everything EVERYWHERE all at once jazz fest

The Vancouver International Jazz Festival has showcased some of the world’s most exciting and innovative artists on its stages, and this year, its 38th edition, is no exception. Running from June 23 to July 2, the landmark event offers 140 shows—including over 50 free performances—at an array of venues across the city. Here are five top picks you won’t want to miss.

Lido Pimienta

At the Georgia Street Stage on June 24

The work of Colombian-born, Toronto-based Lido Pimienta boldly explores politics of gender, race, and identity as she combines Afro-Colombian musical styles like Cumbia and avant-garde electronica with her beautifully ecstatic singing voice. The Polaris Prize winner’s artistic vision, paired with her endless talents—Pimienta is also an exhibiting visual artist, has scored the New York City Ballet, and hosts her own CBC variety show, LidoTV—make her an absolute force, and a Jazz Festival performance not to miss. –Yasmine Shemesh

Nightcrawlers

At Ocean Artworks on June 24

If there ever was a Vancouver jazz supergroup, this would be it. Led by acclaimed drummer Jesse Cahill, the quintet features some of the local scene’s most prominent players: Cory Weeds, Dave Sikula, Chris Gestrin, and Jack Duncan. The combo lends to a soulful and swaggering musical experience, as Nightcrawlers take sonic cues from great organ bands of the past like Big John Patton and Booker T. and the M.G.’s. –YS

Sun Ra Arkestra

At Performance Works on Granville Island on June 24 With melodious saxophone, energetic moves, and harmonious voices, Sun Ra Arkestra takes the stage. The iconic jazz group is known for its Ellingtonian big band swing, and recently received a 2022 Grammy nomination for its album, Swirling. The group was formed in the mid-’50s by Afrofuturism pioneer, Sun Ra. His cosmic musical experimentation influenced many artists, and today’s 13-piece unit carries the late Ra’s legacy through jazz, dancing, chanting, and Afro-pageantry. Sun Ra Arkestra has been led by original member and multi-instrumentalist Marshall Allen

Vancouver Jazz fest evolves

> AS PANDEMIC-ERA NAVIGATIONS have gone, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival has been more successful than many on the West Coast. While many major festivals continue to struggle, some even shutting down, the long-running celebration returns this year for its 38th edition.

In an interview with the Straight, artistic director Nina Horvath suggested that there was never any doubt the festival would be going ahead in 2023, with government pandemic-relief funding helping immensely.

since ’95. You need further life accomplishments? He turned 99 years old on May 25. –Bridget Stringer-Holden

AROOJ AFTAB, VIJAY IYER, SHAHZAD ISMAILY

At the Vancouver Playhouse on June 26

Arooj Aftab’s soulful singing earned her the first Grammy received by a Pakistani, which she won in 2022 for Best Global Music Performance. Now, the New-York based artist has released a collaborative album with multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily and pianist Vijay Iyer, following their debut as a trio in 2018. Love in Exile weaves piano, bass and distinguished vocals together into a mesmerizing performance. –BSH

Badbadnotgood

At the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on June 29 Fusing ’70s soul-jazz, alternative hip-hop, and experimental electronica, BADBADNOTGOOD redefines what it means to be a crossover band—the musically adventurous trio is truly in a category all its own. On its latest album, 2021’s Talk Memory, BBNG improvised in the studio and came out with a vibrant and virtuosic psychedelic journey that earned a nomination for the Polaris Prize. The group’s expansive approach has made them sought-after collaborators with like-minded innovators from Kendrick Lamar and Ghostface Killah to Kaytranada and Thundercat.–YS GS

“We always knew we could put on a festival this year,” she says. “It was just a question of what size it would be.”

Challenges included the loss of the fest’s long-time title sponsor TD Bank, as well as the reality that the pandemic changed entertainment consumption patterns. As many organization have noted, people got more comfortable staring at TV screens than going out and taking a chance on the arts, including live music.

The response to that reality has been a scaled-down Vancouver International Jazz Festival for 2023. But it’s also a festival that continues to evolve, with Horvath excited about centralized programming on Granville Island where a Roamer Pass gets you access to shows at Performance Works, Ocean Artworks, and the Revue Stage.

“I think the programming this year is, as always, really strong across the board,” Horvath says. “I think it’s super-focused and distilled and there are really exciting things to see. The fact that we’ve brought in a new venue, the Revue Stage, on Granville Island, has changed the whole approach to how people can interact with the whole festival. You can show up at the Island at 2 in the afternoon, stay there, and listen to eight different shows until 1 in the morning. That’s really cool.”

- Mike Usinger