The WJO 2020 - 2021 Season

In a Mellow Tone - The Music of Duke Ellington
with trombonist Jenny Kellog

Sunday, Oct 25, 2020
2:00 pm  •  7:30 pm
Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
​​ - Muriel Richardson Auditorium

Duke Ellington's gift was musically capturing the personality of each musician in his band, embracing their unique qualities and combining them into a rich tapestry that painted a portrait of Americana in swing time. For our season premiere, the WJO welcomes Jenny Kellogg, who has earned critical and audience praise for embracing the tradition Ellington helped create while pushing the art form forward with her own unique voice:  driving swing, impeccable time, and a mellow tone of which Duke himself would approve.

Basie Straight Ahead
with conductor and trumpeter Derrick Gardner
​
Sunday, Nov 15, 2020
2:00 pm - (one show only)
Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre (SOPAC)

Oh, that Basie sound! One of his band members famously said, “Count don't play nothin', and it sure sounds good.” Steeped in the blues, Basie's straight-ahead swing was the style arrangers like Frank Foster, Sammy Nestico and Neil Hefti channelled when they arranged for his band. With the help of trumpeter Derrick Gardner, who spent some time in Basie's trumpet section, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra will explore music from those legendary composers, alongside other Basie staples, for a feel-good show that'll get toes tapping.

Soul with a Capital 'S'
with vocalist Charlotte Martin

Sunday, November 29, 2020
2:00 pm  •  7:30 pm
Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (CCFM)
​ - Pauline-Boutal Hall
​
It's a fusion of soul, funk and big band with powerhouse vocalist Charlotte Martin and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra! With a tip of the cap to Tower of Power, James Brown and Earth, Wind & Fire, the WJO arranges fiery horn lines, groovy melodies and catchy lyrics for the full 18-piece orchestra. Join us for a concert of swing, syncopation and soul - with a capital ‘S’.

Feliz Navidad
with Trio Bembe

Saturday, December 12, 2020, 3:00 pm
Sunday, December 13, 2020, 2:00 pm
Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
​ - Muriel Richardson Auditorium
​
In many Latin countries, the arrival of the holiday season is marked by parrandas. These street festivals are a joyous gathering of people, with colourful lights, food, fireworks, and music in celebration of Christmas. Trio Bembe joins the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra for a holiday concert that captures that joy and paints a musical tableau of Latin American Christmas​

​Regional concerts are being planned now:
(contact your local arts centre for information)

Cheek to Cheek
with vocalist Charito 

Sunday, February 14, 2021
2:00 pm​ •  7:30 pm
​Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
​ - Muriel Richardson Auditorium
​
From Tokyo, Japan, Filipino vocalist Charito grew up listening to Nat King Cole and Stevie Wonder. Her highly personal, expressive vocal style reflects the breadth of her musical interests, from straight-ahead soulful ballads to hard-swinging grooves. When asked her greatest wish, she stated, “to make jazz a household word.” It's that passion that brings her all the way from Tokyo to Winnipeg next February for a Valentine's Day to remember!​

Giants of Jazz - Exploring the Music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane
​

Sunday, March 21, 2021
2:00 pm  •  7:30 pm
Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (CCFM)
​ - Pauline-Boutal Halllll
​
In 1959, Miles Davis released Kind of Blue. The record's sparse melodies, simple chord progressions and extended improvisations struck a chord with listeners. Sixty years later it is the best selling jazz record of all time and one of the most important recordings ever made. John Coltrane's ferocious, endlessly searching sound and torrential soloing were the perfect foil for Miles. He would go on to record many of his own important records and become another giant of jazz.  Adapted for big band, the WJO explores Miles and Trane, two musicians who forever changed the jazz landscape.

The Best is Yet to Come
with vocalists Jennifer Hanson and Del Baroni

Sunday, May 2 2021
2:00 pm  •  7:30 pm
Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)
​ - Muriel Richardson Auditorium
​​
Del Baroni's silky vocals have been a fixture on the Atlanta music scene for more than two decades. Together with Flin Flon-born singer Jennifer Hanson and a handful of surprise guests(!), the WJO's season finale promises a program of signature swing chart-toppers that are synonymous with the sound of Big Band.

The WJO's 2020/21 season continues our tradition of classic arrangements, new compositions, surprise guests, old friends, talented young instrumentalists and vocalists, and themes that we think will pique your interest!