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Juno-winning talent abounds at Jazz Sudbury 2015

When it came to recruiting performers for the seventh annual Jazz Sudbury Festival , the event's artistic director aimed high. “I thought 'Let's try to get the Juno winners,'” said Allan Walsh. As it turned out, this strategy paid off.
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Alex Cuba is one of the headliners at the seventh annual Jazz Sudbury Festival, which takes place Sept. 9-13. Supplied photo.
When it came to recruiting performers for the seventh annual Jazz Sudbury Festival, the event's artistic director aimed high.

“I thought 'Let's try to get the Juno winners,'” said Allan Walsh.

As it turned out, this strategy paid off. The headliners at this year's festival — running Sept. 9-13 at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre and a variety of other local venues — are all Juno winners.

Steve Hill of Montreal, the Sept. 11 headliner, won a Juno this past spring, in his case for Blues Album of the Year for Solo Recordings Volume 2.

Although he's a solo performer, Hill uses guitar pedals and plays a drum set so it sounds like he's backed up with a full band. “It's absolutely amazing,” said Walsh.

Hamilton singer Diana Panton, one of the Sept. 12 headliners, picked up her first Juno this past spring in the jazz vocal category for her album “Red.” She's known for singing jazz standards, and is backed up by fantastic musicians, said Walsh.

B.C.-based Alex Cuba, an energetic musician with a Latin sound who performs right after Panton, has won two Junos for World Music Album of the Year, and in 2010 he won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist.

“We really lucked out this year,” Walsh said.

Of course, Jazz Sudbury also features plenty of local talent. An example is former Sudbury resident Dominique Forest, who performs both Sept. 10 and Sept. 11.

The festival also gives a peek at rising jazz stars. An emerging artists showcase was held in May, and the young Toronto group Dog Leg Dilemma rose to the top, winning a Jazz Sudbury slot. They perform Sept. 11.

“They do a really eclectic mix,” said Walsh. “They do your typical jazz swing sound, but they also incorporate rap music, metal music and rock music. So that's going to be kind of interesting.”

Returning this year is the jazz walk, which takes place in downtown Sudbury Sept. 12. It features performances by the LU Jazz Combo, Sundar Viswanathan and Diana Panton and Don Thompson at a variety of downtown venues.

In between each concert, another one of Walsh's musical ensembles — the Nickel City Dixie Stompers — will perform on the streets of the city's core.

It's possible for people with any kind of budget to attend Jazz Sudbury, which features free shows or ones where admission is just $10.

Of course, you can also purchase a premium VIP weekend jazz pass for $100.

To purchase tickets, or to view the full Jazz Sudbury schedule, visit www.jazzsudbury.ca.

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Heidi Ulrichsen

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