Award-winning Artists to Take Over Brampton for New and Improved Jazz Festival

(Brampton, ON – August 29, 2017) After 5 years, Brampton’s Jazz festival returns bigger and better than ever on September 9th. World of Jazz will take place across various venues in downtown Brampton, hosting dozens of artists and bands showcasing the diversity, tradition and culture of jazz music to thousands of attendees. Among those slated to perform are Grammy award winning and Juno nominated artists.
The festival is being run by new organizers B-Jazzed, a Brampton-based non-profit that is excited to take on the challenge of bringing a jazz festival back to Brampton — and one to brag about. “B-Jazzed was started to fill a void that exists in Peel. With the absence of the Brampton Arts Council, no one is championing musical arts let alone the timeless heritage of Jazz in all its forms today,” says Joe Asensio, one of the group’s co-founders.

Joe, along with his partner, Brampton jazz musician and composer Carmen Spada, are convinced that Canada’s 9th largest city should have an event that showcases its home bred talent. Over 60% of the ensembles at World of Jazz will be led by musicians either originally from the city or currently living here.

Spada, who is also the Festival’s Artistic Director and performer, believes “that there is a strong and vibrant jazz community in this city, and hopes that B-Jazzed can be the source to create opportunities for these musicians.”

On piano, vocals and accordion, Spada will appear on the Main Stage, backed by the 16-piece Toronto Jazz Orchestra. The night’s headliner, Larnell Lewis, is also a Brampton native, one of Canada’s hottest young drummers and a recipient of the Emerging Jazz Artist Award from the Toronto Arts Foundation. The lineup also includes, but is not limited to, New York’s Gregorio Uribe, Autorickshaw, the Cates-Fomin Project and Saint “O”. All musicians will bring their own flair and will highlight a number different fusions of jazz throughout the one day festival.

The festival will host student performances and post festival jam sessions at Wendel Clark’s giving musicians, of various skill levels a chance to showcase their talents and be included in a wonderful day of free music.

The festival will also provide the unique opportunity to experience a musical petting zoo hosted
by Long & McQuade where visitors can touch, play and learn new instruments.Key to the festival’s inaugural presentation has been the support from the City of Brampton’s Community Grant Program, the Downtown Brampton BIA, many local downtown sponsors – PAMA, Cantina Fellini Wine Bar, Vesuvio’s Ristorante, The Wee Smoke Shop – and corporate sponsors such as The Printing House and Assured Mortgage Services. Brampton Focus, The Bramptonist, and The Brampton Guardian have also been key media supporters.

An important part of the festival will be giving back to the community. B-Jazzed has partnered with Knights Table to run a Food Drive the day of the festival. It’s an organization that Joe Asensio’s Real Estate Brokerage and title sponsor, JN Asensio Realty Inc., has supported in the past. Everyone planning on attending is encouraged to enjoy a day of free entertainment while donating a non-perishable food item.

For more information contact:
Cindy Cibantos Joe Asensio
Event Day Coordinator Executive Director
B-Jazzed B-Jazzed
905-488-4926 647-688-3700
info@b-jazzed.ca joe@b-jazzed.ca
www.worldofjazz.ca
@worldofjazzfest

About B-Jazzed
B-Jazzed is a not-for-profit group presenting the World of Jazz Festival in Downtown Brampton.
B-Jazzed is committed to curating performances and fulfilling the “ed” portion of the name by
conducting clinics and masterclasses to music students. The group looks to be a contributor to
the growth and development of the City of Brampton and to be a source of support to its
emerging arts community.