Photo From www.katewyattpiano.com

By Chris Brown

Tuesday 9:30 p.m. on the Esplanade Terrace

High energy, a lot of fun: Kate Wyatt making her Medicine Hat JazzFest debut

Jun 20, 2023 | 9:56 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Interplay and improvisation are at the heart of Kate Wyatt’s music.

The jazz pianist says those things create a back-and-forth energy flow between the musicians and the audience that pushes everyone to higher highs and therefore makes for a unique show for the audience.

“Lots of sort of surprising moments where they’re happily surprised by little things that might happen maybe in an impromptu way,” she says. “We’ll suddenly just feature the trumpet alone or extended drum solo or all kinds of little moments that are really just in the moment. You know it’s not manufactured, it’s not practiced and I think there is a difference in the vibe that the audience gets when the music is sort of really in the moment like that.”

The Kate Wyatt Quartet performs at Medicine Hat JazzFest on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. on the terrace of the Esplanade. The festival started Monday the first of seven days of music, dancing and togetherness featuring some of the top local and national musicians.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

8h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner

Dec 06, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

CHAT News producer makes 'emotional' return to Medicine Hat's old arena

Dec 06, 2024

This is Wyatt’s first show in Medicine Hat. She’ll perform with Lex French on trumpet, Adrian Vedady on bass and Jim Doxas on drums. It’s the same group she played with on her debut album Artifact which was released last year.

“I’m sure a lot of people have heard of these guys and we just have a great group chemistry. So I think we create a lot of high-energy music,” says Wyatt. “We have a lot of fun, basically.”

The terrace at Esplanade will be the home venue for this year’s 27th edition of JazzFest, hosting nine shows between Tuesday and Sunday. Shows will also take place on the Esplanade lawn and in the lobby and theatre. There’s also the popular Saturday dance party in Hangar 7 at the Medicine Hat Regional Airport and performances at various clubs, pubs, coffee houses and other locations around the city.

Visit medicinehatjazzfest.com to find full details on the festival.