The 2016 TD Halifax Jazz Festival Announces Stingray Rising Stars Program Finalists

 

(Halifax, NS) The 2016 TD Halifax Jazz Festival is proud to partner with leading business-to-business multi-platform music provider, Stingray Music, to present the Stingray Rising Stars program again at this year’s festival. The Stingray Rising Stars program offers cash awards and showcase opportunities to emerging Canadian artists. The Stingray Rising Stars finalists will perform on the Waterfront Main Stage every afternoon at 2:30 pm, July 13-17. These performances are free for all ages.
Stingray Music is committed to putting Canadian musicians on the map! That is why they created the Stingray Rising Stars program. Launched in 1998 as Galaxie Rising Star, the program seeks to discover, encourage, promote and champion new up-and-coming Canadian artists.

Halifax jazz ensemble, The New Bridge won last year’s award. The band has had a great year since then, telling us, “winning the Stingray Rising Star award at the Halifax Jazz Festival was a huge boost for The New Bridge. It really energized the band. All of a sudden we leapt to a new level: it was a vote of confidence in our music, and it gave us resources with which to make all our next moves. It has been a big deal!”

“As a Canadian company and member of the music community, Stingray Music is committed to promoting local talent. We are thrilled to be renewing our support of the TD Halifax Jazz Festival, an event where every year we discover immense talents,” said Mathieu Péloquin, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Communications for Stingray. “Since 1998, the Stingray Rising Star program has benefited close to a thousand Canadian musicians in every genre. We are honoured to be part of the journey of so many wonderful artists!”

Drop by the Main Stage (Lower Water Street & Salter Street) every afternoon, July 13-17, to listen to music by shortlisted artists for the 2016 Stingray Rising Stars Program at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival. The shows are free, and this year’s lineup includes:

Tara Kannangara, Wednesday July 13 at 2:30: This British Columbia-born trumpeter has been making waves in the Toronto jazz scene, culminating in a Juno nomination this year for her debut, Some Version of the Truth. A student of both jazz and classical, Kannangara’s performances are lyrical, whimsical, and unpredictable.

Autobahn, Thursday July 14 at 2:30: It makes sense that this Toronto trio would name itself after the German roadway with patches of unrestricted speed limits—AUTOBAHN is into moving at varying paces, all in the pursuit of mind-blowing, horn-based improvisation.

Rachel Therrien, Friday July 15 at 2:30: This trumpeter and composer founded the Montreal Jazz Composers Series, which since 2013 has brought up-and- comers to the ears of that city’s Jazz Festival. Now based in Brooklyn, Therrien continues to push the art form—the “unspoken language of jazz”—wherever she goes.

FOG Brass Band, Saturday July 16 at 2:30: Led by Toronto trumpeter Rebecca Hennessy, FOG features Jay Burr (tuba), Tom Richards (trombone), Don Scott (guitar), Tania Gill (piano), and Nico Dann (drums) to provide a New Orleans brass band experience with elements of funk, blues, folk, and old country.

Zoe Leger, Sunday July 17 @ 2:30: The soulful Leger recorded her debut album at Joel Plaskett’s Dartmouth studio, the New Scotland Yard, last year, and offers a selection of her original compositions. She describes The Girl From Yesterday as “Norah Jones meeting Diana Krall with Bill Evans on piano.”

Through a two-tiered process of peer assessment and online voting, one act will receive $3,000 to jump-start their careers. Online voting takes place at www.music.stingray.com until 6:00 PM Sunday, July 17, 2016. The winner will be announced later that evening at the Main Stage.

Visit the Stingray Music booth at the Main Stage to cast your vote!

Since 1987 the Halifax Jazz Festival, a non-profit organization, has presented a diverse range of musical and educational activities including the 2016 TD Halifax Jazz Festival, July 12-17. Follow Halifax Jazz Festival on Facebook and Twitter @HFXJazzFest

 

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Jeff

Jeff is one-fourth of the group that makes up HAFILAX. His usual ramblings can be read right here on the website. If reading isn't your thing, he also hosts the Basement Tapes podcast.

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