MUSIC
What: 34th Annual TD Victoria International Jazz Festival
When: Friday through July 2
Where: Various venues, including the Royal Theatre, McPherson Playhouse, Dave Dunnet Theatre
Tickets: Available at the Victoria Jazz Society, Lyle鈥檚 Place, the Royal McPherson box office and rmts.bc.ca
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Many people struggle as they leave their 20s, based on the assumption that their best, most exciting days are behind them. Darryl Mar doesn鈥檛 subscribe to such a theory, especially where his TD Victoria International Jazz Festival is concerned.
The founder and executive producer of Jazzfest 鈥� which turns 34 tomorrow 鈥� is proud that his 10-day event remains, after more than three decades, in tip-top shape.
Few festivals find a groove for this length of time, often dropping out after their initial splash. But Jazzfest has booked several top-tier headliners this year, and tickets have been selling well for weeks, Mar said.
So what鈥檚 his secret to keeping Jazzfest energetic after all these years?
鈥淚t鈥檚 the ability to keep your ears open, your eyes open and being aware of what鈥檚 going on around you,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 not just in Victoria, but throughout the world, music-wise.鈥�
Mar鈥檚 vision for the festival has shifted over time to accommodate changing musical tastes. No longer are jazz artists the only acts suitable for booking. This year, Jazzfest welcomes soul legend Mavis Staples, reggae singer Ziggy Marley, irreverent pop-jazz artist Scott Bradlee鈥檚 PostModern Jukebox and funk-fusion dynamo Nik West to some of its nine stages.
Audiences have come to expect change, Mar said, which makes his job easier. He鈥檚 able to bring in artists from outside the jazz spectrum, knowing they will be given a warm reception.
鈥淥ne year, it will be heavy on singers, but another year, it will be mostly instrumentalists,鈥� Mar said.
Mar also has plenty of room to explore traditional jazz acts, of course. Cyril Chestnut (June 26, McPherson Playhouse) of the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band does double-duty in the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall jazz orchestras, while sisters Christine and Ingrid Jensen (June 27, Dave Dunnet Theatre) have become favourites at jazz festivals across the country.
On occasion, shows take on a life of their own at Jazzfest, Mar admitted. Tickets to the Scott Hamilton Trio鈥檚 July 1 performance at Hermann鈥檚 Jazz Club, for example, have been sold out for two weeks.
Mar said he has learned to adapt his programming to be all things to all audiences, and to never lean too hard in one particular direction.
鈥淲e always have at least 50 per cent of the programming be mainstream jazz programming,鈥� Mar said. 鈥淚t may not be reflected in the [blues, rock and pop] shows at the Royal Theatre, but certainly you see that in Hermann鈥檚 Jazz Club.鈥�
He鈥檚 not playing down the role of his mainstream performers in helping the festival succeed.
Without some of the crossover artists he has booked this year 鈥� such as the phenomenon Jacob Collier 鈥� Mar simply wouldn鈥檛 be given the opportunity to bring in scores of traditional jazz artists.
鈥淭his guy is a story unto himself,鈥� Mar said of Collier, who makes his Victoria debut June 28.
鈥淗e鈥檚 22 years old, but has won two Grammy Awards out of nowhere. The praises he鈥檚 been getting from all these people 鈥� Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Quincy Jones 鈥� this kid has a big buzz.鈥�
Mar鈥檚 work as producer starts as much as a year in advance. He had to be on his toes when planning this year鈥檚 edition, knowing of the federal government鈥檚 plan to heavily fund 11 days of free culture programming from June 21 to July 1 under the Spirit of 150 Victoria banner.
鈥淭hat took us by surprise, but, fortunately, I found out about it, so I didn鈥檛 do any Royal Theatre programming on the night of June 30 and July 1.鈥�
That鈥檚 where Mar鈥檚 experience as a producer comes into play.
鈥淵ou need to be completely aware of what鈥檚 going on in Victoria, so you don鈥檛 have any conflicts,鈥� he said. 鈥淥r you鈥檒l be left out in the cold.鈥�
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FIVE OF THE BEST FROM THIS YEAR鈥橲 LINEUP
With more than 320 musicians delivering 80 performance at this year鈥檚 Jazzfest, it might be hard to decide who to see and when.
Here鈥檚 a shortlist of acts that should not be missed:
Jacob Collier. The biggest buzz of the festival surrounds Jacob Collier, a 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist and YouTube sensation from London, England. His viral videos (in which he plays several instruments) are nothing compared with what he can do in a live setting. Be prepared to be wowed. June 28, McPherson Playhouse.
Tommy Emmanuel. One of the world鈥檚 great acoustic guitar players 鈥� this according to Eric Clapton 鈥� is pure joy to experience in a live setting. The 62-year-old Australian is a huge draw, so if you wait until the last minute to buy tickets, you鈥檒l be out of luck. Emmanuel plays unique Beatles and Rolling Stones covers in concert. June 27, Royal Theatre.
Donny McCaslin Group. Santa Cruz saxophonist Donny McCaslin was a decorated performer before his work with David Bowie, but his stock skyrocketed following the release of Blackstar, his recording with Bowie shortly before the latter鈥檚 death. Fans can expect McCaslin and his bandmates to play Bowie selections and material from last year鈥檚 Beyond Now, which McCaslin dedicated to Bowie. June 25, Dave Dunnet Theatre.
Nik West. Her lofty purple mohawk is the first of many surprises from this Los Angeles-based bassist and singer, who is managed by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and has worked with everyone from Prince to John Mayer. West鈥檚 jazz-funk is built for the stage, with a songlist that ranges from Chaka Khan to AC/DC. June 24, Centennial Square.
Tami Neilson. The Mississauga-bred soul shouter is a show-stopper in concert, as those who caught her previous Victoria performance with Colin James can attest. Neilson is back on her own this time around for Jazzfest, one of just a handful of dates in sa国际传媒 this summer for the New Zealand-based Etta James soundalike. The club will need a new interior once Neilson鈥檚 voice is done peeling paint. June 27, Distrikt Nightclub.