The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is a jazz festival held every summer in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The inaugural festival was held in 1985. In 1986 the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, the festival's governing organization, partnered with Expo 86 to produce the first annual international festival. Performers have included Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Julian Lage, and The Bad Plus. As well as many local artists including Brad Turner, Jodi Proznick, Cory Weeds, Bill Coon, Oliver Gannon, Daniel Hersog, and Steve Kaldestad.
The jazz festival has been held every year since, becoming the largest such festival in British Columbia. Over 1,000 volunteers help in producing the event, which includes performances in parks, community centres, concert halls, clubs, public plazas, and in streets of various neighbourhoods.
History The festival grew out of a local jazz scene that centred on Vancouver Co-op Radio (CFRO-FM), a community radio station, in the early 1980s. The Pacific Jazz and Blues Association was formed in 1984 and hosted the Pacific Jazz and Blues Festival, which showcased regional jazz and blues artists in addition to some international jazz musicians. The inaugural festival was held in 1985, featuring primarily local artists. By 1986, the group had changed its name to the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, secured corporate sponsorship, and partnered with Expo 86 to produce the first annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival. The inaugural festival included performances by Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Tito Puente, Tony Williams, Albert Collins, and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
For many years, TD Canada Trust was a title sponsor of the festival, during which it was known as the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival. In 2024, TD Canada Trust discontinued its sponsorship of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, as well as its sponsorship of many jazz festivals across Canada, including the Toronto Jazz Festival, and Ottawa Jazz Festival.
Sounds of Youth Stage During the annual festival, the Sounds of Youth stage features big bands from local high schools including Semiahmoo Secondary School, St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary School, St. Thomas More Collegiate, and Langley Fine Arts School.
Past Lineups +YearDatesFeatured ArtistsRef.2016June 24 – July 3 Hiromi Uehara Joe Lovano Lauryn Hill Sarah McLachlan Neko Case, K.d. lang, Laura Veirs Tedeschi Trucks Band Tomeka Reid2017June 22 – July 2 Branford Marsalis with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Ziggy Marley Postmodern Jukebox Seu Jorge Tommy Emmanuel Emmet Cohen with Ron Carter Brad Turner Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen, and Ben Monder Donny McCaslin2018June 22 – July 1 Kamasi Washington Julian Lage Emmet Cohen Russell Malone John Korsrud's Hard Rubber Orchestra2019 Elisapie Wu-Tang Clan The Roots Melissa Aldana Herbie Hancock Too Many Zooz Joel Ross Audrey Ochoa2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic2021June 25 – July 2 Snotty Nose Rez Kids Cory Weeds Bill Coon Brad Turner Ayla Tesler-Mabe John Gross2022 Cécile McLorin Salvant GoGo Penguin Lucinda Williams Julian Lage2023June 23 – July 2 Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily The Bad Plus BadBadNotGood Mali Obomsawin Isaiah Collier Jodi Proznick with Ostara Project Caity Gyorgy Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra2024June 21 – July 2 Lakecia Benjamin John Korsrud Laraaji Killer Mike2025June 20 – July 1 Susie Ibarra François Houle Immanuel Wilkins Bill Frisell Marquis Hill Nubya Garcia Cowboy Bebop Bebop Band plays the music of Cowboy Bebop
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