Festival adds Balkan Beat Box, Barber to lineup
Hopper passes will be made available
Jill Barber tops the list of another round of artists announced for this year’s Vancouver International Jazz Festival, which will see the return of its popular hopper pass program.
The 27th edition of the festival, which already features Wayne Shorter, Diane Reeves and Destroyer, among others, will present chanteuses Barber and Ndidi Onukwulu, worldly protestparty outfit Balkan Beat Box, New Orleans’ favourite son Trombone Shorty ( on a double bill with NOLA’S Preservation Hall Jazz Band), Vancouver rapper Kyprios and his band The Chaperones, and “melting pot” Hebraic band the Sway Machinery.
Other announced highlights include British contemporary jazz outfit Get the Blessing, which features legendary trip- hop outfit Portishead’s rhythm section, as well as supergroup the Cookers ( with George Cables, Billy Harper, Billy Hart, Cecil Mcbee, Eddie Henderson, Craig Handy and David Weiss), sultry Brazil- born pianist/ singer Eliane Elias, Grammy- winning trumpeter Terrell Stafford, as well as Scandinavian powerhouse musicians from the Terje Rypdal Crime Scene and “mystical” Nordic project Eivor/ Yggdrasil.
Complete schedule details and ticket prices can be found at vanjazzfest. ca. Tickets go on sale Saturday at www. northerntickets. com or 604- 569- 1144.
Making a return this year, the hopper pass will allow fans to attend up to 60 different concerts at six of the festival’s venues, including the Vogue Theatre, Venue, Performance Works on Granville Island, The Ironworks, Roundhouse Performance Centre and Electric Owl.
A limited number of hopper passes will be available starting Saturday at www. northerntickets. com or 604- 569- 1144, with 200 early bird passes priced at $ 150 available until May 30. Another run of 100 passes will be available for $ 175 between June 2 and June 15.
The festival takes place June 22- July 1.