Jazzophiles and musicaholics can groove to three weekends worth of funky beats as Nanaimo’s International Jazz Festival kicks off. President of the jazz society, Kim Smythe, said the longer program will be chock-full of musicians local to Vancouver Island and B.C. The festival will host 16 performances, including two-days of free open-air concerts at Maffeo Sutton Park. The headlining act with feature renowned jazz singer Holly Cole at the Port Theatre on Sept. 13. “We’re really looking forward to having Holly,” Smythe said. “This is the first time that we’ve ventured out to get an international and highly recognized performer in hopes of having that bright shining star in the middle of our program.” While the festival has been traditional jazz in the past, Smythe said, this year’s all-Canadian lineup will also feature “a bit of funk, rap and pop” blended with traditional jazz. Several musicians who might normally perform solo, or with a smaller ensemble, have brought friends into the mix for a bigger show and bigger sound, he said. The Graham Villette Quintet and Nick La Riviere Quartet will play the Lighthouse Bistro on Saturday, Sept. 6, and Thursday, Sept. 11, respectively. Stealing Dan, a tribute act to the rock band Steely Dan, will play the Queen's Hotel, followed by a festival first – the Drag Jazz Cabaret starring Josh Holloway as 'Celeste’ at the Nanaimo Bar, both on Sept. 12. The Waterfront Walkway Parade will kick off the outdoor performances on Sept. 13 as it marches from the Port Theatre at 11 a.m. to the Maffeo Sutton Park stage. Following musical acts at the park that day include the New Groovement and Keanu Ienco Quartet, with Alpha Centauri and Marc Atkinson among those performing Sept. 14. The NIJFA Jazz Jam hosted by Nico Rhodes will follow Holly Cole’s performance on Sept. 13 at the Vault Café. The Roy Styffe Quintet will close the International Jazz Festival with a performance at Simonholt Restaurant on Sept. 21. In his new position as president, Smythe said organizing the festival was an overall fun challenge and interesting experience. He believes the chosen acts will make a statement about the organization as it moves forward. He envisions the society not only developing the Vancouver Island jazz scene by ideally bringing in and building touring acts with other jazz societies, but also filling the gap of jazz education and exposure for students and emerging artists. More information about the festival can be found online at www.nanaimojazzfest.ca [http://www.nanaimojazzfest.ca].
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