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Mark Atkinson Trio
Apr 20 2006
The recently formed Georgia Straight Jazz Society proudly presented the Marc Atkinson Trio in the intimate atmosphere of the Underground. The trio has some of Canada's finest JUNO nominated musicians including Marc on lead guitar, Chris Fry on rhythm and Joey Smith on Stand up bass.
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Phil Dwyer Quartet
Mar 4 2007
The quartet consists of Phil Dwyer on sax and piano, guitarist Pat Coleman, bassist Ken Lister and drummer Kelby MacNayr. The multi-talented Phil Dwyer, described by the Winnipeg Free Press as "a monster of musicianship", has recently returned to work out of Qualicum Beach, after years of building his career out of Toronto. A stellar saxophonist, he is also a pianist, composer and arranger.
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Jodi Proznick with PJ Perry
Apr 1 2007
P.J. Perry and Jodi Proznick Trio are sure to create even a greater stir amongst hibernating jazzers. This GSJS presentation consists of the fabulous PJ Perry on Sax, Jodi on stand-up bass, Tilden Webb on Piano and Jesse Cahill on drums. P.J. Perry has become recognized by critics, colleagues and listeners as being one of North America's premier saxophonists.
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The Mix with 16 Strings
May 27 2007
While “The Mix” has only been in existence a short while they are receiving accolades. They have been guest artists at The Pender Harbour Jazz Festival, Jazz on the Rocks, Vocal Summit XII and many other regional and local events. They were honored to share the stage and perform with Dee Daniels last year and were equally honored to share the stage with “Vocal Jazz I” from Central Washington University under the direction of Vijay Singh.
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Armi Grano
Oct 28 2007
Armi Grano is one of the finest jazz vocalists on the contemporary jazz music scene today. Originally from the Philippines, she expands her performances to international shores. She has been known to grace stages throughout Asia, including Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Manila. Adding to her appeal and diversity, she is able to captivate audiences by singing in five different languages including Spanish, English, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian and Filipino.
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Miranda Sage
Nov 18 2007
The Times Colonist once wrote that her "horn-like phrasing is a delight." She's performed with his Hugh Fraser Big Band and with the Port Townsend Jazz Festival Big Band. Other performance highlights include the Ile of Wight Jazz Divas Festival and Scotland's Mid Argyle Annual Gala. Sage performs regularly around Victoria with the Swiftsure Big Band and smaller ensembles. She's also performed several times at the Victoria International Jazz Fest.
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Dan Craven
Nov 30 2007
Woodwind player and saxophone specialist, Dan Craven teaches music at Qualicum Secondary School, and brings the benefit of extensive performance experience to his students. He has had the honour of sharing the stage with Phil Dwyer, Don Thompson, John McDermott, P.J. Perry, Campbell Ryga, Ken Lister, Jodi Proznick, Mike Herriott, Arnie Chycoski, Miranda Sage, Armi Grano and many others.
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Jennifer Scott / Kristen Strom
Feb 5 2008
Crossing Borders is a new international jazz group led by the heralded Canadian jazz vocalist/pianist Jennifer Scott and San Francisco - Bay Area saxophonist Kristen Strom who is well–known for her melodic, engaging style. The band includes guitarist Scott Sorkin (Count Basie Orchestra, Steve Turre & Michael Turre, Smith Dobson, Louie Bellson), bassist Rene Worst (Chet Baker, Joe Pass, Paul Horn, Freddie Hubbard), and drummer Bernie Aria.
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John Burgess
Mar 2 2008
John has toured in Spain, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Czech Republic, north Africa and the Middle East. In 1989 John's trio won the NFMS Special Concert Artist Award. John studied 1994 at Berklee School of Music, Boston, mass where his tutor was George Garzone and also privately with Jerry Bergonzi (Boston), Joe Henderson (San Francisco) and Don Lamphere (Seattle).
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Barbara Blair and JazzAffair
Apr 13 2008
Raised in the Comox Valley, vocalist, educator and jazz messenger Barbara Blair counts herself among the fortunate few who spend their life following their passion. With a deep, rich voice, her interpretive approach comes from the giants and innovators of mainstream jazz including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Carmen McRae.
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Armi Grano
July 18 2008
"Armi is a pianist/arranger’s dream to work with because she knows what she is after and yet is open to try new ideas. Her flexibility makes the musical task, fun, inventive and in the end, rewarding for the listener”, says world-renowned jazz pianist Ron Johnston. Her albums include “Latin Color” and “Satin Dreams” and “Feelin’ Fine”. All albums are currently enjoying airplay in Mexico, Asia, USA and Canadian radio stations such as 600 AM, 96.1 World FM, CKUA-Alberta and CBC radio.
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Desperation Jazz Band
Sept 28 2008
Put on your dancing shoes as the Desperation Jazz Band kicks off the Georgia Straight Jazz Society monthly concert series on Sunday, September 28th. The Desperation Jazz Band is a septet that offers an irresistible, toe-tapping repertoire rooted in Dixieland and seasoned with some swing and blues. The group was formed 24 years ago with the express intent to “just have fun” with the traditional jazz compositions of the 1920s and 1930s.
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Sharon Minemoto Quartet with Laura Crema
Oct 19 2008
Since the age of sixteen, Vancouver-based jazz pianist and composer Sharon Minemoto has been performing to audiences around the world. Her 1997 album “Side A” spent eight weeks at the top of the jazz and blues charts. In the decade since that stunning debut she has gone from strength to strength, arranging and performing and teaching jazz internationally.
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The Message - A Tribute to the Music of Horace Silver
Nov 2 2008
Horace Silver is one of jazz music’s unsung heroes. Nanaimo musician James McRae aims to do something about that. An octet of veteran jazz performers has coalesced around McRae’s concept of a Horace Silver Tribute evening. The concert will be an entire evening of Silver’s evocative compositions, featuring arrangements by several different members of the group.
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A Tribute to Freddie Hubbard
Feb 15 2009
Freddie Hubbard'd death in December 2008 prompted many spoken and written tributes, among them Herbie Hancock’s comment that “Freddie Hubbard was, in my opinion, the greatest jazz trumpet stylist of my generation.” Hubbard’s death last month inspired Qualicum-based trumpeter and bandleader Dave Stewart to review the performer’s huge recorded output (in the 1960s alone, Hubbard cut 45 records) and craft a tribute evening.
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Jennifer Hodge - Four Eyes Quartet
Mar 22 2009
The Four Eyes Quartet played last year’s Vancouver International Jazz Festival and was nominated for the 2008 Galaxie Rising Stars Award. They bring a compelling mix of musical sophistication and playfulness, drawing on influences as diverse as Ahmad Jamal, Bela Fleck and The Beatles. Each member contributes original tunes and arrangements to the band’s repertoire.
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Saul Berson Quartet
Apr 19 2009
In over ten years together, the Saul Berson Quartet have grown a unique sound melding Middle-eastern overtones, Argentinian tango and jazz improvisation. Their 2008 CD “Intricacy” was nominated in the Outstanding Jazz Recording category for the Western Canadian Music Awards.
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Diane Lines Quartet
May 24 2009
Lines is not only a finely-tuned singer capable of torchy blues or nimble scatting, she is also a piano player in demand as an accompanist. The Diane Lines Quartet features Diane on keyboards and vocals, Tim Porter on guitar, Tim Stacey on bass, and Rob Ferguson on drums and percussion.
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Eli Bennet Quartet
June 7, 2009
Grab the chance to hear Eli Bennett now – in the future you’ll tell your friends “I saw him back when he still played the small clubs”. Bennett has just been awarded the 2009 CBC Galaxie Rising Star award, after last year’s notable win of the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Award, for best North American saxophonist under 21. MORE |
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Brandi Disterheft Quartet
Sep 27, 2009
When Oscar Peterson says of a young musician, “she is what we call serious”, people pay attention. Canadian jazz bassist and composer Brandi Disterheft is the musician in question, and she proved Peterson right when she won the 2008 Juno Award for Best Traditional Jazz Recording.
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Bill Coon Trio
Oct 25, 2009
The National Jazz Awards dubbed him 2009 Guitarist of the Year. His live recording Two Much Guitar with Oliver Gannon heads the list of Top Canadian Releases for 2008. This intimate concert will feature Bill in the company of fellow Vancouverites Darren Radtke on bass and Bernie Arai on drums.
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Company B Jazz Band
Feb 28, 2010
Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but Company B! The Georgia Straight Jazz Society presents Company B Swing Band in concert Sunday February 28th, 7:30 pm at the Elks’ Hall. This Vancouver-based sextet delivers a light-hearted, hard-swinging take on 30’s and 40’s-era acts like the Andrews Sisters and the Boswell Sisters.
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The Big Bossa
Mar 28 2010
Marrying traditional Brazilian samba with African rhythms, Antonio Carlos Jobim fathered the “Bossa Nova” sound that came to be embraced by audiences world-wide, and recorded by countless jazz greats including Stan Getz, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. Nanaimo-area drummer and bandleader James McRae has assembled eight leading jazz players to perform a tribute to the Brazilian heart and soul of Jobim.
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The Hornby Thatch Band
Apr 28 2010
Can you name the longest-running weekly jazz venue in the area? The Thatch Pub on Hornby Island has boasted Friday Jazz for twenty years, with a stellar cast of host and guest musicians. The Georgia Straight Jazz Society presents the Hornby Thatch Band in concert, with Tony Wilson (guitar), Nick McGowan (tenor sax), Annie Siegel (piano/vocals), Darryl Bohn (drums), and Dana Inglis (acoustic bass).
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Amanda Tosoff Quartet
Sept 19 2010
Jazz pianist/composer Amanda Tosoff and her quartet have been steadily gaining critical acclaim since the release of their debut album Still Life (Cellar Live 2006). Their unique and mature sound as band has captured the ears of audiences around the world. With Evan Arnzten on saxes, Sean Cronin on bass and Morgan Childs on drums, Tosoff has opened for jazz legends Bobby Hutcherson, Renee Rosnes and Oliver Jones, and has performed with guests such as Ingrid Jensen, Brad Turner and Phil Dwyer.
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Daniel Lapp Quartet
Oct 17 2010
Daniel Lapp is a household name in British Columbian music circles. Hugh Fraser is a legend in the international jazz scene. Put the two of them together on a Courtenay stage. Add top-drawer drummer Josh Dixon and brilliant bassist Ken Lister. And you’ve got magic. The Georgia Straight Jazz Society presents the Daniel Lapp Quartet in concert, Sunday October 17th at the Elks’ Hall.
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Kelby MacNayr Quintet
Nov 21 2010
Hugh Fraser. Don Thompson. Phil Dwyer. Storm Nilson. Ian McDougall. Neil Swainson. They are all incredible jazz musicians. What else do they have in common? They all use the drumming talents of Victoria's Kelby MacNayr. The Georgia Straight Jazz Society is proud to present the Kelby MacNayr Quintet in concert. Featuring some of the West Coast's finest jazz musicians, the quintet performs ground-breaking original music that, while rooted in tradition, presents a beautifully crafted blend of innovation and imagination.
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We Three Queens
Dec 18 2010
The reigning monarchs of Canada’s vocal jazz scene come together as “We Three Queens”, presenting Jennifer Scott, Karin Plato and Kate Hammett-Vaughan singing Christmas Jazz to knock your socks off. The trio have just released a CD of holiday classics and carols from around the world that captures their exquisite voices in harmony and solo settings, and features outstanding musicians Chris Sigerson on piano, Rene Worst on bass, and Tom Foster on drums.
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Griffith Hiltz Trio
Jan 30 2011
Toronto-based Griffith Hiltz Trio will take to the stage at the Upper Elk’s Hall. Featuring Johnny Griffith on saxophones and bass clarinet, Nathan Hiltz on guitar and bass pedals, and Sly Juhas on drums, the trio produces a melodic jazz sound that is at once familiar and exotic. Their 2009 debut recording “Now and Then” was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2009 by Jazz 91.1 FM.
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Monik Nordine - Departure
Feb 27 2011
Saxophonist Monik Nordine, one of the most compelling voices on the west coast, has just released a new CD with her group Departure, featuring Brent Jarvis on keys, Phil Albert on bass, and Buff Allen on drums. The group’s local appearance will feature superlative bassist Ken Lister, sitting in for Albert.
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Elizabeth Shepherd
Mar 27 2011
All About Jazz called her music “mesmerizing.” “Subtle and captivating,” says Montreal’s Mirror of her latest CD, while Detroit’s Real Weekly labels it “superb.” On Sunday, March 27, you’ll be able to add your own superlatives when Elizabeth Shepherd performs in Courtenay. Presented by the Georgia Straight Jazz Society and exclaim.ca, the singer/songwriter/pianist is touring to celebrate the release of her ‘Heavy Falls the Night’ CD.
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Marc Atkinson
October 16 2011
On April 20, 2006, the Marc Atkinson Trio entranced the audience at the Jazz Society's first ticketed concert. On October 16, they're back again. They've covered a lot of musical territory in the intervening years, with performances from Memphis to Edinburgh and across Canada and the U.S., at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Mariposa Folk Festival, and DjangoFest Northwest. Appearing with Marc were Brett Martens on guitar and Joey Smith on bass.
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Dee Daniels
November 20 2011
Whether accompanying herself at the piano (as she will be for this performance), fronting a trio, big band or symphony, Dee Daniels' four-octave vocal range is thrilling. She is a unique talent who transcends musical borders when she brings her jazz styling, flavoured with gospel and blues, to the stage.
Dee's piano playing is as expressive and exciting as her singing, as you'll hear on November 20. Her career has been far fom solo - she has performed and recorded with many 'Legends of Jazz' including Toots Thielemans, Houston Person, Clark Terry, Lionel Hampton, Ed Thigpen, Monty Alexander, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Hank Jones, Bill Charlap, and Russell Malone. She has shared the stage with symphony orchestras across the USA and Canada, presenting her two Symphony Pops programs, Great Ladies of Swing and The Soul of Ray: The Music of Ray Charles.
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Nick LaRiviere Quartet
December 4 2011
All About Jazz says, "Canada is suddenly becoming a breeding ground for fine young instrumentalists who are adding to the instrument's language and literature: Torontonian Christian Overton, who leads the Composers' Collective Big Band; Montreal's Jean Nicholas Trottier, who fronts an amazing, edgy quartet; and now this virtuoso from Victoria, B.C., Nick La Riviere."
"This virtuoso" trombonist is coming to Courtenay on Sunday, December 4.
Joining Nick are Damian Graham on drums, Don Cox on bass and Karel Roessingh on piano.
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Eric St-Laurant Trio
March 18 2012
"The arrangements are transparent; the mood is intimate and the songs, uplifting. So says All About Jazz of Toronto's Eric St-Laurent Trio. "Playing the compositions of guitarist Eric St-Laurent, with the unique and highly virtuosic rhythm section of Jordan O'Connor (double bass) and Michel DeQuevedo (percussion), the trio creates joy, excitement - and a few other emotions that simply haven't been named yet. At the heart of it are Afro-Cuban rhythms combined with jazz openness and blues sensibilities that give way to lyrical melodies and infectious grooves and riffs."
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Jaclyn Guillou Quintet
May 20 2012
Guillou is celebrating the success of her new recording "To The City". Earshot Magazine said the CD is "an album that is so rich with dimension you need a pair of 3D glasses to listen to it.” Expect Jaclyn's live performance to be as rich. Recipient of CBC's Rising Star Award in 2009, Jaclyn has become a major figure in the Vancouver jazz scene. A student of such jazz luminaries as Nancy King, Sheila Jordan and Vancouver's own Jennifer Scott, she is a dynamic and versatile performer. Singing in four different languages, she merges the sound of deep jazz roots with a hip modern flair.
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Caravan
Champion fiddler Daniel Lapp and the great Gypsy guitarist Marc Atkinson team up for Caravan, at The Elks Hall on Sunday, November 18th.
As individual artists it would be a show not to be missed, but together with Marc's regular trio-mates, Joey Smith on bass and Brett Martens on rhythm guitar, it becomes a must see event.
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Ho Ho Ho, the B3 Kings are coming to town so you better be good and get tickets for the funkiest, jazziest Christmas music this side of the North Pole. With Chris Gestrin on keys, Denzal Sinclaire on drums and vocals, Bill Coon on guitar, and Cory Weeds on saxophone.
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Bassist Jen Hodge and her All Stars will bring their unique take on the music of the Roaring 20’s and Dirty 30’s to The Elks Hall, Sunday, February 10, at 7:30 p.m.Playful and sassy are words used to describe the music of the All Stars and Hodge likes the description.
Their regular engagement at the trendy Guilt & Co. in Gastown has allowed the band to hone its skills and bring a personal and modern musical approach to the old tunes.
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Allaboutjazz.com describes the latest Worst Pop Band Ever live album as “…music for people, whether they dig jazz or not. The group delivers a set that cares less about genres… a tight band playing with substance and feeling for an appreciative audience.”The quintet is touring their second CD, Sometimes Things Go Wrong (and other songs we shouldn’t play), which was recorded last year at The Cellar in Vancouver. The CBC Radio 2 After Hours says the disc is, “really cool”.
Their music has also been used for film and video productions for the United Nations, the CBC and the National Film Board.
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Tunnel Six is a sextet comprised of some of the most notable up and coming jazz musicians and composers from both the East and West coasts of the continent. Playing original compositions by all the band members, Tunnel Six hopes to connect to their audiences through the strong and intuitive storytelling elements of their improvisations.
The group was formed when its members were attending the International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. Though formed by chance meeting, the strong musical chemistry between them was immediately evident. Within the span of the three-week workshop, the band members felt as though they had already been playing together for years.
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