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All that jazz! Jazz Sudbury Festival releases 2015 lineup

Some heavy-hitters in the Canadian jazz world will be featured at the seventh edition of the Jazz Sudbury Festival, set to take place Sept. 9-12. Organizers revealed the festival's lineup at a June 3 event.
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Steve Hill is one of the headliners at this year's Jazz Sudbury Festival, set to take place Sept. 9-12. Supplied photo.

Some heavy-hitters in the Canadian jazz world will be featured at the seventh edition of the Jazz Sudbury Festival, set to take place Sept. 9-12. Organizers revealed the festival's lineup at a June 3 event.

The first headliner is Juno award-winning jazz singer Diana Panton, who was recently named one of Canada’s top five Jazz Vocalists by CBC radio host Tim Tamashiro.

Panton will be joined on stage by some of Canada’s best jazz musicians, Guido Basso, Don Thompson, and Neil Swainson.

Bluesman Steve Hill is the second headliner. Hill just received a Juno Award this year for his "Solo Recordings Volume 2." He has produced eight albums that cover everything from hard-rock, country, folk, and of course, the blues.

The third headliner is Alex Cuba. Cuba was featured at the festival's first edition, and since that time, has released his fourth album
“Ruido En El Sistema,” and won a second Latin Grammy Award as a songwriter.

Dan Lessard, Jazz Sudbury's interim president, said that they continue to create an atmosphere that audiences are not going to find at other festivals. “We offer that New York, LA feel right on Ramsey Lake,” he said.

The emerging artist competition has been well underway, and the three finalists were showcased, demonstrating why they were shortlisted.

The three finalists are Sudbury’s Martine Fortin along with her band, Mathieu Landry, Raphaël Robitaille, and Gabriel Grenier.

“We received more submissions this year,” said Lessard.

“Our reputation is growing as previous Jazz Sudbury performers talk about their experience at the festival and word gets around. For young artists to have the opportunity to share the stage with a Juno award-winning artist or jazz legend like Oliver Jones, that is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.”

The Sept. 10 opening festival gala will take place at Oscar’s Grill.

Look forward to the Jazz Walk again as it celebrates its third year at the festival, bringing a little flavour of New Orleans to Sudbury with a series of musical workshops hosted in venues throughout the downtown core.

The Jazz Walk leads the audience through the downtown by a travelling jazz band for an afternoon of musical education and entertainment including the opportunity to spend some time with festival headliners.

“Jazz is for everyone,” says Lessard. “Anyone can come out and enjoy great music in a beautiful setting.”

Early Bird Weekend Jazz Passes are on sale now for $60 plus tax. Visit jazzsudbury.ca for more information.


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