Feature image of Tonye Aganaba

By Kristi Alexandra
@kristialexandra

Being in the presence of live music may feel like a distant memory, but the 35th Annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival is about to delight audiences with hybrid live in-person and online streaming performances.

That’s right. You can stream performances from the comfort of your own home–or you could be among the audience as select artists perform live at select venues from June 25 to July 4. Nature is truly healing. 

As per usual, the festival includes several international streams from cities like New York, Chicago and Amsterdam, plus free online workshops.

This year, however, the spotlight is put on a plethora of well-known local artists such as Jill Barber, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Krystle Dos Santos. 

“Vancouver bands are at the heart of the program, which features an astounding number of superb female lead bands from all genres,” says Rainbow Robert, Managing Director, Artistic Programming of Jazz Fest.

Among the local talent are neo-soul performer Tonye Aganaba and drummer Jamie Lee.

“As a music student, it’s your dream to be in Jazz Fest. It gives you a sense of validation,” Lee tells Loose Lips. “I’ve been eyeing this spot myself for a while. I was supposed to play this fest last year with my album, but COVID happened and, as you know, everything got cancelled.”

The 2020 iteration of the festival had been cancelled completely, but the fest kept its local players in mind.

“I am super glad that the Coastal Jazz team remembered me and booked me,” Lee says.

Lee is playing jazz fest three times over the festival; once with her own band, the Jamie Lee trio; with Amanda Sum as a hired drummer; and then in Hexadrone, which is a group of six drummers.

Aganaba, a London-born soul musician who has lived in Vancouver for more than 20 years, also finds themself in the position of playing Jazz Fest for the first time.

“I’m not going to front, I’ve been in Vancouver a long time, and I find it strange that it’s taken me this long to play jazz fest. But, I’m excited for the opportunity to do it, it’s coming at a time where more than ever, we need to celebrate the talent that is right here in our community and I’m glad that this year’s bill [has] a lot of folks that I admire and respect, and I’m grateful to be counted among them,” they say.

That’s not the only thing Lee and Aganaba have in common. Both of the musicians will be regaling audiences (whether in-person or live-streamed) with songs from their debut albums, respectively. 

Aganaba’s Something Comfortable is a cathartic romp that highlights their vocals and dance-able music sensibilities, while Lee’s Introspective dives deep into her own personal psyche through instrumentation only. 

“[I had] this idea of creating an album that had no limits, no expectations, no deadline, had no goal in mind other than just to express what was going on in my body and just figure out a way to do this music thing comfortably,” says Aganaba, recalling working through their then-recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, in addition to having been in a car accident that fractured their spine in six different places.

“The album is truly about ‘something comfortable’ for my body to be able to connect with over time, as my body gets better or as it gets worse. The album is an indication of where I feel most comfortable.The tempos, the lyrics, everything about it is about how I can get all of this out of me in the least damaging way possible.” 

Lee shares similar sentiments about her own album, and is looking forward to sharing those deeply personal moments with the audience at her live performance on June 27 at Frankie’s Jazz Club.

“A lot of the songs that are featured in Introspective are monumental sentiments in my life. Some were written from my time at [Capilano University] when I was super depressed; others were about breakups; others about happy moments with friends. It all comes down to who I am as a person,” she says.

“I also want the audience to be able to have the freedom to interpret the music however they want.”

With more flexibility than ever-before, the 35th Annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival promises to highlight a diverse selection of artists and genres over the 10-day celebration.

“We are extremely excited to share a massive infusion of music with Vancouver audiences through a staggering offering of over 100 streamed performances,” Robert reiterates. 

“I think Jazz Fest is in a unique position to celebrate–and I hate this word–the diversity of music that falls under their purview and to make space for all kinds of different artists who they may not necessarily have connections with. Does Jazz Fest go far enough? That’s yet to be seen. I think going far enough would mean putting black people in charge,” Aganaba notes.

Tonye Aganaba performs on June 30 as part of the Performance Works Series. The ticketed, streamed concert takes place at 8 p.m. Tickets here.

Jamie Lee performs with the Jamie Lee Trio on June 27, in-person, at Frankie’s Jazz Club. Reserve a table here.

All free streams will be available until midnight on July 6, 2021. Register for Tickets at www.coastaljazz.ca

Kristi Alexandra is an unabashed wino and wannabe musician. Her talents include drinking an entire bottle of cabernet sauvignon, singing in the bathtub, and falling asleep.