LOCAL POWER
Some of our hidden talent not to miss!
Looking at the schedule, I couldn’t help but notice some of the local power we have performing at the festival. Some artists you may or may not be aware of all doing a different thing that deserve our attention… here are three of those.
Opening the OLG Noon series on Friday June 24th at noon, we are excited to present the charismatic Caridad Cruz. The Cuban born and raised singer who calls Ottawa home, has toured in Canada, the US and Cuba and is doing this very special performance for us here. As I was going through CD’s that I receive for the festival, I remember putting in this CD and I was instantly taken with the power of Caridad’s voice. The depth and character in her voice that tells stories even before words are mentioned. She is bringing with her quite an incredible line-up of musicians from Ottawa and Montreal most notably Yoel Diaz, a Cuban raised pianist who has lived in Montreal since 1997. Le Devoir called him “one of Montreal’s best pianists of Cuban music.” La Presse lauded his “impeccable technique acquired in the best conservatories of Cuba.”
You can find out more details about Caridad’s performance at
The Kelly Craig Sextet will be performing on July 3rd at noon on the OLG stage. Anyone who knows the local jazz scene has probably encountered Kelly Craig. The Regina native had a presence on the Toronto and Montreal scene early on until he ended up in Ottawa. He has become a staple on the scene since. He has a drive to explore all musical possibilities, put together strong bands, not to mention being a talented educator - He is currently the director at the Shine Group http://theshinegroup.com/ Kelly has always moved between the worlds of jazz, and soul and R&B, his talent having landed him a chair in the legendary Funk Brothers group: a Motown band that was the back up band on probably most of what you have heard on recordings of the Motown Soul era. Well if you have heard his big band last year, which sounded great, I think you’ll love his sextet:
Jeff Asselin – Drums;
Vitas Paukstitus – Bass;
Eric Disero – Piano;
Kelly Craig – Trumpet;
Zak Frantz - Alto Sax;
Brian Asselin - Tenor Sax
Jeff Asselin -Drums
Vitas Paukstitus -Bass
Eric Disero -Piano
Kelly Craig -Trumpet
Zak Frantz -Alto Sax
Brian Asselin -Tenor Sax
Another concert I am excited about it on June 28th at noon at the OLG stage, when Christine Fagan takes stage. Every now and then Christine Fagan, the Ottawa local, comes out with some new project, and it’s always awesome. The previous to last one was a project of Joni Mitchell music and her latest project, which came out last year in CD form under the name Once, which has just a stellar cast most of which she has rounded up for this performance. John Geggie will be playing bass, Roddy Ellias will be playing guitar, Jamie Gullikson on drums, Alvaro Di Minaya on percussion and two guest vocalists Saffron Bradloury and Peggy White. This will be a show to catch for sure! You can check out some of Christine's music on her website's music page.
Many many more great artists will be performing and I'll try tell you about some more of them as the festival comes closer.
http://ottawajazzfestival.com/
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