"Its a tossup between what Im the MOST excited about. First off, because I have to be at my club for the jazz festival, I cant get out to see a lot of shows that I wish I could. With that in mind, I am very excited about the appearance of The Larry Goldings Trio with Peter Bernstein and Bill Stewart at the Cellar Jazz Club on June 21 and 22. Anyone who knows me knows I love the organ and this trio is one of THE finest working organ trios out there. Their latest album, Live @ Smalls, is wonderful. Peter Bernstein could in fact be my favourite musician on the planet."
Cory Weeds jazz musician, owner of Cory Weeds Cellar Jazz Club
"Theres always so much talent at the Jazz Festival but the one artist I would choose to see over all others is Michael Kaeshammer. I first met Michael in Victoria when he was a teenager playing at the Victoria Jazz Festival and featured him in a concert with my band joining the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre in 1997 along with Michael Bublé in a show called Stars of the New Millennium. My favourite album is an early one, called Tell Me How You Feel. One of the cuts on it is called Jivin with Dal which Michael wrote in honour of my 80th birthday!"
Dal Richards conductor of Dal Richards Orchestra and host of Dals Place on AM 650, Sunday nights at 9
"Im absolutely excited to hear the legendary Herbie Hancock in a quartet setting. Ive heard him live a few times over the decades starting with the Mwandishi band in 72. My introduction to his music was the soundtrack to Blow Up in the mid-60s, followed by the Miles quintets and Herbies classic 60s albums for Blue Note. My favourite has to be The Prisoner, his 7th and last for that label a social statement in music and a great showcase for his gorgeous writing with an expanded instrumentation that offers more colours than the typical small group jazz combo. A gem."
Ken Pickering Jazz festival artistic director
"There is so much that I am excited about but I really love bassist Esperanza Spalding and she is coming with her band. Her recent record Radio Music Society is fabulous. She is a killer bassist and and amazing vocalist. You won't be disappointed!"
Jodi Proznick bassist, Jodi Proznick Quartet
"I walked into my first jazz piano class and Rupert, my instructor, flipped open my crisp, white piano book with a steady hand and said, Okay, girlie, fill in the blanks. I saw only a scattering of notes across the page and knew right away that this would not be a lesson in control, but rather one in letting go. Rupert passed away quite a few years ago now, but when I take my seat at Herbie Hancock June 30, Ill be thinking about everything he taught me, and keeping an ear out, especially, for Cantaloupe Island from Empyrean Isles."
Kelsey Klassen Arts & Style reporter, WE Vancouver
