Music will once again fill Port Dover and Brantford this summer as the South Coast Jazz Festival celebrates its special year with a weekend of performances, workshops and community events.
That was South Coast Jazz organizer Julianne Kochaki.
She says the festival has grown over more than a decade and she is thrilled to have the big show back where it all started.
This year’s festival begins August 14 at Glenhyrst Gardens in Brantford with the Jazzin’ Juniors youth music workshop, featuring Tom Atkins. The popular event has already sold out.
The main festival event takes place August 15 at the Port Dover Community Centre, featuring two stages of continuous music.
The main stage lineup includes the Carla Muller Band, Kochaki’s own performance featuring songs from her new album Kochaki Sings DiNovi, and headliner Red Hot Ramble, a New Orleans-style band known for its high-energy horn arrangements and dancing.
The local stage will showcase a variety of performers, including Brian Fetis, Mark Hukazali, Jane Laidlaw, Laura Porter, Christie Hamilton and Alif Mehdi.
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is Kochaki’s tribute to legendary jazz pianist and composer Gene DiNovi.
The album project has been more than seven years in the making and features songs originally written and shared with Kochaki by DiNovi, who is now 98 years old.
DiNovi’s career includes collaborations and performances with some of the biggest names in music, including Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson.
Kochaki says the project began after DiNovi performed in Port Dover in 2016 and invited her to sing with him.
The album includes a special track called But Only For You.
The South Coast Jazz Festival runs August 14 to 16.
The festival wraps up August 16 at Glenhyrst Gardens’ Coach House in Brantford with performances from Le Trio Parisien featuring Juliet Dunn and an opening performance from Thom Atkins.
Organizers recommend reserving tickets in advance to guarantee entry and seating.
