Jazz Returns to Stratford in Summer

In Oscar’Äôs Footsteps - jazz concert series at Pazzo Ristorante, Bar and Pizzeria

Friday and Saturday evenings only

Stratford, ON’Ķ A new jazz series, In Oscar’Äôs Footsteps, will be a highlight of Stratford Summer Music 2008. Eight concerts with artists inspired by, or associated with, the late Oscar Peterson will be presented on Friday and Saturday nights at Pazzo Ristorante, 70 Ontario Street, in downtown Stratford from July 21 to August 16, 2008. Dinner with jazz or evening cocktails with jazz are the new options joining the other 80 concerts and events in this year’Äôs music festival.

Jazz at Pazzo will feature, on July 25, 26, pianist Robert Botos (2004 winner of the international Montreux Jazz Festival Young Artist Prize, sponsored by TIME Magazine); on August 1, 2, The Brian Dickinson Trio (two-time Juno Winners); on August 8,9, pianist Lorraine Desmarais (winner of the 2002 Oscar Peterson Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival); and on August 15, and 16, Dave Young (Oscar’Äôs colleague on bass for 25 years);

’ÄúWe want to salute Oscar Peterson and to remember how he appeared in this city as early as 1956,’Äù said John Miller, Stratford Summer Music’Äôs Artistic Producer. ’ÄúI’Äôm only sorry that this remarkable musician, whom many appreciate as the greatest jazz pianist of his generation, won’Äôt be here to accept the invitation we all intended to extend to him to come back and be honored in our city.’Äù

Performances begin at 9:15pm. Cover charge is $20. Reservations are recommended by calling Pazzo Ristorante directly at 519-273-6666. Pianos by Yamaha.

Stratford Summer Music runs from July 21 to August 17. Complete concert information at www.stratfordsummermusic.ca. All other tickets: 519-271-2101.

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