Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival - A History of Success:

The Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival was founded by Artistic Director Michael Kissinger.  A professional classical and jazz clarinetist, conductor, composer, and producer, Dr. Kissinger produced his first show when he was 16, a concert featuring the legendary jazz clarinetist Woody Herman and The Thundering Herd.  While performing in the orchestra of the Spoleto Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy, he envisioned creating a music and arts Festival in the U.S.

The First Annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival took place September 26-27, 1998 in downtown Vancouver. After nearly a year of planning, the Festival premiered to huge weekend crowds. By all measures, the Festival was an enormous success.  The 1998 Festival was held on the site of the former Lucky Lager Brewery in downtown Vancouver. International jazz star and vocalist Dianne Schuur entertained a huge Saturday night crowd. 21 wineries, 6 restaurants and 40 fine artists participated.

Each year more than 150 people volunteer to support the Festival.  Media estimates that 6-10,000 people attend the annual festival.  Visitors from 25 states, Europe, China, Japan and Canada have attended, and more than 150,000 people have attended since its inception.

Every year the Festival features visual artists, hundreds of wines, local restaurants and numerous commercial exhibitors. In 20+ years, the Festival has presented such internationally acclaimed jazz artists including: Al Jarreau, Allen Toussaint, Arturo Sandoval, Bela Fleck, BeauSoleil, Bill Frisell, Billy Childs, Blind Boys of Alabama, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bo Diddley, Booker T. Jones, Bobby Shew, Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Claudia Villela Coco Montoya, David Sanborn, Diane Schuur, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Don McLean, Dr. John, Eddie Palmieri, Ed Shaughnessy, Ernie Watts, Family Stone, Four Freshmen, Grace Kelly, James Cotton, Jane Monheit, Jean-Luc Ponty, Joey DeFrancesco, John Hammond, John Mayall, John Pizzarelli, Johnny A, Jose Feliciano, Judy Collins, Kenny Loggins, Lavay Smith, Lee Ritenour, Los Lobos, Manhattan Transfer, Marcia Ball, Mavis Staples, Melissa Manchester, Nicholas Payton, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Poncho Sanchez, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ramsey Lewis, Regina Carter, Rita Coolidge, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Russell Malone, Ruthie Foster, Sara Gazarek, Shemekia Copeland, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Spyro Gyra, Stanley Clarke, Stanley Jordan, Take 6, The Gospel Hummingbirds, The Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band, The 5th Dimension, The Rippingtons, The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, The Temptations, The Yellowjackets, Toshiko Akiyoshi, WAR and others; as well as more than 100 local and regional jazz bands.  The Festival is a program of Bravo! Concerts Northwest, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization.