Changes Ahead for the 2007 Cool Jazz Winnipeg Festival

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New dates and new ideas mark an exciting direction for the 2007 COOL Jazz Winnipeg Festival.

Running June 22nd – July 2nd, the festival moves from its traditional mid-June start and will incorporate the Canada Day weekend in 11 days of live music in downtown Winnipeg. Plans for the 2007 festival are now underway and music fans can expect a stellar line-up of the best local, national and international performers.

New in 2007 is the Wrap-up Weekend on the TD Canada Trust Stage in Old Market Square, which marks the most significant change to the festival format. The wildly popular four days of programming move from the beginning of the festival to the Canada Day weekend. Music fans can celebrate the long weekend downtown with free music in the Exchange District, June 29th – July 2nd.

Executive Producer Paul Nolin shifted the dates in part to take advantage of the touring schedules of visiting artists across Canada and the northern U.S.

“We’ve aligned our dates with most other Canadian festivals and a few key U.S. festivals,” said Nolin. “The change is already paying off. We’ve confirmed four marquis acts for 2007.”

Also new in 2007, the Manitoba Musician of the Year Award will be given to an exceptional homegrown artist. While previous winners were acknowledged in the fall, the 2007 winner will receive the award during the COOL Jazz Winnipeg Festival, gaining increased recognition for significant contributions to the community.

The Xerox Jazz Educator of the Year Award will also be given during the festival to a dedicated teacher who fosters the education of young people through jazz.

Through these two awards, Jazz Winnipeg recognizes the valuable role community members play in promoting jazz in Winnipeg. Complete details and nomination procedures will be announced in January.

A vital part of the festival’s success is due to the generous continuing support of community partners led by title sponsor 99.1 COOL-FM as well as TD Canada Trust, Xerox, the Winnipeg Free Press, Epic Information Solutions, the Fairmont Winnipeg, St. John’s Music, the Exchange District Biz, the Winnipeg Arts Council, Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism, the City of Winnipeg and Canadian Heritage.

The complete line-up for the 2007 COOL Jazz Winnipeg Festival will be announced in April.

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