By Gillian Brunette
Sunday’s Last Night at the Proms at the Algonquin Theatre may have heralded the conclusion of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts’ core summer season, but there is still so much yet to come.
Stina Nyquist’s The Lost Chord opens tomorrow, Thursday, for a three-night run. On Sunday, July 29, the popular Arts Walk, a multi-arts experience in a natural setting, returns. It will be at Avery Beach Park, running from noon to 3 p.m. along the beautiful Hunters Bay trail.
Starting at the Avery Beach pavilion and stretching westward to the causeway, visitors will experience painters working in various mediums, stone carvers, creative knitters and crafters.
Rudy Stade will display his furniture from the earth that has been installed at various locations in the downtown. Music along the trail will be provided by Tobin Spring on guitar and Andrew Fisher on drums.
While this is not an arts and craft sale, the artists are happy to talk about their craft and explain some of their techniques as they create. Admission is free.
The festival’s inaugural jazz festival kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 2 running through to Aug. 5. It promises a stellar lineup of some of the finest jazz musicians in the country playing evening concerts.
During the day jazz will play in a number of settings throughout the community.
Leading off on Thursday night is a great evening of traditional jazz, featuring the Giants of Jazz. Comprising some of Canada’s finest jazz players, Don Thompson, Dave Young, Pat LaBarbera, Reg Schwager and Archie Alleyne among them, the giants will play an evening of jazz standards and some original material that is sure to satisfy the most ardent fan.
Special guest Guido Basso will lend his expertise on the trumpet and flugelhorn, ensuring the evening is a memorable one.
The next evening Friday, Aug. 3, Cuban/Canadian piano wizard Hilario Duran will bring his eight-piece salsa band to the Algonquin Theatre.
This ensemble produced the CD Havana Remembered in 2003 and received a Juno nomination for their efforts. Duran is one of the greatest virtuoso jazz pianists to emerge from Havana. He played for nine years with Arturo Sandoval and has shared the stage with legendary musicians such as the late Dizzy Gillespie and composer/arranger Michael Legrand.
On Saturday, Aug. 4 the festival presents acclaimed vocalist Molly Johnson. Johnson has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s greatest voices, known for her luscious interpretations of jazz and blues standards. Opening the show will be Micah Barnes on piano and vocals. Barnes has established a solid reputation in the jazz field after a lengthy stint with Canada’s top a capella group The Nylons.
REAL DEAL: Whether rocking from coast-to-coast as a pop artist or seducing patrons with her luscious interpretations of jazz blues and standards, Molly Johnson is the real deal. Don’t miss her concert on Saturday, Aug. 4 at the Algonquin Theatre.Closing this inaugural jazz festival will be piano wizard Oliver Jones. Jones performed to a sold-out crowd at last year’s festival and delivered a memorable evening of unmistakable finesse, lightning fast technique and rollicking rhythms.
While the focus will be on the evening concerts, there will be other opportunities to enjoy the festival. On Thursday, Aug. 2 Erick Traplin will bring Junior Jazz to the Royal Canadian Legion as part of the Huntsville Public Library’s children’s summer series.
Traplin plays guitar, has a great voice and brings a tub-full of fun and surprises, guaranteed to spark the child in all of us. Tickets for this show are only $3 and are available at the library or at the door.
On Friday, Aug. 3 well known entertainer Bill Stewart will bring his jazz guitar to the Kent Park gazebo from 2 to 3:30 p.m., returning again on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. until noon.
On Saturday afternoon enjoy the sounds of the Muskoka Concert Band from 1 to 3 p.m outside the town hall.
Tickets for all of the evening shows are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the show, if available.
