Community Jazz Events

Ottawa is abuzz in jazz. We are delighted to keep you abreast of what’s going on in jazz around our Nation’s Capital.

IJO presents “free jazz meets chamber music meets improv theatre” In Whose Solo Is It Anyway?

Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 8:00 PM at National Arts Centre Fourth Stage

IJO musicians will take direction from audience members in a series of musical improvisation exercises. The lineup of nine musicians will include members of the IJO’s woodwind, brass and rhythm sections along with violinist, Laura Nerenberg, and cellist, Kirk Starkey.

Tickets are just $20 and available now in person at the NAC box office or at Ticketmaster outlets, online at the Ticketmaster website, or by phone through Ticketmaster at (613) 755-1111.

IJO’s not-to-be-missed season finale! Masterpieces by Ellington & Peaslee

Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 8:00 PM at Dominion-Chalmers United Church

Masterpieces: Ellington + Peaslee will showcase 32 musicians in a night of premiere performances. The evening will begin with the Canadian premieres of two works by Richard Peaslee, a brilliant composer who is as comfortable writing classical music as he is jazz. IJO trumpeter, Rick Rangno, will perform Peaslee’s Nightsongs, a hauntingly beautiful solo trumpet feature composed in 1973. Rangno will be backed by an ensemble featuring many of Ottawa’s leading string players. IJO saxophonist, Mike Tremblay takes the spotlight as a 22-piece neophonic orchestra performs Peaslee’s Chicago Concerto, a sophisticated four-movement baritone saxophone piece written for Gerry Mulligan in 1967. The IJO’s 15-piece repertory orchestra will present a showcase of short works by Duke Ellington and then complete the evening with an Ottawa premiere performance of Ellington’s exhilarating Far East Suite. The nine-movement suite is one of Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s greatest works, inspired by the travels of the Ellington orchestra to the Middle East and Far East.

Founded in 2005 by Ottawa bassist and conductor Adrian Cho, the IJO features many of Ottawa’s finest jazz and symphony orchestra musicians performing in both small and large ensembles. Performing a huge range of jazz-centric music from 1850 to the present day, the orchestra has garnered critical acclaim for its innovative, educational and highly entertaining presentations. During the summer of 2008, the IJO performed at the invitation of the City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival where they were featured on the festival’s main stage in Confederation Park. The IJO’s 2008-2009 season is made possible in part by support from the City of Ottawa.

Tickets are just $25 for adults and $15 for students. They are available in person at Compact Music in the Glebe (785 ½ Bank St), CD Warehouse (all 3 locations), at Ticketmaster outlets, online at the TicketWeb website, or by phone through Ticketmaster at (613) 755-1111.