Frank and Nancy DiFelice are working on the “Best of TD Brantford International Jazz Festival,” a documentary that captures the best performances of previous festivals held in downtown Brantford. Vincent Ball / The Expositor
The king and queen of Brantford jazz are moving ahead with a festival this year.
But it will be a different experience for organizers Frank and Nancy DiFelice and the thousands of jazz aficionados who usually visit the downtown for the event. The 13th annual edition of the festival, which had been scheduled for Sept. 18-20, is another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We love the festival — that’s why we have been doing it for the past dozen years,” Nancy said. “But we’re so busy taking care of the details that we don’t actually get to sit back and enjoy the performances until the festival is over.”
Since year three, festival performances have been recorded, which gives the couple a chance to watch various musicians following the event.
Those recording are now being edited into a two-hour show called the Best of TD Brantford International Jazz Festival, which will be presented Oct. 23, 24 and 25. Although the specific times and viewing platforms are still being worked out, the show will be shown on Rogers TV Brantford, as well as online.
“We’re going virtual but it’s like a virtual show combined with a documentary,” Frank said
“We’ve had so many great performers over the years and the video and sound quality is excellent. This is a way of sharing some of the best performances we’ve had over the years and we think it’s something people will enjoy.”
Past festivals have included a headliner performing at the Sanderson Centre, with acts taking to the main stage at Harmony Square and other stages set up throughout the downtown.
Next month’s show also will include a segment commemorating local musicians, who have died in the past year. And Walter Venafro, host of Saturday Afternoon Jazz and Sunday Drive on Jazz.Fm91, will relate some stories of the festival.
Frank noted that TD Canada Trust has been the festival’s title sponsor for years.
“They’ve been great,” he said. “They’re continuing to support us as are many other major sponsors, including Heritage Canada, Celebrate Ontario, OLG, Gates Canada and Millards.
“It’s taking a great deal of work to put this together … and we really appreciate the support.”
Frank said selecting the best of the festival is challenging because there have been a lot of great performances over the years.
“We’ve had musicians like (the late) Peter Appleyard and Guido Basso,” he said, adding that he hopes “people enjoy the final product.”
Appleyard, Basso, Dave Young, Terry Clarke and Joe Sealy performed at the festival as Made In Canada. This year’s ‘best of’ will also feature Diego Figueiredo, a Brazilian guitarist, The Climax Jazz Band, Jimmy Stahl Big Band, John Finley and Jane Bunnett and Maqueque to name a few.
Vball@postmedia.com
twitter.com/EXPVBall