Ottawa Jazz seen

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Queen opens July Jazz nights at Café Nostalgica

©Brett Delmage, 2010

For the first time, Café Nostalgica is continuing to run its jazz nights over the summer (except for two weeks' closure at the beginning of August). Steve Berndt (vocals), along with Eric Disero (keys) and Alex Mastronardi (bass), will be there every Wednesday in July trying out new material.

At their opening show, the three saluted the Queen for her intent attention to the music, despite the brutal heat that drove both the band and the rest of the audience out onto the porch to cool down between sets.

The Roddy Ellias Organ Quartet

Kirk MacDonald listens to Roddy Ellias play. ©Brett Delmage, 2010 The Roddy Ellias Organ Quartet featuring Kirk MacDonald (sax), Daniel Thouin (organ), and John Fraboni (drums) played an excellent show at Café Paradiso on 2010 May 8. The insistent beat of the organ contrasted and underlined the explorations on sax and guitar. The almost-full restaurant enthusiastically received the music.

The show was the final show in Roddy Ellias' 2010 concert series.

See the original event listing

Mash Potato Mashers officially open the 30th Jazz Festival!

Mike Essoudry's Mash Potato Mashers Marching Band and the "Dancing in the Street" dancers officially opened the 30th Jazz Festival at 5 PM on June 25. They surprised and delighted the public as they marched down Elgin Street and the waiting audience when they arrived in the Park.

Ottawa Jazz Scene's earlier story about the Mashers is here.

Ottawa JazzWorksGala - Jazz Camp photos

JazzWorks is holding its annual JazzWorksGala fundraiser on May 6, 2010 at Arts Court. There will be five hours of entertainment and tickets are still available.

The funds raised will help support JazzWorks' annual jazz workshop, which provides intensive training and master classes by professional musicians over an extended weekend in late August. OttawaJazzScene.ca publisher Brett Delmage photographed the 2008 Camp. Learn more about what happens at Jazz Camp by viewing Brett's photographs of combos, master classes, the Big Choir, meals, jam sessions, the faculty concert, and more.

Carleton U Music Showcase features Guitar Ensemble

The Carleton University Guitar Ensemble performs in the Carleton University Music Showcase on April 5. They will play at Café Paradiso on Monday, April 19.

Craig Pedersen's final Recital Mashup delights audience

Craig Pedersen (trumpet) wrapped up his Masters in Music Performance with a recital at the University of Ottawa on April 16. He delighted his audience by performing with a mini-version of Mike Essoudry's Mash Potato Mashers for two numbers. Prior to the Mashers marching from the back of the room through the audience to the stage, Craig demonstrated his proficiency on trumpet by playing classical pieces by Handel and Hummel; "Winter becomes Spring", an electronic piece of his own with music from his laptop computer; and 20th century classical piece by Jean Hubeau. For the classical pieces, he was accompanied by Frédéric Lacroix on piano. The Mash Potato Mashers accompanying Craig were Linsey Wellman (saxophone), Ryan Purchase (trombone) and Mike Essoudry (drums).

Listeners can hear Craig Pedersen play with the Mash Potato Mashers on May 1 at The Elmdale Tavern. The Mashers will also open the 30th Ottawa Jazz Festival on June 24 by marching down Elgin Street into Confederation Park.

– Brett Delmage