One of the most beloved concert series in Winnipeg’s jazz ecosystem will be resuming its mission of bringing world-class talent to the city this weekend. The Izzy Asper Jazz Series will present three concerts over the course of the next five months, with the first taking place this weekend at the Burney Theatre on the campus of the Rady JCC. The calibre of performer that will be present throughout all three concerts is something that producer Charlene Diehl notes was a passion for Izzy Asper and the driving force behind the series’ founding. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } “One of the things he loved more than anything was just hanging out in New York and going to the jazz clubs,” Diehl says. “And he said, ‘It would be so good if people in Winnipeg had a chance to have that experience of discovering really high-level players, but in that intimate setting in Winnipeg.’” 2025-2026 season View this post on Instagram A post shared by Izzy Asper Jazz Performances (@izzyasperjazz) The 26th season of the Izzy Asper Jazz Series begins this weekend with one of the fastest-rising jazz players in the world today. Benny Benack III is an acclaimed trumpeter and vocalist, having placed in the top ten in DownBeat magazine’s Rising Star rankings for both instruments. “I think of him as our current answer to the Rat Pack,” says Diehl. “He’s kind of got that Sinatra vibe, including the charm, the sound, the styling. [He’s] not just going to entertain you – he's going to lift you up because he’s just such a great player.” Benack’s concert will also feature a local connection, with local Juno Award winners Jocelyn Gould and Will Bonness taking the stage with him for both performances. “Apparently, Jocelyn’s home this weekend and said she’d love to play!” laughs Diehl. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } The series’ second concert takes place at the end of November and features T.K. Blue, a unique confluence of saxophone, flute and African-inspired jazz sounds. Diehl observes that in contrast to Benack, this concert will feature a more seasoned and aged sound steeped in the roots of the genre. “They’re all so very deeply connected to the history of the music, which all good players are,” she says. “It’s going to be a different flavour from anything else this year or from the last few years.” The final concert of the series sees Grammy Award nominee Cyrille Aimée return to Winnipeg to share her expressive style of singing with Winnipeg jazz fans. “She is embedded in the songs that she sings, and she can sing a broad range of styling,” Diehl says. The first concert of the Izzy Asper Jazz Series featuring Benny Benack III takes place at the Burney Theatre at the Rady JCC at 7 p.m. on October 4 and at 2 p.m. on October 5. Individual tickets and subscriptions to the full season are available through the series’ website.