Izzy Asper Jazz Performances

CURRENT SEASON

When jazz aficionado Israel Asper dreamed up the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances 25 years ago, he wanted Winnipeggers to experience the best and brightest jazz artists right here in Winnipeg. To mark our 25th anniversary, we are paying special tribute to Izzy Asper, community builder, jazz aficionado, and visionary creator of this series. In the hour prior to our two November shows, we are celebrating in Roaring Twenties style in the Berney Theatre lobby. There will be music, food, and libations, so dress up in your glamourous garb and toast our next 25!

Our season opens on November 16 and 17 with Montreal-based vocalist Susie Arioli. Known for her vintage styling, signature snare drum, and playful wit, Arioli has generated a dedicated following, rave reviews, and a host of awards, including the Oscar Peterson Prize and two Félix Awards, over the last three decades. Arioli’s brand new album, Embraceable, has led critic Frédéric Cardin to observe that “a Susie album is like returning to the roots of a happiness that is never forgotten or fades away.” This feel-good concert is the perfect way to mark Izzy Asper’s vision, and the joy of hearing great live jazz!

On March 22, we are thrilled to present GRAMMY-nominated reed sensation Anat Cohen with Quartetinho, her quartet of virtuosic Brazilian multi-instrumentalists. Cohen has won hearts and minds the world over with her expressive virtuosity and delightful stage presence. Critics and readers polls consistently name her as the top clarinetist, and the New York Times has called her playing “a revelation.” We’ll be gathering at the wonderful new Desautels Concert Hall for one show only. This concert is a rare opportunity to hear history in the making—a subscription assures you of a seat!

Our season closes on May 17 and 18 with Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. An abiding passion for Afro-Cuban rhythms and melodies drives internationally-acclaimed musician and five-time Juno Award winner Jane Bunnett. Just over ten years ago, after countless visits to Cuba, she set about to mentor and record the brilliant young female musicians she was meeting there. In short order, that project became Maqueque, a sizzling all-woman band which has already hit DownBeat’s top ten list of jazz groups. The Berney Theatre will be electric with the irrepressible life and energy of genuine Afro-Cuban jazz.

This is a season you can’t afford to miss! You may purchase single tickets to any of these concerts, but we hope you’ll consider a subscription to the whole season. A subscription offers you the best value, and it will assure you a seat for our show at the Desautels Concert Hall. Scroll down for ticket pricing and a purchase link, or call Shira at 204-477-7534.

(We’ll be joining forces with Jazz Winnipeg again this season for an evening show at the Fort Garry Hotel. More news on that later this fall.)

Thanks for helping us keep the spirit of jazz alive!

Charlene Diehl, Producer
Derrick Gardner, Artistic Advisor
Izzy Asper Jazz Performances

CHARLENE DIEHL started playing the piano before she learned to read, and music and books have been twin passions throughout her life. She was associated editor of dig! magazine through its 13-year run, and has been the Producer of the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances since 2019, when she took over the reins from Bev Aronovitch. She is also a writer, editor, former English professor, and the long-time Director of Plume Winnipeg (formerly the Winnipeg International Writers Festival).

DERRICK GARDNER is an internationally-acclaimed trumpeter and composer whose performing credits include stints with the Count Basie Band and Harry Connick Jr.’s Big Band. He has performed and toured with a who’s-who of jazz, and appears on over 40 recordings, including several featuring his own bands. Recent recordings include Still I Rise! with the Big dig! Band, Pan Africa with the Jazz Prophets, and Septology with the Canadian Jazz Collective. He was hired in 2011 as the Babs Asper Chair in Jazz Trumpet at the University of Manitoba, and in 2021 returned to his hometown of Chicago where he is the Director of Jazz Studies at Northwestern University.

AUDIO CLIPS

Check out the audio clips below for a sampling of music from the current season of the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances.

SUSIE ARIOLI QUARTET
“It’s Alright with Me”
“Embraceable You”

ANAT COHEN QUARTETINHO
“Louisiana”
“Boa Tarde Povo”

JANE BUNNETT & MAQUEQUE
“Jump Monk”
“La Flamenca Maria”

TICKETS

There are three ways to purchase single tickets or subscriptions:

ONLINE

Purchase tickets online at Rady JCC

PHONE

Call Shira Newman at the Rady JCC: 204-477-7534

E-MAIL

E-mail Shira Newman at: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Purchase subscriptions online at Rady JCC

Subscriber: $130

Supporter: $260
(One subscription + $130 tax receipt)

Patron: $520
(One subscription + $390 tax receipt)

Benefactor: $1,300
(Two subscriptions + $1,040 tax receipt)

Student (with ID): $70

Single Tickets

Adult – $45
Student (with ID) – $25

*ALL PRICES INCLUDE TAX

ABOUT US

Israel Asper was a passionate jazz afficionado. He had a vision of creating a jazz series in Winnipeg modeled after the one at the New York’s famous 92nd Street Y. In 1999 he approached the Rose and Max Rady Jewish Community Centre, one of the many organizations housed in the Asper Jewish Community Campus, with the idea of partnering to bring jazz greats to Winnipeg to perform.

The idea was an immediate hit with jazz fans and The Asper Foundation Performances Jazz Series was born. The Berney Theatre at the Campus was swinging from fall to spring with top notch musicians from Winnipeg and around the world. For the 2000-2001 season, The Asper Foundation updated the Berney Theatre with a state-of-the-art sound system and a Steinway concert piano, donated by Mark and Zita Bernstein and family, and launched a subscription campaign for the series.

In 2003, the series was named the Cool Concerts in celebration of Winnipeg’s first jazz radio station, 99.1 Cool FM and COOL TV, Canada’s first television channel devoted exclusively to exploring, reflecting and presenting the world of jazz in all its diversity. In 2005, the series was renamed the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances.
 
Today, the series continues to be one of Winnipeg’s premier year-round jazz events, featuring international jazz greats like Oliver Jones, Joe Lovano, Kurt Elling, Christian McBride, Houston Person, Stefon Harris, Kenny Barron, Wycliffe Gordon, Cyrus Chestnut, Marcus Printup, Anat Cohen and many more. Since the series’ inception, sold out concerts of almost 70,000 people have attended 348 performances of 118 acts with over 400 international jazz artists earning consistently excellent reviews from audiences and critics.
 
Speaking on the success of the series, Israel Asper said “We promised our subscribers that we would bring only the world’s finest jazz performers – and we did.” In 2008, jazz critic Michael Wolch said, “The Asper jazz series has been one of the success stories of the city’s arts community over the past several years.”
 
Click here to view an April 2018 interview with series Producer Bev Aronovitch by Michael Wolch on the announcement of the 2018-2019 season. For a listing of Winnipeg Free Press articles and reviews related to the jazz series since its inception, please see here.
 
On November 26, 2018, The Asper Foundation and the Rady Jewish Community Centre announced that Charlene Diehl will become Producer of the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances on January 1, 2019. For more information, see here.

PAST SEASONS

Here is a complete listing of artists who have performed at the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances since the series' inception.

Click the headings below to view the brochure for each season (if available).

 

2023 / 2024

Django Festival Allstars, Canadian Jazz Collective, Tammy McCann Quartet

2022 / 2023

Oran Etkin Trio, Marry Stallings Quartet, Joe Locke Quarter with Kenny Washington, Brandon Goldberg Trio

2021 (virtual)

Trio Bembe / Karly Epp & Karl Kohut / Laila Biali / Bruce Barth

2019 / 2020

Steve Wilson Quartet / Ignacio Berroa Trio / Duchess / Emmet Cohen Trio / Joe Locke Quartet

2018 / 2019

The Marcus Roberts Trio / Jazzmeia Horn Quintet / Raoul Midòn Trio / Vanguard Jazz Orchestra / Cannonball Adderley’s Fiddler on the Roof

2017 / 2018

The Christian Sands Quartet / The Pedrito Martinez Group / René Marie / The Clayton Brothers Quintet / The Hot Sardines

2016 / 2017

The Robi Botos Quartet / The Cyrille Aimée Quartet / Alicia Olatuja Quintet / The Spike Wilner Quintet / A Tribute to Ray Charles

2015 / 2016

The Mike LeDonne Quintet / The Omer Avital Quintet / Celebrating the Music of Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln & Joni Mitchell / The Aaron Diehl Quartet / A Tribute to Stevie Wonder

2014 / 2015

The Etienne Charles Sextet / The Warren Wolf Quartet / Featuring Russell Malone / Regina Carter’s Southern Comfort Quintet / Carmen Lundy

2013 / 2014

Brian Lynch & Eric Alexander w/Xavier Davis, Steve Kirby & Quincy Davis
Vanessa Rubin / The Brubeck Brothers Quartet / Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band / Catherine Russell and Allan Harris

2012 / 2013

Marcus Printup, Gary Symulian, Edward Simon / Christian McBride & Inside Straight / The Hot Club of Detroit w/Cyrille Aimee / Anat Cohen Quartet / Bill Charlap Trio w/Freddy Cole

2011 / 2012

Brian Lynch and Don Braden / Clayton Brothers Quintet / Randy Brecker / Aaron Goldberg Trio / Dee Daniels

2010 / 2011

Allan Harris / Wycliffe Gordon, Jumaane Smith / Joe Locke Quartet w/Kenny Washington / Cyrus Chestnut & Jackie Ryan / Oliver Jones

2009 / 2010

Houston Person Quartet / Karrin Allyson Quartet / John Pizzarelli Quartet
Kenny Barron & Mulgrew Miller Duo / Stefon Harris and the Oceanic Jazz Orchestra

2008 / 2009

Bobby Watson & Horizon Band / Lionel Loueke Quartet w/Gretchen Parlato / Steve Turre Quintet / Monty Alexander Trio / Kurt Elling Quartet

2007 / 2008

James Carter Quartet w/Cyrus Chestnut / Taylor Eigsti Quartet / Clayton / Brothers Quintet / Jon Faddis Quartet / Christian McBride Quartet

2006 / 2007

Cedar Walton Quartet / Jeremy Pelt Quartet / Houston Person Quartet / Lincoln Center All Stars / Nnenna Freelon

2005 / 2006

Kenny Barron Quartet / Hilario Duran & Papa Mambo / Stefon Harris Quartet w/Mulgrew Miller & Terreon Gully / Joe Lovano Quartet / Oliver Jones / Dave Young

2003 / 2004

Dave Frishberg / Gene Bertoncini Duo / Steve March Torme / Bob Dorough / Carol Welsman / Peter Leitch / Tierney Sutton / Cyrus Chestnut / Phil Nimmons

2002 / 2003

Junior Mance / Buddy Greco / Bill Mays / P.J. Terry / Adam Makowicz / Scott Hamilton / T.S. Monk / Barbara Carrol /Jay Leonhart / Bill Charlap / Daryl Sherman / Dick Hyman & Derek Smith

2001 / 2002

Ray Bryant / Vanessa Rubin / Monty Alexander / Warren Vache & Eddie Higgins / Gene DiNovi Trio / Louis Bellson / Carol Welsman / Bud Shank & Conte Candoli / Russel Malone & Benny Green / Clark Terry

1999 / 2000

Oliver Jones Trio / Karrin Allyson / Dave Young & Ron Paley / Clark Terry & Ron Paley Big Band / Ray Bryant Trio / Jay Leonhart / Peter Appleyard w/the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra / Dave Frishberg / Jackie & Roy

 

SPONSORS

The Izzy Asper Jazz Performances recognizes and appreciates the support of the following organizations:

The Asper Foundation

Rady JCC

Lakeview Hotels & Resorts

Winnipeg Free Press

Vickar Community Chevrolet


 

CONTACT US

Artistic Advisor
Derrick Gardner
[email protected]

Artist Enquiries

For further information or to contact us about performing in the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances, please contact:

Producer
Charlene Diehl
[email protected]

Mailing Address

Izzy Asper Jazz Performances
Rady Jewish Community Centre
B100-123 Doncaster Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3N 2B3

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