Feature in Camrose Canadian by Josh Aldrich. 

Ellen Doty believes rural Alberta is ready for a jazz renaissance. 

The 27-year-old isn’t just blowing wishful smoke. She knows small town Alberta as well as anyone, growing up on an acreage in De Winton just outside of Okotoks. 

“Jazz tends to have an audience these days where young people have not really been exposed to it,” said Doty, who now lives in Calgary. “It’s great to have young people coming out to shows and being introduced to jazz this way, mixed in with other things they’re more comfortable hearing too.” 

Doty is playing the Bailey Theatre on March 3 as part of a 15-stop tour of Western Canada.