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Despite his 40-year career in the Canadian foreign service, Gaby Warren has been an integral part of Ottawa's jazz scene since the early 1980s. He's served as the vice-president of the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and a JazzWorks jam coordinator. In 2005, the Ottawa Jazz Festival gave Warren its Award of Distinction for his commitment to jazz in Ottawa-Gatineau.

He's also one of the biggest jazz fans in town – not uncritically, by any means – but with a deep appreciation of many types of jazz. You frequently see him at concerts and clubs around Ottawa.

Talking to Warren – and he's always delighted to do so – is an education in itself. Partly courtesy of his travels for the government and expertise in issues related to the United Nations, he's seen more influential jazz musicians in concert than almost anyone. He also has an impressive CD habit, and these days, he's listening to live concerts from Smalls in NYC over the Internet.

But his deepest love is for Afro-Cuban jazz, courtesy of a stint in the Canadian embassy in Cuba in the mid-1960s. The result: Warren and Cuba had far more impact on each other than could ever have been predicted, including bringing music to renowned musicians like Chucho Valdès and Paquito D'Rivera.

Now Warren has stepped to the other side of the footlights. After 16 years of studying jazz vocals and 8 years of music theory lessons, he's released a CD. It's effectively his musical memoirs, playing hommage to the styles of jazz he loves, and backed by some fine musicians from Ottawa and Toronto. They include veteran Toronto saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, and the Geggie Trio (John Geggie on bass, Nancy Walker on piano, and Nick Fraser on drums) well-known for their decade-long run as the house band for the jams at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and much more as individual jazz musicians in Ottawa and Toronto.

The CD's official release is at a concert in Ottawa this Tuesday (May 21) at the NAC Fourth Stage, and at The Rex Jazz Club in Toronto on June 3.

It's entitled Reflections of a Jazz Fanatic, and that's exactly how Warren refers to himself. He makes no secret of how much he loves the music.

OttawaJazzScene.ca editor Alayne McGregor interviewed Warren a week before his concert, in an extended, free-flowing interview about how he was introduced to jazz, his adventures in Cuba, what types of jazz he loves, how he started singing, and about the album itself. We're releasing it as a podcast, and have included some excerpts from the podcast below.

Read more: Gaby Warren: a jazz fanatic steps to the other side of the footlights

Sunday, May 19, 2013 - 7 to 9 p.m.
Cover: $5  / pay what you can

Siach HaSadeh

• Yoni Kaston - Clarinet
• Joel Kerr - Double bass
• Daniel Fuchs - violin
• Gaël Huard - cello
• Jason Rosenblatt - harmonica

Siach HaSadeh references the play on words derived by the Jewish Sages, the word roots can convey both “plants of the field,” and “meditation in the field.” It is taught that every plant has its own unique song that it sings, and that those songs are gathered to make holy music. That prayer and meditation are essential components in creation, and that music, and wordless niggun is a means of expressing that which words cannot – awakening the soul directly without language and its inherent barriers and limitations. 

www.cardboardstudios.ca/siach-hasadeh/

Read more: Improvising Musicians of Ottawa/Outaouais (IMOO) at the Umi Café

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 was International Jazz Day. As part of the international celebrations, longtime Ottawa jazz musician Roddy Ellias was officially recognized as a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association at a ceremony sponsored by Carleton University, where he teaches.

Join OttawaJazzScene.ca at the celebration and hear from some of Ellias' musical friends who already thought that he was a jazz hero.

     – Brett Delmage

Watch the video

Read more: The community celebrates Ottawa Jazz Hero Roddy Ellias (video)

John Geggie's Invitational concert on May 25 may be the last in that series at the National Arts Centre.

Simone Deneau, the NAC's producer of Variety and Community Programming, told OttawaJazzScene.ca that, although the NAC has not yet made any final decisions, the Geggie series would not likely return as a formal series in 2013-14.

“I think it's going to be the end of the series as a series of community programming performances, so the one coming up in May is probably the last of the Geggie shows as a series.”

There will not be a subscription series of Geggie under Community Programming at the NAC, she said. “It might come back in another persona.”

When contacted by OttawaJazzScene.ca, Geggie said he thought the decision was “unfortunate”.

The series, now in its twelfth year, brought in a wide range of musicians from Canada, the U.S., and overseas, in innovative combinations which allowed musicians who had never before played together to perform each others' compositions, as well as jazz standards and some free improv. The concerts ranged substantially in style from mainstream to avant-garde to even some vocal jazz, but always involved combining musicians in new ways rather than showcasing established groups.

This season, the series was cut back to only half the number of concerts from the previous year, and featured only Canadians rather than a mixture of Canadian and international musicians.

Ottawa jazz fans who attended the concerts were exposed to a great number of different musicians – some legendary, some very well-established, and some musicians they might never have otherwise heard, Geggie said, including “an astonishing number” of Canadian jazz artists from across the country. Some musicians from outside Canada were sponsored by local embassies: for example, renowned drummer Jon Christensen's appearance in 2007 was supported by the Royal Embassy of Norway.

Each concert was different, with a certain amount of risk involved. As Geggie emphasized, the musicians “weren't just coming in doing their shtick. They were taking part in something bigger that that, which I feel is a much more interesting concept to shoot with.”

And he said he appreciated how Ottawa jazz fans came out to support the series, “that they actually really liked it and respected that concept and went for that.”

“To my mind, that was a successful thing. People were experiencing music on a different level. They were experiencing musicians they'd never seen or heard before. So in terms of value that way, it was great. For me, it was a great experience and it will be a great experience on the 25th just because there's great musicians and as always we come together to make music.”

Read more: Next concert in John Geggie Invitational series may be the last

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 8 to 11 p.m.
Cover: $3
No age restrictions.

• François Gravel - organ
• Loic Martin - guitar
• Ted Zarras - drums

The music is at the very least, "Swinging Funky Soul Jazz for the body and mind", and rooted in the classic organ trios, in sound and sensibility.

The kitchen is open until 10:30 p.m.

Burgers on Main
343 Somerset Street West, between Bank and O'Connor
2 doors west of Bank Street, In the heart of Somerset Village
Ottawa
613-695-3330
burgersonmain.com/

Thursday, May 23, 2012 - 8 p.m.
Cover: $10 ($15 with CD, $20 with vinyl version)

• Dean Pallen - saxophones
• Gerg Horvath - stand-up bass
• Arien Villegas - drums
• Carlos Santana - piano

After a successful official launch, Rimbombante continues its promotion of its very well-received new album, Maria has Lost Her Soul.

Dean Pallen is the saxophonist and composer for Rimbombante. He has also led the Malagasy World-Music group Raivo, and his own jazz quartet for which in 2010, he released his very well received Strathcona Park. In 2014, he will release a new album of music inspired by Madagascar called Dean Pallen Presents Madagascar.

Members of Rimbombante, have straddled the worlds of jazz and world music and other genres such as the avant-guard. Before arriving in Canada, Cuban born drummer Arien Villegas worked widely as a professional musician.  He is currently the drummer in the Miguel Angel de Armas Quartet that is becoming one of Canada’s most preeminent Latin jazz outfits.  Stand-up bass player Gerg Horvath has played and recorded with a number of jazz and world music groups. Since 2008, he has been a member of the electro-acoustic avant-garde ensemble Kingdom Shore.  The Mexican-born Carlos Santana is a highly versatile and imaginative pianist who has played
and recorded with such World-Music acts as the Mighty Popo and Caridad Cruz. He studied jazz with Juan Jose Calatayud in Mexico and Jan Jarczyk from McGill University in Montreal.

Music samples: https://soundcloud.com/rimbombante
More info: www.majunga.music.ca/

Mambo Nuevo Latino Restaurant
77 Clarence Street,
Ottawa
613-562-2500
www.mambonuevolatino.com

See the OttawaJazzScene.ca review of the CD release party for Maria has Lost Her Soul:

• Energetic music attracts a packed house at Rimbombante CD release show
  

Friday, May 24, 2013 - 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15

• Paul Rushka – double-bass
• Frank Lozano – tenor & soprano saxophones
• Kenny Bibace – guitar
• Josh Rager – piano
• Mark Nelson – drums

Award-winning bassist and composer Paul Rushka is thrilled to bring his compelling quintet to GigSpace as part of a national tour. Since 1997, Paul has engaged audiences throughout North America, Europe, and Asia with his sonorous tone, assured confident pulse, and eloquent melodic soloing. All About Jazz describes him as “a postmodern Milt Hinton” with a “sense of gravitas, melodic flair, rich timbre and unshakable time”. He is featured on over a dozen recordings, including those of James Danderfer, Chad Makela, Jillian Lebeck and Laura Crema, and has accompanied jazz greats such as John Taylor, Joe LaBarbera, Julian Priester, Jimmy Greene, Jeremy Pelt, Danny Grissett, Brad Turner, Ross Taggart, Kirk MacDonald, Kevin Dean, and many more. He has also been featured several times on CBC radio with live and studio.

Since its formation in 2008, Paul’s interactive, exploratory quintet has developed an incredible rapport, seamlessly melding ensemble passages and formidable, intricate improvisations into a vivid group sound. This is music that strikes at the mind, the heart, and the soul. Rushka’s debut album as a leader, titled As It Happens, features his lyrical original compositions and his group’s stunning interplay. Communication is at the centre of this music – individual voices entwine and textures unfurl, creating a shifting embroidery of contemporary jazz.

Paul holds a Master of Music degree from McGill University, where he was awarded a prestigious Schulich Scholarship to pursue his education. Paul studied performance concepts with saxophonist Rémi Bolduc and trumpeter Kevin Dean and composition with Joe Sullivan. In November 2009, McGill's Chamber Jazz Ensemble premiered his Captive Spring Suite, a three movement work for 10 musicians, which featured drummer Joe LaBarbera as guest artist. While at McGill, Paul had the opportunity to work closely with visiting artists including pianists John Taylor and Jim McNeely, and bassist John Patitucci. Paul earned his undergraduate degree from North Vancouver's Capilano College Jazz Studies program, where he studied jazz bass with André Lachance and Chris Nelson and classical bass with David G. Brown. In 1998, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the International Jazz Workshop at the Banff Centre for the Arts, where he had the opportunity to learn from an international faculty that included bassists Don Thompson and Ray Drummond, as well as trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, clarinetist Phil Nimmons, and trombonist Hugh Fraser, among others.

In 2003, Paul won a Western Canadian Music Award for Best Jazz Album for his work on the Mike Allen Trio's Dialectic. He has appeared with several great names in jazz, including Julian Priester, Jimmy Greene, Jeremy Pelt, Kevin Dean, Andre White and Kirk MacDonald, and has often been called upon to back up various visiting artists at the Jazz Cellar in Vancouver. While Paul is currently focusing his creative energies on his quintet, he also leads a trio with Dave Sikula on guitar and Bernie Arai on drums, which has been featured for several years at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and has recorded for CBC's Hot Air radio program. In addition to maintaining a busy performance schedule in Montréal and Vancouver, Paul is currently at work on a doctorate in Jazz Performance Studies at McGill University.

www.paulrushka.com

Tickets available at the door. Advance tickets available by calling 613-729-0693.

GigSpace (in Alcorn Music Studios)
953 Gladstone Avenue @ Loretta (Little Italy area, one block west of Preston Street)
Ottawa
613-729-0693
www.gigspaceottawa.com

Friday, May 24, 2013 - 8 to 11 p.m.
Cover: $3
No age restrictions.

• Miguel De Armas - piano
• Marc Decho - bass
• Arien Villegas - percussion
  

Miguel De Armas,the Ottawa based and Cuban born pianist has brought together a powerful and energetic style and at times ideas seem to be flying out from under his fingers almost more quickly than he can fully process them. With the help of a rhythm team, drummer Arien Villegas and bassist Marc Decho, he manages to keep his feet on the ground and generate lots of inspiring moments during their performance.

Tasty and head turning musical arrangements of the classic jazz standards, Cuban traditional music as well as from his own, are definitely heating up a bit the Ottawa music scene.

www.migueldearmas.com

The kitchen is open until 10:30 p.m.

Burgers on Main
343 Somerset Street West, between Bank and O'Connor
2 doors west of Bank Street, In the heart of Somerset Village
Ottawa
613-695-3330
burgersonmain.com/