There is less than a month until the Saskatchewan Jazz fest starts! And there is noone in Saskatoon more excited/busy than me. Well, there will be a lot of busy people... not just me, but I am pretty busy and that is super super super super super exciting!!!!
Anyway, I just thought I would put my two cents in about the artists that are coming, what shows you should avoid and go see, and then let you know when I am playing in case you feel like checkin' me out a little bit too.
Last year the Jazz festival had an amazing lineup. Hellllllllllo Dave Holland! Also other jems from last year include Aurturo Sandoval, Ed Thigpen, Hugh Fraser and VEGI, Mavis Staples, and Sharon Jones (RETURNING THIS YEAR). This is only a few of the amazing acts we had come through this wonderful city of ours.
This years lineup is pretty good as well, including Little Richard, Jesse Cook, and Divine Brown. These are great... I guess... but the problem is that they aren't really jazz and they are spending a shitload of money bringing these people to our city. Now, I do understand that bands like Kardinal Offishal, and K-os, who passed through the city last year, aren't really jazz, but they are part of the "groove series" that is meant to bring out a younger crowd. Included in the groove series is one of my favorites, Sharon Jones. Last year that series of shows worked out wonderfully for the festival and they had the best turnout overall that they had in years. Why did they all of a sudden have to get stupid and crazy with the lineup? They could have brought in Oscar Peterson for the amount of money they are paying for Little Richard. It just seems they are slowly moving away from a jazz festival concept, and closer to a musical festival concept.
Anyway, that should be enough of my ranting... and now that I am into it, you may get to look forward to a entire blog dedicated to this concept. But for now I leave you with my jazz fest dates:
June 22- Buds on Broadway with Elly Paris and the Band That Got Away 10pm
June 24- Kiwanis Park Freestage with Tin Bridge Sextet 6pm (**** Sharon Jones to follow at Odeon!!!)
June 25- Lydia's Pub with Tin Bridge Sextet 9:30 pm
June 26- Bassment as the house bass player for the Jazz Jam night 8pm (musicians bring your horn!)
June 29- Kiwanis Park Freestage (the band doesn't have a name yet but it will be funky) 4pm
June 30- Tentative date set for Lydia's Pub with Tin Bridge Sextet 10pm
June 1- Kiwanis Park Freestage with Elly Paris and the Band That Got Away 4pm
June2- Kiwanis Park Freestage with U of S Summer Jazz band 4pm
There might be a couple more gigs stuck in there that I am still waiting for, but its gonna be a busy, but wonderful week. Myles also graduates that week too, so that will be a lot of fun. I hope to see you guy out at some shows... SHARON JONES, BABY!
Song of the day- Crazy- Gnarls Barkley... yea I probably spelled his name wrong. Can't say I really care right now though.
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