The Ottawa Jazz Festival is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2025.
The festival traces its roots back to 1980, when local musicians Bob Misener, Tony Pope, and Bill Shuttleworth organized a weekend of jazz music in Major’s Hill Park. In 1989, the event was relocated to Confederation Park.
Throughout the years, it has offered free shows at various venues throughout the city. There have been performances in Confederation Park, the National Arts Centre, The Arts Court Theatre, the SAW Club, the Marion Dewar Plaza, among others.
The festival hosts various genres, including fusion, jive, swing, and hot jazz. Although the focus is on showcasing jazz music, the festival has grown to include blues, rock, and indie music, along with artists from diverse cultures and traditions.
Ottawa Jazz Festival draws in yearly crowds of over 300,000 and has featured more than 850 artists in more than 100 concerts.
The festival offers something for anyone to enjoy. It enables artists to collaborate with one another and gives them a venue to highlight their creative talents and musical skills. The festival’s roll of honour has names like Aretha Franklin, Kenny Rogers, Earth Wind and Fire, and Diana Krall.
The Winter Jazz Festival is held at the Arts Court building and the SAW Theatre. In 2025, it took place over three days from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. It’s also a part of the Winterlude Winter Festival.