Izzy Asper Jazz Performances

CURRENT SEASON

After a pandemic-induced hiatus, we are truly excited to announce that a new season of the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances is bringing world-class live jazz to our beloved Berney Theatre at the Rady Jewish Community Centre here in Winnipeg.

We proudly present four weekends of concerts, beginning on October 1-2 with the Oran Etkin Trio. This dynamic young clarinetist fuses an appreciation for diverse musical cultures with a deep love of the jazz tradition.

Our second concert, November 26-27, features the legendary singer Mary Stallings. A natural storyteller with a rich voice, Stallings is our opportunity to be in the presence of jazz royalty.

On March 25-26, we welcome the Joe Locke Quartet, a group we had planned to host in May 2020. Locke, one of the world’s esteemed jazz vibraphonists, is joined by singer Kenny Washington, an audience favourite.

Our season closes April 15-16 with the Brandon Goldberg Trio, led by a 16-year-old wunderkind who is wowing critics and audiences. As Jazzwise critic Stuart Nicholson puts it: "Goldberg really is the real deal."

Concerts will take place on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons; we are foregoing the Sunday evening concert this season.

You may purchase single tickets to any of these concerts, but we invite you to consider a subscription to all four concerts (quartet), or to three (trio) if you prefer. A subscription gives you reserved seating at a reduced price; it also allows you to provide valuable support as we re-enter the live performance zone. Scroll down for ticket pricing and a purchase link.

When jazz aficionado Israel Asper dreamed up the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances 23 years ago, he wanted Winnipeggers to experience the best and brightest jazz artists right here at home. It will be wonderful to see you all, and to keep Izzy’s dream alive!

Charlene Diehl, Izzy Asper Jazz Performances Producer

Oran Etkin Trio

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
8:00pm-10:00pm
1 Oct Saturday

Oran Etkin Trio

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
2:00pm-4:00pm
2 Oct Sunday

Mary Stallings Quartet

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
8:00pm-10:00pm
26 Nov Saturday

Mary Stallings Quartet

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
2:00pm-4:00pm
27 Nov Sunday

Joe Locke Quartet w/Kenny Washington

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
8:00pm-10:00pm
25 Mar Saturday

Joe Locke Quartet w/Kenny Washington

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
2:00pm-4:00pm
26 Mar Sunday

Brandon Goldberg Trio

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
8:00pm-10:00pm
15 Apr Saturday

Brandon Goldberg Trio

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus
2:00pm-4:00pm
16 Apr Sunday

AUDIO CLIPS

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

Oran Etkin Trio, “Sing Sing Sing”

Oran Etkin Trio, “Dinah”

Mary Stallings, “That Old Black Magic”

Mary Stallings, “Love Me or Leave Me”

Joe Locke w/Kenny Washington, “Ain’t No Sunshine”

Joe Locke w/Kenny Washington, “Available in Blue”

Brandon Goldberg, “Blackbird”

Brandon Goldberg, “Circles”

TICKETS

There are three ways to purchase single tickets or subscription packages:

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]

 

 

 
SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES

 
Purchase subscriptions online at Rady JCC

 

Quartet (4 concerts)

Subscriber: $175
(One subscription)

Supporter: $350
(One subscription + $175 tax receipt)

Patron: $700
(One subscription + $525 tax receipt)

Benefactor: $1,750
(Two subscriptions + $1,400 tax receipt)

Student subscriber (with ID): $75

Trio (3 concerts)

Subscriber: $130
(One subscription)

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

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

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

Single Tickets

Adult – $45
Student (with ID) – $20

*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).

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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