{"id":717277,"date":"2026-06-05T17:59:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T17:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/717277\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T17:59:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T17:59:19","slug":"danny-carroll-set-to-make-td-winnipeg-international-jazz-festival-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/717277\/","title":{"rendered":"Danny Carroll set to make TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many Winnipeg music lovers, the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival<\/a> is one of the highlights of the summer arts calendar. Each June, Old Market Square becomes a gathering place for audiences eager to hear everything from traditional jazz and swing to contemporary sounds that push the boundaries of the genre. This year, among the performers helping launch the\u00a0festival\u00a0is a musician who has spent decades contributing to Manitoba’s musical landscape but is making his first appearance as a performer at the festival itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

On June 16 at 5 p.m., pianist Danny Carroll<\/a> and his trio will take the stage at the Cube in Old Market Square <\/a>as part of opening night celebrations. Joined by bassist Nenad Zdjelar and drummer Rob Siwik, Carroll will present a performance that blends jazz standards, original compositions, and a variety of influences that reflect his wide-ranging musical career.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Carroll, the performance\u00a0represents\u00a0both a milestone and an exciting new opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A First Appearance at the Festival\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite being one of Winnipeg’s most recognizable musical figures, Carroll’s upcoming appearance marks his first time performing at the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“My first.\u00a0Yeah, my first, man,” Carroll said when asked how many times he had performed at the festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The admission may surprise many who have followed his\u00a0long career\u00a0as a pianist, composer, music director, and collaborator. For years, Carroll’s schedule was filled with theatre productions, composing projects, and a steady stream of performances that left little time to pursue festival appearances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It’s like I just… I never applied. And I\u00a0just, I\u00a0love playing jazz. I do jazz and do lots of solo private things, private gigs and little, events here and there and stuff like that.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

His focus for many years remained elsewhere, but the desire to bring his jazz trio to a larger audience never disappeared.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I was so busy with the theater\u00a0stuff\u00a0and the writing and all that kind of thing. And it’s like, at some point, this was one of my goals was to kind of get out there, especially with the trio and do some stuff and, I mean, mix in some originals and things like that.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

That long-held ambition makes this year’s invitation particularly meaningful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“So yeah, I’m very pumped for this to get a chance to do this in the festival.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taking Jazz Outdoors<\/p>\n

For\u00a0nearly two\u00a0decades, Carroll was a familiar face at Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Hotel<\/a>, where he performed regularly in the Palm Room. Those intimate indoor performances created a vastly different atmosphere than what audiences can expect at Old Market Square.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to Carroll, the most obvious difference is the practical reality of performing outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Well, the first thing is you\u00a0got\u00a0to bring clothes pins. That’s\u00a0the that’s the\u00a0biggest thing… and a hat.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond the weather, outdoor performances also present unique musical challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“And it’s also, sometimes it’s the sound, especially if it is windy, the sound can carry, and it’s really got to be really on for listening to what’s happening.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yet despite those challenges, Carroll appreciates the energy that outdoor audiences bring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“But it’s a really fun vibe because the people being there, the audience, outside are in that mood for let’s have some fun, let’s hear some music, you know.\u00a0So\u00a0there’s always a cool vibe with it.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

That spirit aligns perfectly with the atmosphere that has become synonymous with the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival,<\/a> where thousands of people gather each evening to enjoy live music in the heart of downtown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Blend of Standards and Original Music\u00a0<\/p>\n

Audiences attending Carroll’s performance can expect a diverse set list that balances familiar jazz\u00a0favourites\u00a0with original material.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Well, I’m going to be doing some jazz standards, okay, for sure. And some of our\u00a0faves. And then I’m going to introduce some of my original jazz tunes.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carroll plans to embrace the energy of the festival environment by offering a variety of styles and moods.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of his goals is to appeal both to dedicated jazz enthusiasts and to casual listeners who may be experiencing the genre for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Well, you mix it up. You\u00a0give\u00a0a blend of things.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

That blend will include classic jazz repertoire alongside other influences.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Like, you know, I do some Duke Ellington tunes, okay, some standards like that. And maybe a Latin tune, a standard Latin kind of thing is something we’re planning.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

The performance will also explore sounds beyond traditional\u00a0swing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“And then also get a little bit more of an\u00a0eighthy\u00a0rocky kind of feel, like a little bit of funky kind of feel, because it’s all, if it’s improvising, it’s jazz. Okay, that’s the key component.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Carroll, improvisation\u00a0remains\u00a0the defining characteristic of the genre.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“And\u00a0so\u00a0you can take any kind of styles and improvise with it.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Trio Behind the Music\u00a0<\/p>\n

Central to the performance will be Carroll’s longtime musical collaborators, bassist\u00a0Nenad Zdjelar and drummer Rob Siwik.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carroll first met\u00a0Zelar\u00a0through theatre work at Rainbow Stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Well, Nenad I met quite a few years ago at Rainbow Stage.\u00a0That’s\u00a0where he was in the pit. He was in the pit one time. And I said, oh wow, he’s a good bass player.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their professional relationship quickly developed into a strong musical partnership.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His connection with\u00a0Suik\u00a0developed through Winnipeg’s close-knit music community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“When I was looking for another drummer in that, it was like, hey, well, Rob, you want to try this?”\u00a0<\/p>\n

The collaboration proved to be an ideal fit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It was just like, wow, because he is, he really has this\u00a0feel. He has this tasty feel for whatever genre, whatever mood you’re trying to create.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carroll is equally appreciative of\u00a0Siwik’s\u00a0personality offstage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“And he’s just such a nice guy.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

The chemistry between all three musicians extends beyond the music itself.\u00a0That camaraderie is one of the reasons Carroll is particularly excited about sharing the stage with both musicians at the festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opening Night Excitement\u00a0<\/p>\n

Adding another layer of significance to the performance is the fact that Carroll and his trio will be among the first\u00a0artists\u00a0audiences see when Old Market Square comes alive for the festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While opening a major event can bring\u00a0additional\u00a0pressure, Carroll is approaching it with a practical mindset.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“You think of it as the gig and you go and you take a look,\u00a0you\u00a0kind of, you know, play it, play something, get a reaction from the audience and see what’s happening.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flexibility will be a key part of the performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We’ll have a variable set list and say, okay guys, let’s go to this and let’s see what happens.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ultimately, his\u00a0focus\u00a0remains\u00a0on communication and musical\u00a0connection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Focus, on what I’m doing on the playing and that, and just get into it\u00a0and,\u00a0enjoy it, communicate… just share the ideas.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

As he looks ahead to June 16, Carroll is especially eager to\u00a0showcase\u00a0the wide range of sounds he and his trio can create together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I’m looking most at creating a scope. Of different\u00a0kind\u00a0of styles.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

He also plans to incorporate\u00a0additional\u00a0textures into the performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I’m\u00a0bringing in just\u00a0my little Korg. My plan is to bring in my little\u00a0Korg\u00a0and\u00a0I’m\u00a0gonna\u00a0use some lead stuff on that too.\u00a0And that’s really fun for me.\u00a0I really enjoy doing that.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

For audiences attending\u00a0opening\u00a0night of the 2026 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival,<\/a> Carroll’s debut promises to be more than just another jazz performance. It will be the culmination of a long musical journey, the realization of a personal goal, and an opportunity to hear one of Winnipeg’s most versatile musicians explore the music he loves most. With a trio of trusted collaborators, a set list that embraces both tradition and innovation, and the excitement of a first festival appearance, Danny Carroll is poised to help launch six days of music in memorable fashion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Audiences can catch Danny Carroll and his trio live at the Cube in Old Market Square on Monday, June 16 at 5 p.m., as they help launch another exciting edition of the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.<\/a><\/p>\n

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