The 2014 Ottawa Jazz Festival took place from June 20-July 1 at five different venues in the heart of Canada’s capital city. Now in its 34th year, the festival offered a range of young and talented up-and-comers as well as such veteran performers as Christian McBride, Brian Blade, Dianne Reeves, Holly Cole, Hamid Drake and Colin Stetson. One venue hosted the Improv Invitational Series, featuring many jazz artists of diverse nationalities, backgrounds and influences. Beyond jazz, the festival featured R&B greats such as the Lady of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and Earth, Wind and Fire.
The sound of blues was also heard this year, from the likes of Canada’s own Colin James to the superb Tedeschi Trucks Band, to one of the premier blues harp players, Charlie Musselwhite, who teamed up with Ben Harper. The sweet sounds of gospel were heard from the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, and there was even some good-old, down-home, foot-stomping, wild fiddle playing. The talented Natalie MacMaster, with her band, was the feature act, but was later joined by her very special guest, her husband, Donnell Leahy, a very talented fiddle player in his own right.
Photographer Bob Worrall was there for 10 days, capturing shots of many of the artists.
