JazzFest has something for everyone, newcomers and connoisseurs alike

A message from the Edmonton International Jazz Festival:

One of the most exciting things about the Edmonton International Jazz Festival is the chance to discover artists before they become famous, says artistic director Kent Sangster.

"It's not about who you know, it's all about who you don't know," he said, borrowing a phrase from the Rochester Jazz Festival. An open mind is all you need to make the most of the festival, which runs from June 19 to 28 at various venues around the city.

If the word "jazz" feels intimidating, keep in mind that the genre has evolved to become quite all-encompassing. Even Sangster asks himself "Where's the jazz?" in some of the acts he has booked, but he knows that younger generations are fusing styles in ways that blur traditional boundaries.

The festival offers several low-barrier entry points: performances at La Cité francophone from June 22 to 26, concerts at Churchill Square on June 27, and Happy Hour events at Bellamy Lounge at the Chateau Lacombe throughout the festival, all of which are free or by donation.

If a ticketed event piques your interest, it's easy to sample the artist's work ahead of time these days, Sangster said.

"If you don't like spicy food, it's pretty darn hard to convince somebody to have spicy food," he said, "but at least with music and the internet and the awareness, you can actually find out what it's going to taste like before you buy your ticket."

Thanks to the strong music program at MacEwan University, institutions like the Yardbird Suite, and two decades of adventurous JazzFest programming, Edmonton has a strong community of jazz aficionados, and this year's festival serves them well, too.

Among the artists that you'd otherwise need a plane ticket to see, Sangster is happy to bring back Pasquale Grasso, who has revolutionized the bebop sound on guitar. Saxophonist Isaiah Collier will perform John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. And Raul Midón will deliver a solo set combining guitar, percussive tapping, and vocal trumpet mimicry. "It is a 'wow,'" Sangster said of Midón's Grammy-nominated talents. "It'll be delightful." They'll all play the JazzClub at the Chateau Lacombe.

Sangster highlighted the Ron Di Lauro Sextet's tribute to Miles Davis's Kind of Blue as a special treat at the Yardbird Suite, but every night of the festival will see great talent at that venerable venue.

Hiromi's Sonicwonder, the festival's headliner, has already sold out, but there is plenty more to explore, including A Swingin' Affair, featuring the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and vocalist Caity Gyorgy, at the Winspear Centre on June 28.

Check out the full schedule and get your tickets today.