PLACE DES ARTS
FRI 6 SEP 7pm
Vince Maccarone’s
Los Variants
Los Variants is the brainchild of Vince Maccarone. Vince’s vision is based on celebrating diversity by bending some of the rules of staying in one genre. This six-piece super band uses versatile musicians that deliver a spectacular performance and explore the connections between their collective musical and cultural backgrounds to create a seamless mosaic of international groove.
The band takes the audience on a musical journey around the world highlighting the band members’ origins and cultures while maintaining a common thread in jazz and roots music. Flamenco, Middle Eastern groove, Caribbean rhythms are all found in a Los Variants performance.
With Vince Maccarone on drums, the group features Maryem Tollar, vocals; Jonathon Amador, bass; Kevin Turcotte, trumpet; Luis Orbegoso, percussion, trombone and vocals; Louis Simão, accordion and keyboards; Michael Occhipinti, guitar.
Be prepared to move and groove!
PLACE DES ARTS
FRI 6 SEP 8pm
Laila Biali
Multi award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, pianist and CBC Music national radio host Laila Biali has headlined festivals and venues spanning five continents from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts. Her album, Out of Dust, was nominated for a JUNO Award and her eponymous release won her a JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. She was awarded top prize at the Canadian Songwriting Competition in the jazz category. She was listed twice on DownBeat Magazine’s Best Albums of the Year for Live in Concert and Out of Dust.
Her signature sound transcends genre as she masterfully mixes jazz and pop, bringing virtuosity and unpredictability to songs. Her latest release – Your Requests – showcases personal arrangements of jazz classics.
AFTER HOURS (LA FROMAGERIE)
FRI 6 SEP 10pm
McDaniel, Dupuis, Dardick
Emma McDaniel is a vocalist/lyricist with a warm, moving and sultry style. She is currently working with her new band The Cicadas which uses jazz and folk-pop influences to encapsulate feelings we often push down. Emma was inspired to create a group as a vehicle to allow her poetry, feelings and imagery to be heard, enjoyed and embraced.
Jamie Dupuis is an accomplished guitarist/composer/producer best known for his exquisite finger style technique, energetic performances and his complex arrangements on harp guitar.
Emma and Jamie are joined by local Sudbury’s prolific gigging drummer, Christopher Dardick.
JAZZ WALK (LA FROMAGERIE)
SAT 7 SEP noon
The Nickel City Stompers
Experience the vibrant energy of New Orleans with a second line procession while the Stompers play lively southern music to introduce our featured performers at the Jazz Walk venues: Turbo Street Funk and the Tony Simpkin Trio at La Fromagerie and Kalya Ramu at Knox Hall. They will have you on your feet dancing to their upbeat tunes… whether it’s the classic St. Louis Blues or the beloved Darktown Strutter’s Ball, you’ll feel transported to the French Quarter, savouring bourbon or perhaps a Sazerac.
JAZZ WALK (LA FROMAGERIE)
SAT 7 SEP noon
KNOX HALL
SAT 7 SEP 8pm
Turbo Street Funk
Get up-close and personal with this exhuberant convention-defying band as they kick off the Jazz Walk at La Fromagerie. Then join the band for a full concert presentation at Knox Hall on Saturday night.
Turbo Street Funk defy convention. With a performance style rooted in the New Orleans horn band tradition, they combine pop hits with top notch originals in an incendiary show that gets people moving.
Formed as a professional busking band, the band has received high praise for their fresh sound and popularity with audiences:. They quickly drew the attention of Canadian jazz legend, Richard Underhill, who introduced them to fellow Shuffle Demon and music producer, George Koller. With George at the helm, Turbo Street Funk released their debut album, To The Street, in 2014 at Toronto’s legendary Horseshoe Tavern.
In July 2016, they released Momentum, a nine-track initiative that neatly captures their infectious energy. The album received two Toronto Independent Music Award nominations in the categories of Best Jazz Vocal and Best Jazz Instrumental.
JAZZ WALK (LA FROMAGERIE)
SAT 7 SEP 1pm
The Tony Simpkin Trio
Pianist Tony Simpkin, bassist Brian Quebec and drummer Jack Broumpton have accompanied many of the finest musicians in Canadian jazz at past Jazz Sudbury festivals and various concert series. Beyond their performances, they have actively contributed to the local music scene and engaged in music education across different levels.
KNOX HALL (JAZZ WALK + FULL CONCERT)
SAT 7 SEP 2pm (JAZZ WALK)
SAT 7 SEP 7pm
Kalya Ramu
Canadian jazz vocalist, composer and educator, Kalya Ramu, has carved out a distinctive presence within Canada’s jazz community. She will introduce audiences to our new performance venue, Knox Hall, for the afternoon jazz walk and for a full concert presentation in the evening.
From the age of 12, Kalya found herself immersed in the world of jazz, frequenting jam sessions and touring with community big bands. A storyteller at heart, Kalya has a remarkable ability to reinvent classic jazz tunes while infusing her original compositions with fresh, evocative narratives.
The title track of her debut album, Living in a Dream, was featured on the soundtrack of CBC show Frankie Drake Mysteries. Ramu’s second album, Duo, is a close collaboration with pianist and composer Ewen Farncombe. The five-track album of original material highlights their artistic synergy. More recently Ramu has released two singles: Algo Contigo, featuring the composition of Argentinian songwriter Chico Novarro; and Hold Me Close, an original composition that features flautist Rob Christian.
AFTER HOURS (KNOX HALL)
SAT 7 SEP 10pm
Zak Martel Duo
Zak Martel is a Laurentian University music graduate who specializes in the swing style of Django Reinhardt. After completing his studies in Sudbury he moved to Montreal to continue his education in Jazz guitar. He now frequently performs in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.
He is joined by local gigging bassist Sean Brouse who has been a staple of the Sudbury music scene for many years.
FREE CONCERT (MEMORIAL PARK)
SUN 8 SEP 2pm
Afro Madness
Afro Madness Drum Troupe performs a mixture of Brazilian, African, funk, reggae and Bhangra forms of world music. Led by percussionist, educator, clinician and facilitator, Jeff Stewart, the group has been performing at local festivals and events for more than ten years. If you’ve ever been to one of their immersive performances, you know you can expect audience participation.
FREE CONCERT (MEMORIAL PARK)
SUN 8 SEP 4pm
Northern Jazz Octet
The Northern Jazz Octet is a new project spearheaded by musician and educator Marc Taillefer. It began as an idea to gather some of Northern Ontario’s notable musicians to walk through some challenging arrangements written specifically for five horns plus rhythm section.
The group includes performers from Sudbury and North Bay: Jodi Bourcier, trumpet; Marc Taillefer, trombone; Mitch McIntrye, alto sax; Mike Landoni, tenor sax; Carolyn Otto, baritone sax; Sarah Craig, piano; Ryan Rogers, bass.