizza Express (London), The Sunside, The Sunset, and La Villa (Paris), The Brecon Jazz Festival (Wales), The Oslo Jazz Festival, The Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Caribbean Floating Jazz Festival, Savannah on Stage, The Savannah Jazz Festival, and The Wolftrap Festival. He has performed as a sideman at dozens of other festivals, clubs and concert halls around the world.
Currently he is a professor in the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. His brand new album, Stranger Than Fiction, is released September 2021.
Rayannah
October 1, 9:30pm
The King’s Head Pub
Photo credit: Travis Ross
Electro-alternative artist Rayannah returns to Jazz Winnipeg for a night of music and colour featuring lush projections by Saskatoon-based video artist Stephanie Kuse (Sckuse) and a guest appearance by the magnetic drag artist Ruby Chopstix.
First introduced to Jazz Winnipeg audiences opening for Esperanza Spalding, Rayannah has since toured across Canada and Europe. Underscored by intricate beat-making, her evocative lyrics in French and English rise above dense soundscapes and churning rhythms.
Innovative on stage and in the studio, Rayannah unveiled her first full length album "Nos repaires (Our Haunts)” in 2019, earning the title of Producer of the Year and Francophone Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
Rayannah will be joined on stage by her sister and fellow multi-instrumentalist Caro LaFlamme and local favourite Fabio Ragnelli on drums.
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*Please note that this event is open to all ages, but minors must be accompanied at the King’s Head by a legal guardian.*
A Tribute to Sting
October 1+2, 9:30pm
Rachel Browne Theatre
Featuring performances from a diverse group of Winnipeg musicians, including Jennifer Hanson, Sol James, Onna Lou, Ben Tamana, and Brandi Vezina, all backed by house band Ego Spank (Gilles Fournier, Marc Arnold, and Daniel Roy) with Larry Roy, Jazz Winnipeg salutes Sting in celebration of his 70th birthday with two nights of Sting and Police covers at the Rachel Browne Theatre.
Jennifer Hanson’s torchy, seductive vocal style is among the finest in the current generation of jazz singers, while her stage presence is that of the classic generation of singers like Rosemary Clooney, Julie London, and Vera Lynn. She's definitely not just another voice in the crowd.
Winnipeg-based Sol James is a force to be reckoned with, with a voice to match. A unique take on roots/blues with a soulful flair, her music is joyful and honest, leaving audiences smiling, dancing, and celebrating the great stuff of life.
Onna Lou is a singer and a songwriter born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her sweet yet powerful voice has captivated listeners in genres like flamenco, Latin American folk, tango, jazz, pop and rock. Her second album Diamante is currently in production with the support of Canada Council for the Arts.
Ben Tamana is an emerging singer-songwriter and dancer. Ben draws his musical inspiration from various sources, including R&B, soul, hip hop, dancehall, and Zouk.
Brandi Vezina is a Winnipeg singer/songwriter whose authentic country roots are intertwined with rock and the blues. She is a natural born performer who comes from a musical Métis family.
Ego Spank mixes up diverse musical influences to deliver its own unique funky stew. They weave complex funk rhythms, strong bass lines, and mind-boggling solos with distinctive vocals and musical wit. For this performance, Ego Spank will be joined by veteran guitarist and longtime collaborator Larry Roy.
SOLD OUT!
Curtis Nowosad
October 2, 7pm
Rachel Browne Theatre
100 years after the Harlem Renaissance shook the world, there’s a whole new cultural and spiritual awakening in that corner of the jazz world. A key player in galvanizing this fresh and dynamic sense of cultural awareness, drummer/composer Curtis Nowosad has been a major force in The Harlem Sessions, organized by renowned pianist Marc Cary.
Having made his home in Harlem since 2013, the Winnipeg native emerges as a powerful musical force for social justice on a groundbreaking self-titled jazz and blues-driven collection that illuminates past and present history while creating some profound history of its own. Co-produced with Cary, it is his first collection to feature the explosive and intuitive chemistry of his NY-based ensemble that has held court in NYC everywhere from Smalls to The Jazz Standard and full week residencies at Dizzy’s Club at JALC.
Curtis laid the foundation for this current release with two previous critically acclaimed collections, his debut The Skeptic & the Cynic and the WCMA-winning and JUNO-nominated Dialectics, which made DownBeat Magazine’s “Best of 2015” list. A remix project, titled CNRMXD, will be released in early 2022.
Sold out!
Blues Night with
Romi Mayes +
Curtis Newton
October 2, 7pm
The King’s Head Pub
Hailing from the prairies of Canada, Romi Mayes is one of the hardest-working independent musicians touring the globe today. Mayes is an esteemed performer who has toured the globe. She is Juno-nominated and has won six Western Canadian Music Awards, including three for Songwriter of the Year.
Mayes continues to bring her brilliant songs, impressive guitar skills, and passionate performances to stages across the globe. With no intention of burning out or fading away, Romi Mayes has proven she is here to stay.
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Born and raised in Winnipeg, Curtis Newton is one of the brightest stars on the Canadian blues, boogie, and swing scene. His style goes from the fiercely ferocious to sweetly subtle and his sound comes straight from the heart.
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*Please note that this event is open to all ages, but minors must be accompanied at the King’s Head by a legal guardian.*
Jazz Jam
October 3, 7pm
The King’s Head Pub
Join us for a Sunday evening jam session at the King’s Head Pub. House trio Free Time (Carter Graham, Julian Bradford, Kevin Waters) and featured performer Niall Cade will play an opening set, followed by a two-hour straight-ahead jam session open to all aspiring and professional jazz enthusiasts to play and listen alike. This event is free of charge but donations are encouraged!
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*Please note that this event is open to all ages, but minors must be accompanied at the King’s Head by a legal guardian.*