Impressions in Jazz Indeed

Last week I had the pleasure of enjoying an evening of live jazz, courtesy of D. and Ottawa's Impressions in Jazz Orchestra (IJO), founded and conducted by Adrian Cho.

Who: D. and I, a room full of jazz lovers and a 17-piece symphonic jazz orchestra
What: Overture, a cabaret style jazz concert previewing material from IJO's upcoming season
When: last Thursday night, March 15th
Where: the International Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ottawa
Why: because it's jazz, it's cool, and it's local

I caught one of IJO's concerts last year with Sis and loved, loved, loooved it. I've already earmarked a few concerts from their upcoming season, notably The 1920s and The 1940s , both held at Ottawa's Billings Estate, and The Duke & the Bard, a presentation of a Shakespeare-inspired Duke Ellington suite created and performed only once in Canada 50 years ago - until this year.

This isn't one of my freebie events, but I believe the value of the performance to be well worth the price. Not only is the quality of the music excellent, but Adrian Cho's passion for jazz and some of its more obscure pieces is contagious.

Impressions in Jazz Orchestra - if you like jazz, it's a must-see.