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Jazz festival sounds off Once more the Edmonton International Jazz Festival has found its groove in importing international artists such as the Branford Marsalis Quartet and John Abercrombie Organ Trio.

Jazz festival sounds off

Once more the Edmonton International Jazz Festival has found its groove in importing international artists such as the Branford Marsalis Quartet and John Abercrombie Organ Trio.

Throughout the 10-day event that ends July 5, jazz aficionados will be treated to every type of jazz from free form, funk and vocalese to cool jazz, gypsy jazz and world.

New this year is Jazz in the Park, an all-day event today aimed at exposing families to the form’s more mainstream sounds. Even though it’s free, there’s an incredibly talented line-up of artistically diverse talent.

Kicking off the event at noon is Edmonton trumpeter Joel Gray’s Quintet. Quebec saxophonist Yannick Rieu Quartet swings by at 1:15 p.m., soulful Canadian blues singer Ndidi Onukwulu sings at 2:30 p.m., Alberta’s Latin-jazz band Bomba! plays at 4 p.m. and Afro-Cuban jazz sensations Maraca perform at 5:30 p.m. Closing the evening is Alfie Zappacosta with the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra performing at 7 p.m. St. Albert’s own John Taylor is the EJO’s upright bassist.

Jazz in the Park happens at Louis McKinney Riverfront Park, located directly south of the Shaw Conference Centre.

For complete festival information visit www.edmontonjazz.com

The 250th show of Ammar’s Tuesday Night Open Stage on June 30 brings together the talents of guitarist Scott McBride and bass player Randy Forsberg.

McBride, who polished his chops on the Winnipeg bar scene in the early 80s in a hard rock band called Antares, has for the last five years played with local guitarist Dean LeBlanc of the Citizens.

“Scott is the loop king on guitar,” says co-host Mark Ammar. He hosts the jam along with Noel (Big Cat) Mackenzie at LB’s Pub every Tuesday starting at 9 p.m.

Forsberg instead has spent the last 20 years raising a family and only recently returned to the music scene. “I’ve watched him for the past year perform all styles with a confident ease on stage. He’ll be a blast to jam with.”

LB’s is at 23 Akins Drive and the jams are free.

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