JazzFest announces new directors as founding member steps down

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 13, 2024.

news@medicinehatnews.com

The Medicine Hat JazzFest announced both a new executive director and artist director on Thursday as founding member and longtime executive and artistic director, Lyle Rebbeck, will be stepping down but still will be involved in his new role as administrative adviser.

The new executive director role will be filled by Gerry Hebert, while the new artistic director will be Kodi Hutchinson. Both men have experience on the production team for Calgary’s JazzYYC Festivals.

“Gerry and Kobi bring years of experience to these positions in booking, managing and presenting a jazz festival,” states a media release. ” Both are well known in the jazz world, not only for their roles with JazzYYC, but as two of the top jazz musicians in Western Canada.”

Hebert has served two terms as president of the Calgary Musicians Association and was on the board of JazzYYC for eight years before assuming his present position as operations manager in 2022.

He is a founding member of the Swinging Bovines, a professional saxophone quartet that released three albums and appeared on 25 other recordings. Hebert graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Calgary in 1990 and has managed and directed the Calgary Youth Jazz Band.

You may have heard Hutchinson’s voice over the air waves if you’ve turned into CKUA’s radio show ‘A Time for Jazz,’ and you may have heard his bass as he leads his own musical group, the Hutchinson Andrew Trio. A release states Hutchinson “is known as one of the most active double bassists in Western Canada and professionals in the Canadian Jazz scene.”

Hutchinson is the recipient of the TD Grand Jazz Award from the Montreal Jazz Festival and is an eight-time Western Canadian Music Award nominee, both as an artist and industry professional.

“I have worked closely with both Kodi and Gerry for many years, and having them take on the production of our festival is the best possible scenario,” says Rebbeck. “With their vast professional experience in festival production, their connection to the other Canadian jazz festivals and jazz artists around the world, the Medicine Hat JazzFest is well poised to continue its great tradition and its position as one of the major jazz festivals in Canada.”

Rebbeck announced he would be stepping down from his role, but not the festival, in April after serving as executive and artistic director for 34 years. He founded the Medicine Hat Jazz Society in 1991. Under Rebeck’s leadership and with his passion to bring jazz music to the streets and stages of Medicine Hat, the society slowly grew from grassroots performances into a five-day city-wide festival boasting some of the most talented artists in the industry.

In 2005 Rebbeck was awarded a provincial Centennial Medal for his contributions to music and performing arts that have benefited the community. More recently in 2021 Rebbeck was awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his role as teacher and mentor to students who have gone on to pursue careers in music.

“The festival, yes it’s about jazz and blues music, but it’s a festival too, it’s a celebration, it’s coming together and dancing in the street and tapping your toe on the patio of your favourite pub,” Rebbeck said when he announced his plans in April.

Hebert and Hutchinson are currently assuming their roles with the Medicine Hat JazzFest and will be integral in preparing for next year’s JazzFest, which runs June 17-22.

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