Week 2 of Jazz Fest brings eclectic lineup to downtown stages
After a soggy opening, the festival returns with performances from GALACTIC, DOMi & JD Beck, and local acts like Nick Schofield across the OLG Main Stage and Elgin Street Stage.
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The Ottawa Jazz Festival's second week kicked off Wednesday, June 24 with an eclectic mix of artists spanning genres and drawing from influences far beyond traditional jazz.
Wednesday's lineup launched with The Plastic Waste Band, a Montreal group known for free-form jazz and experimental sounds. Their recent album Trash Island blends psych-rock guitars with central-figure saxophone. Headlining the OLG Main Stage was GALACTIC, the New Orleans-based ensemble that crafts a gumbo of funky blues and soul-infused jazz. Over their 30-year career, they've collaborated with everyone from the Nevilles to Macy Gray, keeping their recipe fresh and modern.
On the Elgin Street Stage, MA:Q (Mary Ancheta Quartet) returned to Ottawa with their new album When the Light Comes to Play, showcasing Ancheta's keyboards against exceptional rhythms that venture beyond standard jazz. Closing the night was KOKOROKO, a British ensemble weaving Afrobeats into a backdrop for spotlighted horns and vocals. Their 2019 single "Abusey Junction" went viral, and last year's album Tuff Times Never Last shows the group continues evolving.
Thursday, June 25 brought the smooth piano jazz of Mark Ferguson, a multi-hyphenated artist who teaches at Carleton and McGill universities and released his latest album, Transformation. The main stage headliners were DOMi & JD Beck, known for their innovative take on jazz where Beck's video-game-soundtrack snares and DOMi's prolific keys create a sound all their own. Their 2022 Tiny Desk Concert established them as must-listen, with collaborators including Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, and Herbie Hancock. Their long-awaited follow-up album WHO ASKED? releases next month.
The Elgin Street Stage featured Ottawa's own Nick Schofield, whose ambient DJ sets have garnered international attention. His upcoming performance as a trio blends electronic backdrops with instrumental elements forming his new album Blue Hour. Closing Thursday was Toronto's The Free Label, delivering funk, soul, and street-party energy.
The festival continues through the weekend and beyond.