Events may be altered or cancelled at any time due to health or travel regulations.
Note: Our primary concern is your safety and the safety of our musicians, volunteers and staff.
The audience capacity at all concerts will be at, or less than, provincial capacity restrictions.
If restrictions change, ticket purchases will be honoured in the order received.
Note: Our primary concern is your safety and the safety of our musicians, volunteers and staff.
The audience capacity at all concerts will be at, or less than, provincial capacity restrictions.
If restrictions change, ticket purchases will be honoured in the order received.
WJO 2021-2022
Jazz music, since its humble beginnings in Congo Square, has been a fusion of folk, classical and popular music. As the artform spread, jazz embraced and adapted music from all over the world, giving us countless flavours and variations. To help the WJO explore ethnic music in jazz, we have asked composers from different cultures to create big band charts that reflect their vibrant communities. At this concert we feature works by Andrew Balfour (Cree) and Michelle Gregoire (French/Metis)
Winter/Spring 2022 Season
main stage
Festival - a Celebration of French-Canadian Heritage - CANCELLED !
A celebration of Manitoba’s French and Metis heritage, featuring several of our community’s finest musicians, including Larry Roy, Gilles Fournier, Ariane Jean and others.
February 20, 2022 | 2 pm | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain
East Coast/ West Coast
Featuring Christine Jensen and Jill Townsend with some of their favourite music, and the premiere of a joint commission.
March 20, 2022 | 2 pm | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain
Respect – the Legacy of Aretha Franklin
We pay tribute to the legacy of Aretha Franklin, a powerful vocalist and symbol for human rights. Featuring Ego
Spank and some of Winnipeg’s finest vocalists on several of Aretha’s hits, including People Get Ready, Dr. Feelgood and Respect.
May 8, 2022 | 2 pm | Canadian Museum for Human Rights
second stage
Voices - A Musical Heritage - CANCELLED !
Presenting new works that reflect our vibrant ethnic communities and rich cultural backgrounds.
January 20, 2022 | West End Cultural Centre
International Women’s Day Celebration
Honouring International Women’s Day, the WJO roster will be all-female and present music by several great female arrangers and composers.
March 10, 2022 | 7:30 pm | West End Cultural Centre
Last of the Blue Devils
Neil Watson will explore music from the early days of territory big bands in the mid-west USA and the musicians who came from them.
April 7, 2022 | 7:30 pm | West End Cultural Centre
In the Mood Cabaret - CANCELLED !
This swingin’ Cabaret will be just what the doctor ordered for your Valentine’s weekend! Featuring a selection of popular swing music. A selection of light refreshments will be available and beverages may be purchased - dependant on regulations in effect.
February 12, 2022 | 8 PM | Caboto Centre
Festival - a Celebration of French-Canadian Heritage - CANCELLED !
A celebration of Manitoba’s French and Metis heritage, featuring several of our community’s finest musicians, including Larry Roy, Gilles Fournier, Ariane Jean and others.
February 20, 2022 | 2 pm | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain
East Coast/ West Coast
Featuring Christine Jensen and Jill Townsend with some of their favourite music, and the premiere of a joint commission.
March 20, 2022 | 2 pm | Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain
Respect – the Legacy of Aretha Franklin
We pay tribute to the legacy of Aretha Franklin, a powerful vocalist and symbol for human rights. Featuring Ego
Spank and some of Winnipeg’s finest vocalists on several of Aretha’s hits, including People Get Ready, Dr. Feelgood and Respect.
May 8, 2022 | 2 pm | Canadian Museum for Human Rights
second stage
Voices - A Musical Heritage - CANCELLED !
Presenting new works that reflect our vibrant ethnic communities and rich cultural backgrounds.
January 20, 2022 | West End Cultural Centre
International Women’s Day Celebration
Honouring International Women’s Day, the WJO roster will be all-female and present music by several great female arrangers and composers.
March 10, 2022 | 7:30 pm | West End Cultural Centre
Last of the Blue Devils
Neil Watson will explore music from the early days of territory big bands in the mid-west USA and the musicians who came from them.
April 7, 2022 | 7:30 pm | West End Cultural Centre
In the Mood Cabaret - CANCELLED !
This swingin’ Cabaret will be just what the doctor ordered for your Valentine’s weekend! Featuring a selection of popular swing music. A selection of light refreshments will be available and beverages may be purchased - dependant on regulations in effect.
February 12, 2022 | 8 PM | Caboto Centre
Note:
* There will be no intermissions at concerts.
* Proof of vaccination required for attendance at live concerts.
* Mainstage performances will be 80-90 minutes.
* Mainstage performances will also be available as a live-stream series; each on-line concert will be 60 minutes.
* Second Stage performances will be 75 minutes.
* There will be no intermissions at concerts.
* Proof of vaccination required for attendance at live concerts.
* Mainstage performances will be 80-90 minutes.
* Mainstage performances will also be available as a live-stream series; each on-line concert will be 60 minutes.
* Second Stage performances will be 75 minutes.
Thank you for keeping Big Band Jazz alive
We appreciate all of you who have donated toward our 2021-2022 events and education initiatives. If you haven't yet and would like to donate, please use the button below or go to our donation page here.
In spite of all the impediments last season, we performed seven live online concerts, recorded four concerts that are being streamed for free, recorded student-level charts that are on this website with the scores for students to play-along with, commissioned many of these student-level charts and professional charts for the WJO to perform in the future, recorded short instructional videos, held two school workshops online, held the first Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop, held the first annual Women in Jazz Symposium, and released our fourth CD.
We are on track to do as much this season. We look forward to seeing you at concerts, be it virtual or in-person.
Our switch to virtual has meant that some of our dreams (the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop and the Women in Jazz Symposium) happened much differently (and better, I think) than we imagined. We hope you have enjoyed some of our offerings this year. We are still streaming the recorded concerts (found below and on the Safe-at-Home page), until February 2022, so come back as often as you like before then.
Oh! And before you do that, please donate to the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra so we can continue to provide you with the best in big band jazz. We have more ideas to explore and new experiences to bring to you in 2022 and beyond.
In spite of all the impediments last season, we performed seven live online concerts, recorded four concerts that are being streamed for free, recorded student-level charts that are on this website with the scores for students to play-along with, commissioned many of these student-level charts and professional charts for the WJO to perform in the future, recorded short instructional videos, held two school workshops online, held the first Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop, held the first annual Women in Jazz Symposium, and released our fourth CD.
We are on track to do as much this season. We look forward to seeing you at concerts, be it virtual or in-person.
Our switch to virtual has meant that some of our dreams (the Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop and the Women in Jazz Symposium) happened much differently (and better, I think) than we imagined. We hope you have enjoyed some of our offerings this year. We are still streaming the recorded concerts (found below and on the Safe-at-Home page), until February 2022, so come back as often as you like before then.
Oh! And before you do that, please donate to the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra so we can continue to provide you with the best in big band jazz. We have more ideas to explore and new experiences to bring to you in 2022 and beyond.
Second Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop
The WJO will present another Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop on a Saturday in early February. Date available soon! Click here for more information.
Free Streaming Big Band Concerts - Still available from last season!
Big Band Streamed Concerts: Available until February 2022!
February 15, 2021 La Nouvelle Nation - Featuring Andrina Turenne and Ariane Jean - available HERE
March 1, 2021 Divas of Jazz - Featuring Jennifer Hanson, Stacey Nattrass, Jayme Giesbrecht, Jocelyn Gould - available HERE
March 15, 2021 Divas of Jazz 2 - Featuring Erin Propp, Charlotte Martin, Sol James and Nadia Douglas - available HERE
March 29, 2021 Latin Connection - Featuring Rodrigo Munos, Amber Epp, Marco Castillo - available HERE
February 15, 2021 La Nouvelle Nation - Featuring Andrina Turenne and Ariane Jean - available HERE
March 1, 2021 Divas of Jazz - Featuring Jennifer Hanson, Stacey Nattrass, Jayme Giesbrecht, Jocelyn Gould - available HERE
March 15, 2021 Divas of Jazz 2 - Featuring Erin Propp, Charlotte Martin, Sol James and Nadia Douglas - available HERE
March 29, 2021 Latin Connection - Featuring Rodrigo Munos, Amber Epp, Marco Castillo - available HERE
Twisting Ways CD Release!
Twisting Ways CD cover
|
(Release video available to stream)
A journey of self-discovery through darkness and light inspires the words to the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra’s Twisting Ways – a unique album launching on May 10. The album features the acclaimed voice of Sarah Slean with compositions by Award-winning jazz artists David Braid (Toronto) and Philippe Côté (Montreal) with musical poetry by, Dr. Lee Tsang (Liverpool). Hear Twisting Ways, see pictures and videos of the rehearsal and performance, and hear a live question and answer session with Philippe Côté. Find more information about the CD here. |
Education events
Resources for Students and Teachers:
Play-along charts for students are available HERE.
Jazz Skills videos are available HERE. - Seven new videos just posted!
Play-along charts for students are available HERE.
Jazz Skills videos are available HERE. - Seven new videos just posted!
