Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival

06/22/2026

Anthony D’Alessandro closed out the 2026 edition of the Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival this afternoon, with a superlative performance that earned him a standing ovation. He has been delighting Barrie Audiences at the BJ&B Festival for the past three years and is looking forward to returning in 2027.

Anthony is an exceptional Canadian pianist, composer and arranger and a Band Leader. His musical journey has taken him to perform in notable clubs, concert halls and Jazz Festivals, across Canada, the United States, South America and Europe.

Anthony’s latest CD, "City Lights", (Pictured with him here), is nominated for a Juno Award!

The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival is grateful to all the artists, for their contribution to the success of this year’s 28th edition, which has showcased so much National and International talent as well as young local talent from recitals hosted by music teachers, across Barrie.

06/22/2026

Yesterday, June 20th), the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival wrapped up it’s Giants of Jazz concert series, with a very special and long time friend of the festival!

Paul Hoffert, renowned and most sought-after jazz pianist, composer, producer and arranger, …for stage musicals, countless film scores and TV productions.

Paul Hoffert is also the co-founder, along with Skip Prokop, of the orchestral rock band Lighthouse.

Paul’s project, assigned to him by this festival's Artistic Director, Robin Munro, was to pay tribute to iconic vocalist, Nat King Cole who was also a superlative jazz pianist.

Last night was the 10th time I have had the honour and privilege to introduce Paul to audiences at the festival and his performance was simply “Unforgettable”.

Thank you Paul, for a wonderfully educational and entertaining performance!

Short Bio:
Born and raised in Brookland New York, Paul’s parents bought him a piano at the age of eight. By the time he was 14, Paul started his first band, the Boptones, which performed in the New York area and released two recordings, I Wanna Love You and Betty Jean.

Paul moved with his family to Toronto when he was 15 and within a year, he was performing regularly at coffee houses and in recording studios. When he was 16, he became a regular performer on CBC network television programs and this led to a record deal for his first LP, The Jazz Routes of Paul Hoffert.

He went on to perform with jazz greats such as Moe Koffman, Freddie Hubbard, and Ed Bickert, at venues such as the Newport, Monterey, and Carnegie Hall.
In 1969 Paul Hoffert co-founded the orchestral rock band Lighthouse, with Skip Prokop, an extraordinary drummer from the band the Paupers.

He has receiving recognition via a plethora of awards and accolades, including 3 Juno awards with Light House and a personal Juno award for classical album of the year in 1978, and has been inducted into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995). …. Appointed as Member of the Order of Canada (2004). for his contributions to music and the arts. Instrumental in the CRTC Rules for recognizing and raising the profile of Canadian Content on radio and television.

Lighthouse has shared top billings with Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Who, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Miles Davis, Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Santana among others. Elton John was Lighthouse’s opening act when he first performed in the US.

06/20/2026

Tonight, (Saturday June 20th) the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival welcomes back a very special friend and music icon to perform at the rotunda of the Barrie City Hall, at 8:00 PM!

Paul Hoffert, renowned and most sought-after jazz pianist, composer, writer, producer and arranger, …for stage musicals, countless film scores and TV productions.

Paul Hoffert is a composer, writer, producer, arranger, …for stage musicals, countless film scores and for TV productions.

Instrumental in the CRTC Rules for recognizing and raising the profile of Canadian Content on radio and television.

In 1969 Hoffert co-founded the rock band Lighthouse, with Skip Prokop an extraordinary drummer from the band the Paupers.

He has receiving recognition through a plethora of awards and accolades, including 3 Juno awards;
…. induction into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995);
….received an Arts Medal from the Ontario Arts Council (1997);
…He received an Honorary PhD from the University of Toronto in June 2012
…. Appointed as Member of the Order of Canada (2004). for his contributions to music and the arts.

Come and share in an “Unforgettable”, 90 minute, free concert and meet the man, the legend and hear him pay tribute to the iconic vocalist, Nat King Cole.

06/19/2026

TONIGHT! ...you really do not want to miss this amazing pianist!

“Fern Lindzon

Fern Lindzon……..is an engaging pianist and singer who brings an unassuming authority, an inquiring spirit and a natural grace to contemporary jazz.

Key words are “Authority”, “Spirit” and “Natural Grace”. Looking back on her previous performances here at the BJ&BF ….this is what we all remember so well!

As a singer, pianist, arranger, composer and 2012 JUNO Award Nominee, Fern has drawn on a wide range of inspirations, from local, international and legendary performers both old and new and plays beautifully with a wealth of equally talented musicians and continues to be a main stay on the Jazz scene.

Join us tonight (June 19th) at 8:00 pm for a spell-binding performance that will captivate your attention!

Every year our guest performers are given a special project that results in an exclusive performance for the BJ&BF. Fern has been working hard on her project to bring us ..."Reflections on Duke Ellington's - 'PIANO REFLECTIONS'

06/19/2026

Three full days left of the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival.

For the past three decades, the BJ&BF has brought to Barrie, National and Internationally renown Jazz Musicians, who entertain and delight audiences globally.

These performances come to our community free of charge.

Take the opportunity to get away form all the day to day stress and chaos and reward yourself with a tranquil time of smooth and easy listening Jazz!

This schedule shows the times and performers for:
The "Out to Lunch" Yamaha piano concert series at Noon times
The Music Teacher's recitals
The Giants of Jazz Concert Series in the evenings

06/19/2026

The Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival continues to today at Noon (June 19th) with a return performance by Alex Kazak!

ORIGINALLY HAILING FROM BELARUS, ALEX KAZAK IS A CLASSICALLY TRAINED JAZZ PIANIST, COMPOSER, ARRANGER, AND MUSIC PRODUCER.
WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN A DIVERSE RANGE OF ENSEMBLES - FROM SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRAS TO BIG BANDS - ALEX BEGAN HIS JOURNEY AS A BAND LEADER IN A SMALL JAZZ GROUP AND HAS SINCE TRAVELED THE GLOBE, COLLABORATING WITH MANY TALENTED AND RENOWNED MUSICIANS ALONG THE WAY.

Don't forget to bring your Lunch!!

06/19/2026

The Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival is in full swing!

Yesterday (June 18th) the Barrie city Hall Rotunda was filled with the sounds of iconic Jazz.
The "Out to Lunch" performance at noon featured the jazz duo of award-winning Hilario Duran and his daughter Yailen Duran. Incredibly talented family.
The Giants of Jazz Concert Series at 8:00PM showcased the works of John Coltrane, with a performance by the Jake Koffman Quartet!

06/19/2026

From its inauguration in the Spring of 1996, The Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival has grown to become one of the most exciting, highly anticipated musical exhibition in Simcoe County and northern York Region. We hope you find this to be an enjoyable musical-cultural experience.

05/18/2026