February 16, 2018

International All-Star "Jazz at the Philharmonic"

We are thrilled to present multiple GRAMMY Award winners Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Greene, Michael Dease, Benny Green, Christian McBride, and Kenny Washington at the Festival’s sparkling all-star opening night event. It will be tremendous to hear these great artists perform together, and rare to have such talent appearing here in the Niagara region.

The 2018 Festival will be dedicated to Norman Granz, celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth. Impresario, record producer, civil rights activist, and founder of Jazz at the Philharmonic, Norman Granz is arguably the most important non-musician in jazz history.

Jazz at the Philharmonic (“JATP” as it was known) was a series of all-star jam-session-style concerts that began in 1944 when Granz presented a concert at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The first to present jazz in concert halls, giving it the same respect as classical music, he made it a contractual obligation for there to be no segregation in the concert venues, leading the charge against discrimination long before the Civil Rights Movement began.

February 17, 2018

Celebrating Norman Granz and Jazz at the Philharmonic

The historic 1792 St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake is the venue for screenings on Saturday afternoon of two documentaries produced by Norman Granz (one of which, Jammin’ the Blues, was nominated for an Oscar), as well as a JATP concert film. Tad Hershorn, jazz archivist and Granz biographer, will moderate, along with Jacques Muyal, long-time associate of Granz.

Inaugural Gala Evening: Double Portrait

Saturday evening will bring a Gala affair to Stratus Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake with Double Portrait, the piano duo of the Festival’s Artistic Director Renee Rosnes, the 5-time JUNO Award-winning pianist, and GRAMMY Award-winning pianist Bill Charlap. The post-concert Gala Reception includes hors d'oeuvres by Chef Horne of Canoe Restaurant, Stratus wine, and Soma chocolate. 

February 18, 2018

Canadian Jazz Lions & Canadian Jazz Master Awards

The Festival concludes on Sunday at Stratus Vineyards with its grand finale, featuring Canadian artists Carol Welsman, Kevin Turcotte, Mike Murley, Robi Botos, Dave Young, and Jim Doxas in another Jazz at the Philharmonic-style concert.

Sunday afternoon’s event will also feature the premiere presentation of the newly created Canadian Jazz Master Awards.