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"Oh Canada" Series To Debut At Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival--Concerts Featuring Nine Canadian Jazz Groups Being Filmed For National Broadcast On PBS Stations In U.S. -- Nine-Day Festival Is June 24 - July 2

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'This fabulous match of XRIJF, The Canada Council and PBS came together,' said Nugent. 'The Canada Council saw the vision and potential and how we have built audiences for hundreds of artists from all over Scandinavia and the United Kingdom for our other two international series. We are proud to be presenting some of the finest hand-picked jazz groups from across Canada, our wonderful neighbor to the north'
The 15th Anniversary edition of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (XRIJF) will feature a new and third international series at this year's nine-day festival, held June 24-July 2.

The inaugural “Oh Canada" Series, presented by The Canada Council For The Arts, will feature nine leading jazz artists and groups from Canada including Quinn Bachand's Brishen, Kent Sangster's Obsessions Octet, Jon Ballantyne Trio, Elizabeth Shepherd, Mike Murley Trio, Marianne Trudel Trio + Special Guest Ingrid Jensen, Jeff Johnston & Friends, Pugs and Crows, and Mike Herriott Quartet.

“Oh Canada" joins the festival's two other popular international series, Made in the UK Series and Nordic Jazz Now. XRIJF is the nation's only festival that focuses on presenting international artists. Musicians will travel from 14 countries to perform in this year's festival.

“Oh Canada" will be held at the Rochester Club, 120 East Avenue in Rochester, one of the festival's 19 venues. Entry is with the Club Pass or single admission at the door is $30 per person, cash only, no advance sales.

Each concert will be filmed live by WXXI-TV, a Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) for future broadcast on PBS stations around the U.S. This is the eighth year that WXXI has recorded concerts at the festival for national broadcast distribution.

XRIJF producer John Nugent- Canadian by birth, hailing from Canada's east coast, St. John's Newfoundland- reached out to the international market development office of Canada Council in Ottawa to discuss a collaboration. Since 1987, The Canada Council has supported Nugent with various private study and touring grants for jazz studies education and touring across Canada.

“This fabulous match of XRIJF, The Canada Council and PBS came together," said Nugent. “The Canada Council saw the vision and potential and how we have built audiences for hundreds of artists from all over Scandinavia and the United Kingdom for our other two international series. We are proud to be presenting some of the finest hand-picked jazz groups from across Canada, our wonderful neighbor to the north."

Simon Brault, Director and CEO of Canada Council for the Arts, said, “Canada's jazz scene is as unique and diverse as the country itself. The Canada Council for the Arts is proud to support Canadian jazz artists and to see them share the stage with other world-class talent at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival."

Glen Tilley, one of the leading producers who recently retired from the CBC in the Atlantic provinces, and recorded Nugent's first jazz record in 1990, will be at the “Oh Canada" venue, overseeing the sound for the series.

“Oh Canada" Series Schedule 2016

Friday June 24, 6 &10 PM
Quinn Bachand's Brishen

Twenty year old Quinn Bachand is one of Canada's most outstanding young musicians. With diverse musical talents and a bottomless pool of creativity, Quinn Bachand is an experienced performer, a prodigious guitarist and gifted multi- instrumentalist who is at ease playing a wide range of styles, from Celtic to Jazz.

Saturday, June 25, 6 & 10 PM
Kent Sangster's Obsessions Octet

The Obsessions Octet was founded in 2005 by Kent Sangster. a jazz saxophonist, and his wife Joanna Ciapka-Sangster, a classically trained violinist, out of their long- held desire to make music together. This group is the most innovative, ambitious, crazy and satisfying project that they have undertaken to date. Its distinct sound is an elegant blend of classical, latin and jazz elements, performing works by Astor Piazzolla, Chucho Valdes, Cole Porter and a collection of Kent Sangster's original compositions.

Sunday, June 26, 6 & 10 PM
Jon Ballantyne Trio

Saskatchewan born, Manhattan-based pianist and composer Jon Ballantyne has released 10 albums, won 2 Juno Awards (4 Juno nominations), most recently for the collaborative album with fellow Canadian musician Hugh Sicotte entitled Twenty Accident Free Workdays.

Monday, June 27, 6 & 10 PM
Elizabeth Shepherd

Vocalist/pianist Elizabeth Shepherd arrived on the international scene in 2006 when her debut album Start To Move was voted one of the top jazz albums of the year by the listeners of the influential Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio Worldwide. Since then, the Toronto-based souljazz innovator has released two widely acclaimed records and toured extensively in North America, Europe and Japan.

Tuesday, June 28, 6 & 10 PM
Mike Murley Trio

Formed in 1998, Murley's original trio featured Ed Bickert (guitar) and Steve Wallace (bass). In 2000, this group released “Live at the Senator", winning that year's Juno Award for best mainstream jazz album. Bickert retired from playing professionally shortly after this but in Nov 2012 a recording of the trio's previously unissued material, “Test of Time," was released and promptly produced another Juno.

Wednesday, June 29, 6 & 10 PM Marianne Trudel Trio + Special Guest Ingrid Jensen

Marianne Trudel, piano, composition; Rémi-Jean Leblanc- double bass; Rich Irwin- drum set; and Ingrid Jensen, trumpet. Marianne Trudel is a multi-talented pianist, composer, improvisor, and arranger. At once energetic and passionate, her music cross-cuts a wide swath of musical interests. She pursues an active career in a variety of settings ranging from solo performance to duo, Trifolia, Marianne Trudel 4 + Ingrid Jensen, septet, and large ensembles. Read More at http://www.rochesterjazz.com

Thursday, June 30, 6 & 10 PM
Jeff Johnston & Friends

Jeff Johnston is a Canadian based composer of music for film and media, With musical beginnings as a jazz pianist and recording artist his works are infused with alluring harmonies, lush textures, rhythmic inventiveness and spontaneity. Chuck Berg of Jazz Times Magazine wrote “This is music, that while at the contemporary cutting edge, is both immediately and immensely satisfying."

Friday, July 1, 6 & 10 PM
Pugs and Crows

JUNO Award winning band, Pugs and Crows, performs original instrumental music that explores a wide range of sonic textures by blending elements of indie rock, modern jazz, and neoclassicism. The band infuses its compositions with the inventiveness of its players and warmth of its ensemble sound, while their anthemic melodies, lyricism and groove inspire audiences from all walks of life.

Saturday, July 2, 2016
Mike Herriott

Canadian trumpeter, Mike Herriott, a respected multi-instrumentalist in both the classical and jazz genres, is in demand as a lead trumpeter, jazz improviser, orchestral soloist, bassist, arranger and composer. He has toured extensively through North America and South East Asia and has shared the stage with a host of luminaries, including Maynard Ferguson, Rob McConnell, Doc Severinsen, Arturo Sandoval, Michael Buble, Slide Hampton, Kenny Wheeler, Phil Nimmons, Maria Schneider, Seth MacFarlane and more.

The 2016 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival will present more than 1500 artists in 325+ shows at 19 venues in three series—the Club Pass series with 235 shows, Headliner Series with six shows and 99 free shows and events.

Headliners include Chick Corea, Joey Alexander, Chris Botti, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, Gregg Allman, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (free), Erykah Badu, and Grace Potter. This marks Chris Botti's fourth appearance at XRIJF and Trombone Shorty's sixth.

Other artists include Brecker Brothers Reunion Band, Kandace Springs, Rai Thistlethwayte, Red Baraat, Judith Hill, Sarah McKenzie, Soil & Pimp Sessions, Moscow Jazz Orchestra, Tord Gustavsen, Jamison Ross, Nacka Forum, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, John Mooney Band, Los Lonely Boys (who were unable to make it last year), Fitz & The Tantrums, Curtis Stigers, Avishai Cohen Trio, Eric Lindell, John Scofield-Joe Lovano Group, Lizz Wright, Catherine Russell, Eldar, Cyrille Aimee, Lenny White's Present Tense, Nicholas Payton, Mingo Fishtrap, Pedrito Martinez, Bria Skonberg and many more.

Ticket Information

Tickets available for all headliners shows, $40-125 plus service charges

3-day ($154) and 9-day ($194) Club Passes also on sale. Service charges apply. Will call for Eastman shows opens one hour before shows in Eastman Theatre Lobby. Buy all tickets at rochesterjazz.com up to show time, the festival Ticket Shop at the corner of East Avenue and Gibbs Street or call 585-454-2060.

Access Club Pass shows with the Club Pass or single entry fees at the door cash only, $30 ($35 Kilbourn Hall). No advance sales for Club Pass shows. Doors open 30 minutes before shows start. Free shows require no tickets. All shows go on rain or shine.

About the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival (XRIJF)

Founded in 2002, XRIJF is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2016. Produced by John Nugent and Marc Iacona, XRIJF has become one of the nation's most respected music festivals, navigating all genres of creative improvised music. This year's nine day festival, June 24 to July 2, will feature 1500 artists from 14 countries who will perform at 19 venues in more than 325 concerts including 99 free shows and events.

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