A Canadian Milestone: Inside the Creation of the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra from Arts Commons Presents
On April 28th, the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra will stage an unprecedented concert in Canadian music history - the first ever live performance of a jazz orchestra made up of players from coast to coast. The biggest jazz project attempted in Canada to date, this concert features elite musicians and original compositions inspired by life in our beautiful country. It's time to make history!
This is the life-long dream of Kodi Hutchinson, acclaimed local jazz musician and Artistic Director of JazzYYC and he couldn't be happier to be at the heart of it.
“The opportunity to create something new and create something world-class – that’s the dream,” says Kodi. “My goal in life is to show the quality that Canada has, not just from one centre, but across the country. Also to show internationally that we’re world-class, that we have some of the best players in the world.”
In a collaboration between Arts Commons Presents and JazzYYC, The Canadian National Jazz Orchestra is set to make music history. Headed by lead composer and JUNO Award winner, Christine Jensen, the orchestra will perform original works composed by a roster of the top Canadian jazz composers including Marianne Trudel, Philippe Côté, and Christine Jensen from Quebec; Brian Dickinson from Ontario; Canadian ex-pat Darcy James Argue in New York; Derrick Gardner from Manitoba; and Jaelem Bhate – the inaugural Canadian National Jazz Orchestra Hugh Fraser Emerging Composer Award recipient – from British Columbia. These original compositions will reflect a spectrum of jazz styles inspired by life in Canada, uniting Canada’s many voices at the highest level, both locally and on the international stage. According to Kodi, these original compositions will reflect a spectrum of jazz styles, not leaning solely to one style or genre.
“We wanted the orchestra to reflect the face of Canada, and at the same time represent the face of Canada at the highest level internationally, so the players that we're looking at for this orchestra are top Canadian players,” says Kodi.
“For me, the exciting part of this is trying to bring together Canadian players. Especially when it comes to large ensemble music, everyone is in their city, their own scene, and they don’t cross-pollinate a lot. This is a chance for us to do that, on a national scale.”
The Canadian National Jazz Orchestra performs live in the Jack Singer Concert Hall as part of the Arts Commons Presents’s TD Jazz series on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 7:30 PM.
Thank you to TD Bank for sponsoring our jazz series at Arts commons.
