Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Annual music festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is a jazz festival held every summer in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[1]
| Vancouver International Jazz Festival | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 2008 festival stage in Yaletown | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Music festival |
| Locations | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Inaugurated | 1986 |
| Organized by | Coastal Jazz |
| Website | www |
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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4][5]
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.[6]
Past Lineups
| Year | Dates | Featured Artists | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | June 24 – July 3 | [7] | |
| 2017 | June 22 – July 2 | [8][9] | |
| 2018 | June 22 – July 1 | [10][11] | |
| 2019 | [12][13][14][15] | ||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | June 25 – July 2 | [16] | |
| 2022 | [17][18] | ||
| 2023 | June 23 – July 2 |
|
[19][20] |
| 2024 | June 21 – July 2 | [21][22] | |
| 2025 | June 20 – July 1 |
|
[23][24] |
