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Jazz musician Olga Osipova is one of many local acts featured at this weekend's Okanagan Jazz and Blues Festival. (Photo contributed)
By Holly Miyasaki
Growing up in Russia didn’t provide Olga Osipova many opportunities to hear western music, other than mainstream pop.
So the young musician grew up listening to classical music, Russian singer-songwriters and gypsy songs and trained on classical piano.
Then an uncle introduced her to jazz, who played an Oscar Peterson recording for her–and it changed her view of the style forever.
“It was very different, a lot bolder than a typical classical piano player would ever dare to approach it,” explains Osipova, who now lives in West Kelowna. “I was curious about the music but I didn’t really understand jazz – it was all a bit too weird with those rhythms and harmonies, it took me a while to get used to it.”
Osipova is one of many performers taking part in this weekend’s inaugural Okanagan Jazz and Blues Festival in Waterfront Park.
The festival is put on by the Okanagan Jazz and Blues Society and will provide audiences with live music all day in the natural grass amphitheatre.
“We’re treating it as a family-friendly event, almost like a glorified picnic,” says Kim Calloway, the event’s MC and a member of the organizing committee for the society.
Participants are invited to bring a blanket or a low-riding lawnchair and to find their own seating in the designated area.
The society was established in 1990 and encourages live performances of jazz and blues in the area.
“It’s always great to have an opportunity to share the stage with other local musicians,” says Osipova. “We are all so busy that we don’t get to see each other perform very often. A festival like this also shows a great diversity Kelowna has to offer.”
Osipova is joined by other local musicians like Trevor Salloum, Pat MacGibbon, Sherman Doucette, Poppa Dawg, Downhome Dave, Anna Jacyszyn and Half a Quorum.
Saturday’s headliner is Studebaker John and the Hawks straight from Chicago and Sunday will feature Roberto Occhipinti from Toronto.
The event runs from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $25 for a family of four, $10 for seniors and students and children under 12 are free.
For more information visit www.okanaganjazzblues.org.
Tags: blues, jazz, Kim Calloway, Okanagan Jazz and Blues Society, Olga Osipova
