The weather was perfect for the Saturday night of the Ottawa Jazz Festival.
The evening’s big headliner was none other than actor and musician Jeff Goldblum with the The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.
Goldblum kicked off the set by charming the crowd with stories about his first time in Ottawa, mentioning his marriage to Canadian Olympian Emilie Livingston, and playfully doing his own version of “Six Degrees of Bacon” by tracing his connections to various actors and actresses through film roles. Backed by the orchestra, he delivered a wonderful set of modern and classic jazz, along with standards from the American Songbook, including a lovely rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”
Opening the main stage was the Peter Hum Sextet, who set the tone nicely with a strong selection of jazz standards.
Over at the Elgin Street Stage, Jermaine Holmes got things started with an impressive set blending neo-soul, funk, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop.
Closing out the night were The Soul Rebels, who brought a burst of New Orleans flavour with their signature mix of brass-driven funk, soul, hip-hop, jazz, and rock.
Check out the gallery.