National Capital Originals: John Geggie’s Journey Band wins the TD Ottawa Winter Jazz Fest Special Project Initiative

_ (via TD Ottawa Winter Jazz Festival) _ The TD Ottawa Winter Jazz Fest is proud of its track record of presenting Ottawa based artists who have established their international reputations. John Geggie is just such an artist. John Geggie along with his Journey Band will perform their debut show at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage, 5pm February 6.

The Special Project Initiative is an open competition that gives Ottawa-Gatineau musicians the chance to play a paid and promoted show as part of a major festival. This time around the Festival asked entrants to propose a collaboration with another artist they have never previously worked with.

The Journey Band stands out from a field of inspired entries. Led by bassist John Geggie, known as a founding member of the beloved Chelsea Bridge, the Journey Band is a diverse assembly of talented musicians, all expertly accomplished on their given instrument, in their given field, but also very strong improvisers in their own right.

The group includes Kate Bevan-Baker, a classically trained Celtic violinist whose clarity and authenticity is superb; Philippe Lauzier on saxophone and clarinet who is equally at home with jazz and avant-garde chamber music; Pierre-Yves Martel, a classically and jazz trained bassist who is an expert on viols, which he plays in one of Canada’s premier Baroque groups, Constantinople; Jim Doxas, a member of Oliver Jones’ band and one of Canada’s best jazz drummers; and Geggie himself, one of Ottawa and Canada’s finest bassists. Tickets to John Geggie’s Journey Band are $22 and are available online or by phone at 613-241-2633; day and festival passes are also available.