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By Jesse Gill

New directors introduced for Medicine Hat JazzFest

Sep 12, 2024 | 4:03 PM

The Medicine Hat JazzFest has named its new executive director and an artistic director.

Both are familiar with the festival in Medicine Hat and are also involved with jazz festivals in Calgary.

Gerry Hebert, the new executive director takes over the presentation, production and administration part of the Medicine Hat festival.

He said he’s familiar with the city, having performed at Jazzfest, and has a strong background with 10 years of involvement with Jazz at YYC, on the board, as a performer and as staff.

“I think we’re really excited that we could do it as a team because for both of us, we work well together and I think we can bring kind of a different approach to what we’re doing,” Hebert said.

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“To not only continue the legacy and the really wonderful programs that Lyle has done but maybe to continue to grow it and to develop some new things and see where we can enhance the community artistically in new ways.”

New Jazzfest directors Gerry Hebert and Kodi Hutchinson at Medicine Hat JazzFest in 2015. Submitted: Gerry Hebert

Kodi Hutchinson, the new artistic director, has held the same job with the Calgary Jazz Festival since 2013.

Mentioning that Lyle Rebbeck has been a mentor for him over that time.

Rebbeck who took on both roles in the past, has shifted into an advisor role.

Hutchinson is very familiar with the city, with his father having an architecture firm in both Medicine Hat and Calgary for a number of years.

He is also a professional bass player, who has played at the festival.

Hutchinson said the number of similarities between each of the jazz festivals will help him take on the job.

“I would say the number of artists that we don’t have in common is very low,” Hutchinson said.

“It’s generally, we’ll have fairly similar lineups and most years we run a week apart, so it allows us to share the artists,” he added.

“Lyle and I have worked for years on making sure that we find artists that work for both markets.”

Both of the new members will remain in Calgary, but will be spending time getting even more familiar with Medicine Hat, and the partners involved with the festival.

Medicine Hat JazzFest 2025 runs June 17-22.