This year’s featured artist is Kamasi Washington, the tenor saxophonist whose 2015, three disc, solo release, The Epic, has taken the jazz world by storm. Washington, who has collaborated with a diverse group of musicians including Herbie Hancock, Snoop Dog, Lauryn Hill, and Thundercat, is the jazz world’s newest sensation. You can see him Tuesday, June 21st at the Burton Cummings Theatre.
The TD Winnipeg International Jazz festival begins June 16 and runs each night at seven different locations until June 26. This festival promises “11 days of witnessing legends, having our minds blown, spending late nights club-hopping, discovering new artists, and sweaty dance parties.”
The festival’s performers run the gamut of jazz subgenres. You can experience Andra Day’s “smouldering” R&B, Trombone Shorty’s New Orleans brass, and even the Sweedish indie pop due Peter Borjn and John. One of the great appeals of festivals is the range of venues. Old Market Square, a five minute cab ride from the Fort Gary Hotel, will host four nights of free, outdoor music. The Garrick Center is Winnipeg’s more traditional, medium-sized music venue, also a short ride from the hotel. If you’re looking for smaller, more intimate venues, you’ll want to check out the King’s Head Pub or the Winnipeg Free Press Cafe.
When it comes to purchasing tickets, the festival has four options. Option one is to simply buy tickets to individual shows. Option two is the Club Pass wristband — for $25 you can get into King’s Head Pub, Cinematheque, Rachel Browne Theatre & Winnipeg Free Press News Cafe. For casual jazz fans who don’t yet know where their curiosity will take them, we recommend option three, the $100 Jazz Pass, which will get you into all events except for those held at Burton Cummings. Option four is for the super fans who know they have artists they want to see at Burton Cummings. Super fans can buy Super Pass for $225.
After you’re all jazzed out, your room at The Fort Garry will be waiting for you.
Address: Throughout Winnipeg
