Lethbridge saxophonist Dave Renter is pumped about a mini-jazz festival taking place at the Slice, June 19-20 featuring his new band, The Contemporary Jazz Works Orchestra and the Dave Renter Quartet with Joel Miller the next day.

“For me, I’ve always wanted to see something happening here and the timing was great,” Renter said, noting opportunity came a knocking in the form of an e-mail from Medicine Hat  Jazz Festival organizer Lyle Rebbeck.

In addition to the local shows, Montreal saxophonist Joel Miller’s quartet will also be putting on a workshop at the University of Lethbridge that Saturday afternoon from 1-3 p.m. The Saturday evening show will cost $15.

 

“I’m hoping next year we can push things a little further. I’d love to see something in Galt Gardens,” Renter continued adding he is aware of other jazz festivals in past years like Jazzerwocky.

 He is confident there is an audience for a jazz festival in Lethbridge  and considers this event as a way to test the waters, not to mention bring Lethbridge  and Medicine Hat closer as communities.

“I think there is. It’s important to figure out the right time of year. I like this time of year (the end of June). School is basically out and I think there is a lot of interest. I host a jazz jam every month at the Slice and the turnout for that has been really good. The more you do something like this the more you raise awareness of  of it,” he said adding he is  looking forward to debuting the Contemporary Works Jazz Orchestra, June 19. Tickets for that show cost $10. Both begin at 8 p.m.

“This will be our first gig. It has given us something to work towards and look forward to,” said band leader Renter, adding the 15 member band plays everything from the 1940s to modern jazz including Harry Mancini and Herbie Hancock.

“We have a great singer, Anna Young, and we play a wide variety of jazz. It’ll be great,” Renter said.