Cape Breton Jazz Festival

CANADIAN JAZZ LEGENDS AT CAPE BRETON JAZZ FESTIVAL JUNE 16-19

Several Canadian Jazz Legends are confirmed to perform at this year's Cape Breton Jazz Festival 2022 from June 16-19. Jazz icons saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, guitarist Lorne Lofsky, bassist Neil Swainson, and drummer Jim Doxas are top Canadian jazz musicians who will be onsite and playing at the Festival.  The Lorne Lofsky Trio with guests will play on Thursday June 16. The Kirk MacDonald Quartet with Lorne Lofsky will play on Friday June 17, then the Kirk MacDonald Trio will play on Saturday June 18. Swainson and Doxas will be on bass and drums respectively for both of Kirk MacDonald's shows. For ticket information see the schedule below. Thursday and Saturday shows held at Boardwalk Taproom Restaurant. Friday's show held at Sacred Heart Downtown in Sydney.

Daytime shows and late evening shows will also be held. See schedule below.

Meanwhile bassist Paul Rushka, instructor at St. Francis Xavier University, and Ethan Ardelli, one of the most active drummer on the Toronto jazz scene, have confirmed they will be playing the Festival. Rushka and Ardelli will comprise Lofsky's trio on June 16. Meanwhile the Heartstone Inn, on Kings' Rd in Sydney, NS, have agreed to be the Festival headquarters, housing the musicians and presenting shows.

With such an outstanding quality of musicians participating, this year's Festival, for the first time, will present extended learning and playing workshops for anyone interested in improving their understanding of the skills required to play jazz, both vocal singing, and instrument playing. The workshops are open to everyone but you must register. For further information on this workshop contact Carl at capebretonjazzfestival@gmail.com.    

Cape Breton Jazz Festival Schedule 2022

Thursday June 16

Daytime: Music Workshops at Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. Sydney.

Dinner Jazz: Bill Stevenson Jazz Blues Quartet  (Canadian and Fillipino food buffet for purchase by Isla Kusina Restaurant): 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Location: Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. Sydney. NS.  Concert Ticket Price: $30. For Tickets: Phone 902-565-1092 to reserve ticket. Tickets for this show also available at Cape Breton Curiosity Shop Charlotte St. Sydney. Tickets go on sale Thursday June 9. 

Salute to Jazz Guitar: Lorne Lofsky Trio with Paul Rushka on bass and Ethan Ardelli on drums. Guest appearances by guitarists Joe Waye, Jake Hanlon, and Malcolm MacNeil. 8 pm at Boardwalk Taproom restaurant. Price $35. Tickets only available at Boardwalk Taproom in Sydney or by phoning 902-270-9255. Tickets go on sale Tuesday June 7.

Late Night Jazz: 10 pm - 1 pm: Various Jazz performers.  Location:  Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. Sydney. No Admission Charge.

Friday June 17

Daytime: Music Workshops at Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. Sydney

Dinner Jazz: Bill Stevenson Jazz Blues Quartet (Canadian and Fillipino buffet by Isla Kusina Restaurant available for purchase.): 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Location: Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. Sydney. NS.  Concert Ticket Price: $30. For Tickets: Phone 902-565-1092 to reserve ticket. Tickets go on sale Thursday June 9.Tickets for this show also available at Cape Breton Curiosity Shop Charlotte St. Sydney.

Canadian Jazz Legends Show.  Kirk MacDonald Quartet with Lorne Lofsky on guitar, Neil Swainson on bass, and Jim Doxas on drums. Venue: Sacred Heart Downtown on George St. in Sydney.Ticket price: $40 Tickets: buy at sacredheartdowntown.com or phone 902-919-2637. On Thursday June 9 tickets for this show will also available at Cape Breton Curiosity Shop Charlotte St. Sydney.

Late Night Jazz: 10 pm - 1 pm: Various Jazz performers. No Admission Charge. Location Hearthstone Inn. Kings Rd. Sydney.

Saturday June 18

Daytime: Music Workshops at Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. Sydney

Afternoon Jazz: 1:30 pm- 4 pm. Carl Getto Jazz Group and Guests. Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. No advance tickets. Admission: $10 at the door.   

Evening Highlight Show: Kirk MacDonald Trio with Neil Swainson on bass, and Jim Doxas on drums at 8 pm Boardwalk Taproom Restaurant, Sydney, NS.  Ticket price: $35. Tickets only available at Boardwalk Taproom in Sydney or by phoning 902-270-9255. Tickets go on sale Tuesday June 7.

Late Night Jazz: 10 pm - 1 pm: Various Jazz performers. No Admission Charge. Location: Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. 

Sunday, June 19

Morning: Music Workshops at Hearthstone, Kings Rd. Sydney.

Jazz Brunch Buffet. 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Hearthstone Inn (Isla Kusina Restaurant)

Afternoon Jazz: 1:30 - 4:30 pm location: Hearthstone Inn, Kings Rd. Sydney. Carl Getto Jazz Group plus special guests. No advance tickets. Admission: $10 at the door.

2022 Festival Music Workshops 

Jazz Festival 2022 Offers Learn to Play Workshops For Singers and Instrumentalists

If you are interested in learning to sing jazz or play jazz then this opportunity is for you.

This year the Cape Breton Jazz Festival, June 16-19 2022, will place emphasis on music instruction by having several days of musician development workshops during the Festival.

Anyone interested in learning to sing or play jazz are invited to attend the workshops which will provide instruction and helpful information on playing jazz music. Both beginning players/singers and advanced players/singers are welcome to take part. All instruments are welcome.

Some of the instruction during the three days of workshops may be given by some of the top jazz musicians in Canada, such as Kirk MacDonald on saxophone, Lorne Loftsky on guitar, and Neil Swainson, on bass, along with Ethan Ardelli and Jim Doxas on drums. All are performing at this year’s Festival.

Also some of Atlantic Canada’s top jazz musicians may participate in the workshops. Players such Paul Tynan on trumpet, Tom Easley and Paul Rushka on bass, Steve Luxton and Joe Waye on guitar may be some of the musicians providing instruction. We’re also excited to present this year singing workshops taught by with Antonia Pigot, a jazz vocal teacher from Halifax, providing instruction.

The workshops will be held on Thursday June 16 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm then will continue on

Friday 10:30 to 1 pm and on Saturday from 10:30 to 1 pm. For those interested there will also be opportunities to play on stage during one of several public playing opportunities. Public performance opportunities will be held each of these three days, both during the afternoons from 4 pm to 7 pm and in the evenings and from 10 pm to 1 am. The schedule will be adjusted depending on the number of performers on each instrument.

The workshops will be held at the Hearthstone Inn on Kings Rd in Sydney. For instrumentalists, aspects of instruction will include such topics as: following the jazz form, understanding chord changes, different ways to improvise, learning tunes, performing tunes, playing with others, playing the blues, and so on.

The Jazz Vocal Workshop will cover topics such as vocal jazz style, rhythmic and harmonic awareness, lyric interpretation, vocal exploration, improvisation and group and solo performance.

There will be no better opportunity for anyone to learn how to play jazz. All skill levels and all ages welcome. Spectators welcome also.

Registration is limited. To register send an email to Carl at capebretonjazzfestival@gmail.com. Provide him with your name, your instrument, your music background, and what you would like to learn. You can contact him with questions also. Keep checking the Festival’s website at capebretonjazzfestival.com for further information. Deadline for workshop registration is Friday, June 3 2022. Late registration may be possible depending on the number of instrumentalists already registered. For additional Festival information go to capebretonjazzfestival.com.

Workshop Schedule

Kirk MacDonald

With an established reputation as one of Canada's leading saxophonists, Kirk MacDonald cut his first record at the age of thirteen. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, and has worked with many leading musicians in a variety of musical genres. He has performed on over fifty CDs as both leader and side- man, and has participated in numerous national broadcast recordings for CBC Radio. In addition to performing extensively throughout Canada, he has also performed in the USA, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Monaco, Aus- tralia, Korea, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.

For over thirty years Kirk has worked and recorded with a 'whos who' of great jazz players, including many leading Canadian, U.S. and International jazz musicians including Claude Ranger, Dave Young, Sam Noto, Sonny Greenwich, Kenny Wheeler, Eddie Hender- son, Harold Mabern, Walter Bishop Jr., Tom Harrell, Lorne Lofsky, Bob Mover, Pat LaBarbera, John Taylor, Ron McClure, Jack DeJohnette, Mike Stern, Jim McNeely, Bob Mintzer, Vince Mendoza, John Clayton, Chris Potter, Glenn Ferris, Maria Schneider, Dave Grusin, Danilo Perez, Adam Rogers, Dennis Mackrel, Nancy Walker, Barry Romberg, Andre White, Rob Smith, Brian Dickinson, Denny Christianson, Bernie Senensky, Phil Nimmons, James Moody, Rosemary Clooney, Humber College Faculty Ensemble.

Kirk has won numerous awards during his career, including a Juno Award. Kirk has taught extensively throughout his career. He has participated many learning workshops, and will be participating in the workshop in Cape Breton in 2022.