Jazz festival becoming a Sudbury tradition

Cold weather and rain did nothing to dampen the spirits or the size of the crowds who took in the Jazz Sudbury Festival at Science North over the weekend.

“People came out in droves,” said Cecilia Aparicio, festival’s business development officer, Sunday afternoon. It was sunny and warm Sunday, but the first three days of the annual music event saw cold and wet weather.

“It was amazing. Despite the weather, people came out all weekend.”

Festival highlights for her included Saturday headliner 18-year-old phenom Nikki Yanofsky -- “she was stunning,” Aparicio said – and KC Roberts and the Live Revolution, who performed Friday.

“They really blew the crowd away,” she said. “I don’t know how many people have heard that kind of fusion of funk and jazz before.”

They were followed by the Nylons, whicht charmed the big crowd as they performed in the rain.

“The Nylons sang under umbrellas,” she said.

Now in its fourth year, Aparicio said the festival is becoming part of Sudbury`s cultural fabric, which means people expect them to deliver memorable performers and music.

“We’re definitely growing every year. People are starting to come to the festival and really getting to know us and have certain expectations now.”

Closing the event Sunday was the Toronto Mass Choir, a Juno-award winning group performing its first show in its 25th anniversary year.

“I’m glad to be here in God’s country in Sudbury, and not in cold and damp and not Green Toronto,” choir director Karen Burke told the crowd Sunday afternoon. “Can I get an Amen!”

Rev. Jeremy Mahood, who introduced the choir, said they offered Sudbury audiences a chance to hear something unique.

“It’s a great opportunity for people in Northern Ontario to hear pure gospel music,” Mahood said. “They really have that unique sound you would expect to hear from a gospel choir from the southern United States. They have that unique type of harmony that you only get with this type of choir.

“Even if you’re not into gospel music, you can’t help but have fun listening to them.”