The Friday night headliner is the Steely Dan influenced Monkey House, a group that has garnered quite a worldwide following. Saturday night features something a little different – tap dancer extraordinaire, Travis Knights who will dance to the music of a live Jazz group on stage. Sunday’s headliner is the Christine Jensen Quartet.
 

This year will mark 32 years of the Festival bringing world-class live music to the City and surrounding Community and will run from 18 – 20 July (Fri – Sun) in the usual location close to Waterloo City Hall. Admission continues to be FREE and all are welcome. 

 

Once again, Artistic Director Derek Hines has put together a varied program of stellar musicians of both National and local prominence.
 

“We are so fortunate to have such great talent in our Country and in the area,” said Hines. “I just love curating this Festival and I could not be happier with this year’s lineup.”

Monkey House returns to the Festival and is the brainchild of singer/songwriter/keyboardist Don Breithaupt, who has family roots in the area and is looking forward to returning.

“Monkey House is thrilled to return to The Sun Life UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival,” Breithaupt said. “Our last show there ranks as one of our all-time greatest gigs. With our new album Crashbox dropping just in time for summer, the timing is perfect!”

Hines is really high on Monkey House. “This is a musician’s group,” he said. “Their music is tuneful, intelligent and they play it brilliantly! They were so well received by our audience a few years ago that we had to bring them back.”
 

Travis Knights is a departure from the usual headliner – he is a world renowned tap dancer who performs with a live jazz group. He has worked with Cirque de Soleil, performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony and has toured the world as a sought after tap dancer. 

 

Hines said, “I’m so excited to incorporate a new dimension of art into our Festival. Travis is a high energy performer who performs with top musicians. I cannot wait to see his performance and the reaction of our audience.”
 

JUNO award winner Christine Jensen, Canadian saxophonist and composer, brings her quartet to the Festival and is Sunday’s headliner. Christine has been on the jazz scene for over 25 years and has received numerous awards including the Prix Oscar Peterson from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, SOCAN’s Hagood Hardy Jazz Composer of the Year and a Downbeat Critic’s Poll winner. She’s also on the Eastman School of Music faculty in Rochester, NY.
 

“We are very fortunate to have Christine and her quartet on our stage,” said Hines. “She will be the perfect end to another great Festival.”
 

Local singer, Amanda Kind represents another new direction for the Festival. She is a
contemporary country singer with jazz influences.
 

“We are always trying to expand our musical horizons at the Festival while staying true to our jazz roots,” said Hines. “Today’s music world is ever evolving and encourages a blending of styles to create new genres.”
 

Other local artists include Caleb Khuu, Slidin’ Around featuring 4 trombones, the ever popular Stealing Dan and the new funk band Bus. We will also feature up and coming new localmusicians in the Youth Jazz Ensemble led by Jason White.