  Juno-Award winning Guitarist Jocelyn Gould joined the stage with the Winnipeg Women's Jazz Orchestra on March 6th, 2025 in an incredible showcase of Winnipeg's female jazz musicians and composers/arrangers.   Sol James performed several songs with the band including new arrangements by Female Winnipeg composers and arrangers.  The Young Women's Jazz Ensemble performed our opener Set! It's always such a pleasure for The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra musicians to share the stage with young players who are so passionate about making music! Our Women-Led Symposium earlier that day was a success! We heard an incredible keynote by Jocelyn Gould as well as instrument break-out sessions and a "Living Giants Herstory" session by Jeni Taylor.  Keynote Speech by Jocelyn Gould  Brass Instrument breakout session led by Dr. Nora Wilson.
0 Comments
 Filipina Vocalist Charito flew in from Japan and blew us away with very special renditions of "My Funny Valentine," "My One and Only Love," "Nica's Dream" and "Sir Duke," to name just a few of the songs performed last Saturday evening.
 Rondalla performed as well! Winnipeg's own MAFTI traditional Rondalla string ensemble performed during intermission and also joined the WJO on stage for the final number: L.O.V.E. 
Sisler High School Jazz Band performed our opener Set!It's always such a pleasure for The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra musicians to share the stage with young players who are so passionate about making music! 
Tidal Currents: East Meets West releases February 2nd, 2024 on Chronograph Records. WJO musician Monica Jones sits down with Composers: Jill Townsend and Christine Jensen to discuss the album and creative aspects of composing a big band suite "together but separately." A special thanks to the composers for taking the time to discuss the upcoming album release.  'Elvis & The Grinch: Madcap Holiday Hijinks Combined with Classic Christmas Crooning Send Audiences Reeling and Rocking this December! Both the matinee and the evening performances of Elvis & The Grinch had audiences dancing a hole in their Blue Suede Shoes and rolling in the aisles at The Grinch's anti-Christmas antics. The program kicked off with Dave 'Icelandic Elvis' Greene and the WJO performing some of 'The King's' greatest hits including Suspicious Minds, See See Rider, and, of course, that holiday favourite, Blue Christmas. Dave's powerful voice and enthusiastic performance, combined with sizzling solos and the raw energy of the big band, made it so the audience couldn't help falling in love with this veteran Manitoban Elvis Tribute Artist. Not to mention a white, hot rendition of Santa Baby by local vocalist Helen White. In the second half of the concert, Helen and the big band gracefully whisked us to Whoville where a certain green grouch began to unravel his plans for the most celebrated holiday heist of all time! Quinn 'The Grinch' Greene, with the help of Helen's wonderful comedic timing and truly one-of-a-kind voice, spun Dr. Suess' beloved tale of the Grinch's journey from despising everything jolly to becoming a hero for all Who's everywhere. Along with some audacious audience interaction and literally stealing presents, lights, the tree, and a certain roast beast, Quinn, Helen, Dave, and the illustrious WJO brought this Christmas classic to swinging, singing, and carol-ing life in a holiday program unlike any other!'      'Music of Our Time is a sweeping, emotional success of sound, fury, heart and soul! The WJO's presentation of this concert by diverse, contemporary artists and composers and their Manitoba-made musical pieces was powerful and beautiful in turn. The WJO's long held belief in creating stage space for emerging artists and their newest works was represented in full force with this culturally resonant experience that left the audience in tears and lifted their spirits. The evening began with a piece from Brazilian composer Marco Castillo that carried the audience away with the pounding pulse of the Amazon rainforest. Next, Cree artist Andrew Balfour's 'Wenen' brought the heartbeat of these ancient lands called Turtle Island and the clash between Indigenous peoples and newcomers to the fore. Ukrainian artist Tetyana Haraschuk presented two pieces that spoke to the tragedy of war in her homeland. Her personal passion for those affected by this trying time, and the harrowing yet gorgeous works she presented, left the audience with much to consider about life in a war-torn Ukraine and the resilience of its people. The evening closed with Sean Irvine's epic, challenging, and compelling opus 'The Lonely Men's Suite'. This triumphant debut of Sean's quintet of pieces telling the story of several gay men in his life, in sometimes painful and poignant detail, was heartbreaking at times, and eye opening at others. The messages of love, empathy and hope underpinning this intimate showcase of Sean's talent certainly left its mark on the crowd. Exciticing, profound and an experience those there won't soon forget, Music of Our Time marks yet another brilliant concert for the WJO this 2023/24 season!' ~written by Quinn Greene music clip from Sean Irvine's Lonely Men's Suite (prologue) Were you at the Concert? We'd love to hear what you thought, comment below.
|
Winnipeg Jazz OrchestraThe Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (WJO) is Canada’s first community-based, non-profit professional jazz orchestra. Founded in 1997 (registered charity in 2000), the WJO has matured to become an important part of Winnipeg’s cultural landscape, reflected in the ongoing support the organization receives from the Manitoba Arts Council, the Winnipeg Arts Council, the Winnipeg Foundation, and other sponsors. The mandate of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is to be an instrumental force in the promotion and development of big band jazz in Manitoba and beyond, through performance, composition, recording and education. Archives
March 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is Generously Funded by:
Funding assistance provided by the Manitoba government. Aide financière accordée par le gouvernement du Manitoba.
|
|
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
|
Education Sponsors: |
|
|
|
The Play-Along App project is supported by the Government of Canada’s Healthy Communities Initiative.
|
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada. |
|
Concert Sponsors:
|
|
|
|
Hotel Sponsor:
|
|
|
Radio Sponsors
|
|
|
|
Special Event Supporters
|
|
|
|
Supporters
|
|
|
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra welcomes and shares its performance and creation of music - a universal language to all people irrespective of culture, race, sexuality, ability, language and gender.
Music is an agent of hope. A dynamic and valuable device that helps us to heal and to bring us together. The First Peoples of Canada understood this and used music to reunite, resolve and reconcile. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that WJO activities take place on Treaty Territory – land that was maintained and earnestly cared for by Indigenous peoples before European settlement. Manitoba is the original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and is the homeland of the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that Winnipeg benefits daily from Treaty 3 water that comes from Shoal Lake 40. It is with sincere sentiment that we recognize the mistakes of our recent and distant past. In working towards a Canada that benefits us all, we commit to seeking a greater understanding of Canada’s diverse cultural relationships through continued work with Indigenous communities; we commit to live in ways that honour and respect the treaties that were made on these territories; and we commit to stewarding the land in harmony for all who will come after us.
- Please refrain from wearing any fragrances or scented products as other patrons are allergic to them.
- Your likeness may be captured at this event. Attending this event implies your permission for your image to be used in marketing or promotional purposes.
- Please do not attend if you do not feel well. Call the box office at 204-632-5299 to arrange to go to another concert.
- Your likeness may be captured at this event. Attending this event implies your permission for your image to be used in marketing or promotional purposes.
- Please do not attend if you do not feel well. Call the box office at 204-632-5299 to arrange to go to another concert.
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra / Box 68114, RPO Osborne Village, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 2V9
Main: 204-421-9398 / [email protected] Box Office: 204-632-5299 / [email protected]
Main: 204-421-9398 / [email protected] Box Office: 204-632-5299 / [email protected]