(BADBADNOTGOOD/Facebook)

The Canadian wonders who reinvented the jazz genre are coming to Victoria as one of the headliners for the 40th annual TD Victoria International JazzFest’s Marquee Series!

BADBADNOTGOOD brought an entire new generation to appreciate and admire jazz music by using hip-hop as an influence to the lens they looked at jazz through. 

Based out of Toronto, the group have become some of the most celebrated musicians in modern-day jazz.

They’ve won multiple Grammy awards for their production and writing work and have collaborated with some of the biggest names in jazz, contemporary music and hip-hop including Kendrick Lamar, Charlotte Day Wilson, Ghostface Killah, Daniel Caesar and Nick Hakim. 

BADBADNOTGOOD met while attending Toronto’s Humber College’s jazz program. The three collaborators eventually all left before graduating and reportedly only remained for the school’s dental plan. 

The group has grown through the years from doing hip-hop influenced mixtapes to renowned 70s inspired soul-jazz and experimental electronica but the formula for their sound has remained the same through the years. 

BADBADNOTGOOD are where they are now because they acknowledge the importance of superb jazz musicianship but they do so with a hip-hop perspective. 

Their latest album, Talk Memory, is mostly improvisational work they recorded in 2021 and had produced and written with contributions from legendary American instrumentalists Laraaji, Karriem Riggins, Terrace Martin, and Brandee Younger.

TD Victoria International JazzFest also just announced that Chris Botti will be the other big-name headliner for this year. 

Botti is a Grammy award-winning trumpet player and composer who has become the best-selling American instrumental artist. 

He has an ongoing relationship with PBS which has garnered him four #1 jazz records and numerous awards. 

The list of popular artists Botti has worked with is extensive, but some notable names are: Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Bublé, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Frank Sinatra.

Tickets to see Chris Botti on June 27th and BADBADNOTGOOD on June 28th at the Royal Theatre go on sale on February 24th.

Tickets for Botti’s show start at $70.50 and BADBADNOTGOOD tickets start at $45.50. 

The complete 40th TD Victoria International JazzFest lineup will be announced on April 14th.

40th TD Victoria INternational JazzFest’s Marquee Series

  • Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street
  • When: June 27th and 28th
  • Tickets: Go on sale online February 24th

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