Stylish and sophisticated jazz tunes will soon be heard at Sylvan Lake as Jazz At The Lake marks its eighth anniversary Aug. 19-22.
A diverse and strong line-up of talent is again featured, including Emilie-Claire Barlow’s highly-anticipated show Aug. 20. Organizers are exuberant about her appearance at this year’s event.
“We are thrilled to have Emilie-Claire Barlow here this year,” says festival producer Eric Allison. “Jazz At The Lake is her only Alberta festival appearance this summer.
“It’s a great opportunity to hear her gifted voice with her own band doing some of her stellar arrangements in an intimate concert setting.”
Barlow won Female Vocalist of the Year in the 2008 National Jazz Awards and is a Gemini and two-time Juno Award nominee. Her newest CD Haven’t We Met? is a compelling, polished collection of standards that immediately shot to number one on the jazz charts in Canada.
Her 2007 release The Very Thought Of You topped the Canadian jazz charts and earned her a nomination for a Juno Award in the category of Vocal Jazz Album of the Year.
Few can capture the nuances of silky jazz vocal styles quite like Barlow, as reflected in such stellar turns as All I Do Is Dream of You and the rhythmic, snappy You’re Driving Me Crazy.
She also brought down the house with her unforgettable, showstopping take on the quirky classic hit Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens at the Canadian Songwriters’ Hall of Fame Awards back in 2008.
Meanwhile, other ticketed events include the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra (EJO) on Aug. 21 at the Stevenson Performing Arts Center. This group, Edmonton’s newly-formed professional large jazz ensemble, consists of many of the city’s finest jazz musicians and several are nationally recognized recording artists in their own right as well.
The Johnny Summers’ Little Big Band Concert and Swing Dance also kicks off the festival Aug. 19 at the Sylvan Lake Golf & Country Club Tournament House.
Blues guitar virtuoso Steve Pineo and his Monday Night Band appear Saturday afternoon (Aug. 21) at the Lions Hall in Sylvan Lake.
Featuring musicians from across Alberta and beyond, Jazz At The Lake has grown to be a local cultural mainstay.
There are also chances to hone up your own musical skills, as Jazz At The Lake provides educational and performance opportunities for jazz students with concerts at Lions Legacy Park and a Jazz Workshop with members of the EJO at the Stevenson Performing Arts Centre.
For more information and tickets by cash or cheque, visit the Sylvan Lake Tourist Information (4719-50th Ave.) or call 1-866-887-5550.
They are also available at the door or at www.jazzatthelake.com.
