That was some winter, eh!? They say it was the coldest one in eighty years. Usually there’s a break every once in awhile, but that one came fully loaded. There was nothing but seamless, cold and brutal temperatures for roughly two and a half months. It was certainly a lot of pressure. I watched a […]

Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant has taken the modern jazz scene by storm, with a stunning repertoire and vocal virtuosity far beyond her years. In an industry dominated by a focus on contemporizing, Savant is taking her audiences all the way back to the artists who inspired and forged the path for today’s musicians, vocalists […]

Nothing says heat and happiness quite so effectively as Latin jazz, and Winnipeg audiences are in for a blast of both when one of the most respected Latin masters comes to town. Mexican-American Poncho Sanchez grew up in California in the 50s and 60s being influenced by two very different styles of music: infectious Afro-Cuban […]

The late pianist Dave Brubeck is undeniably one of the most influential figures in the history of jazz. As a bandleader, his group achieved both artistic and commercial success. The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s 1959 release Time Out, featuring Paul Desmond’s hit tune, “Take Five,” brought jazz—and odd time signatures in particular—to a wider audience, eventually […]

The annual Canadian music extravaganza is getting the Winnipeg treatment this year. The JUNO Awards—Canada’s answer to the Grammy Awards—takes to the streets here from March 24-30, with concerts, a songwriter’s circle, autograph sessions, even a hockey game (The Rockers vs The NHL Greats), on the run-up to the big JUNO Awards Broadcast at the […]

Vancouver-born trumpet player Andrew Littleford is making a big contribution to the musical life of our city through his work with many groups. The Dirty Catfish Brass Band, the Ron Paley Big Band, the Winnipeg Jazz Collective, the Andrew Littleford Trio, and the Littleford/Carter Quintet, show his range in the jazz field. He also plays […]

Cassandra Wilson has received countless media accolades, including Time magazine’s 2001 pick for America’s Best Singer. Her smoky, almost carnal delivery is delightful. She’s an artist who likes the unusual and has built her reputation as a singer who likes to push musical boundaries, much like her musical influences: Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, and Betty […]

We’re in a period where many of the musicians who helped develop and refine the jazz art form are leaving us. On December 23, we said farewell to Yusef Lateef Dr. Yusef Abdul Lateef (born William Emanuel Huddleston) was a respected and influential multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. He was best known for his work on […]

Mark Guiliana is one of the most accomplished drummers on the jazz scene today. He has played with many of the modern luminaries of the music, including Jason Lindner, Lionel Loueke, and bassist Avishai Cohen. He recently began a duo project with Brad Mehldau, “Mehliana.” Guiliana was born in Florham Park, New Jersey, in 1980, […]

Like everybody else on much of the planet, I’ve been watching the Olympics. It’s awe-inspiring to see what those athletes can do, whether or not they hit the medal podium. They are high level performers, on the biggest stage of their lives. They’re determined, hopeful, hungry. Many of them are also very young. I wonder […]