Vancouver Jazz

The complete guide to jazz in Vancouver BC

Jazz festival full lineup

Posted on | May 23, 2013 | No Comments

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The full TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival lineup has been announced.

Watch the promo video.

 

 

Brad Mehldau update

Posted on | April 29, 2013 | No Comments

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“Bad luck today – Brad Mehldau’s sold out show tonight is cancelled as he cannot get into Canada. Luckily we were able to re-schedule for Sunday night, May 5th. Same time/same place 8pm at the Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver. So sorry for the inconvenience and hope you can make it. Good news for anyone who didn’t get tickets the first time around, we will have some limited tickets now for sale www.capilanou.ca/nscucentre.”

Jazz Fest announces Vogue and Performance Works series

Posted on | April 10, 2013 | No Comments

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The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival (June 21-July 1, 2013) has announced performers appearing at The Vogue Theatre and Performance Works on Granville Island as part of the upcoming festival. There’ll be another announcement in two weeks and the full lineup sometime in mid-May .

The Vogue Theatre Series

Michael Kaeshammer/Alex Cuba (Double Bill)
June 21

BETTYE LAVETTE plus special guests The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer
June 22

Esperanza Spalding Radio Music Society plus special guests Tyson Naylor Trio
June 23

Lee Fields & The Expressions/Nick Waterhouse and his Tarots (Double Bill)
June 24

The John Scofield Überjam Band featuring Andy Hass bass, Avi Bortnick guitar/synth, Tony Mason drums plus specials guests Dave Robbins Electric Band
June 25

Dr. John & the Nite Trippers
June 26

David Murray Infinity Quartet featuring Macy Gray plus special guests Rich Halley 4
June 27

Red Baraat plus special guests Gordon Grdina’s Haram
June 28

Nikki Yanofsky
June 29

Shane Koyczan
June 30

 

Performance Works Series

Vijay Iyer Trio
June 21

Carmen Souza
June 22

Vieux Farka Touré (Two shows)
June 23 Performance Works @ 7:30 & 10pm

An Evening with Gregory Porter
June 24

Youn Sun Nah & Ulf Wakenius Duo
June 25

Kurt Rosenwinkel New Quartet
June 26

Courtney Pine presents: HOUSE OF LEGENDS
June 27

Patricia Barber Quartet
June 28

Alfredo Rodriguez Trio
June 29

More info here

Vancouver Independent Music Centre initiative

Posted on | April 6, 2013 | 1 Comment

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Vancouver! A city that is home to some of the best musicians in the world. Where tens of thousands of people attend the Jazz Festival every summer. Home to some of the most devoted folk music fans you can find. A place where lovers of traditional Chinese music live next door to devotees of classical Indian music. Where, every week, concertgoers can choose from classical chamber concerts, blues guitar, and music of la francophonie.

And yet, surprisingly, there is no facility in Vancouver that is specifically dedicated to music performance. There are performance venues in Vancouver that work very well for theatre or dance. But these same venues pose serious challenges for concert promoters and audiences: rental rates are too high for a single night show; there are few available dates between long-running plays; extra costs may be incurred for important sound gear needed for a concert; and even if other problems can be solved, they have poor acoustics and sightlines. Vancouver’s vibrant music community clearly deserves better! A purpose-designed facility will support the creative needs of musicians performing here, and greatly improve the experience of audience members.

The Music Centre will showcase the incredible diversity and wealth of music in Vancouver, as well as hosting performers from around the world. Musicians and artists from different genres and cultures will meet one another, exchange ideas and experiences and develop new musical collaborations. A wide range of audiences and communities will experience music in the same intimate setting. This will be a musical meeting place, a locus of creativity and a vital new urban facility. Long-time music lovers in Vancouver remember favourite music venues of the past very well. Each one was unique; each one reeked ambience and somehow reflected its time. For every era, a classic joint emerged that was the epicenter of Vancouver’s best music: Hogan’s Alley (1920s), the Cave (1930s), Isy’s Supper Club (1960s), the Classical Joint (1970s) and the Glass Slipper (1990s). All are gone now. A dedicated and dynamic new Music Centre in Vancouver would both honour and build on this rich legacy.

For today’s musicians, for today’s audiences, this could be the venue that defines our time. The Vancouver Independent Music Centre – The VIM Centre.

For more information go to http://www.vancouvermusiccentre.ca/

Jazz Festival call for volunteers.

Posted on | March 3, 2013 | No Comments

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This year the Vancouver International Jazz Festival runs June 21-July 1, 2013

Volunteering for the festival is a great way to hear amazing music, make new friends, and gain work experience or school credit. They have many opportunities available for people with a variety of skills, passions and interests. Visit http://www.coastaljazz.ca/volunteers to find out more.

JAZZ VOLUNTEERS GET PERKS

Volunteers get exclusive benefits not available to anyone else. As a volunteer you get to experience the festival from behind the scenes, see shows, a souvenir t-shirt and more.

ABOUT COASTAL JAZZ

The Coastal Jazz and Blues Society is a charitable arts organization located in Vancouver, British Columbia and BC’s largest music presenter.  We produce the annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, one of the most critically acclaimed jazz festivals in the world, drawing over half a million patrons each year. The festival features over 300 concerts (150 free) in 35 venues across Vancouver.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER?

http://www.coastaljazz.ca/volunteers

VOLUNTEER INQUIRIES?

Please contact the Volunteer Coordinators at volunteer@coastaljazz.ca

Ross Taggart tribute at Jazz Vespers March 3

Posted on | March 1, 2013 | No Comments

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Join us this Sunday when JAZZ VESPERS pays tribute to our dear friend Ross Taggart. There will be stories, laughter, and, of course, music. Lots of music. Bill Coon is bringing a fine trio including Darren Radtke and Dave Robbins. Kevin Elaschuk will be there with an awesome quartet (Rod Murray, Andre Lachance, and Joe Poole). And of course Sharon Minemoto will play along with Chris Startup, Darren, and Bernie Arai. The afternoon will conclude with Leora Cashe and Sharon.

Let’s celebrate and remember Ross in great style on Sunday. See you there.

The details: St. Andrew’s, Burrard/Nelson, Sunday 4-5p. Free parking.

 

 

 

 

2013 JUNO Award Nominees

Posted on | February 19, 2013 | 1 Comment

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For those that care, the list of 2013 Juno Award nominees can be viewed here:

2013 JUNO Award Nominees | The JUNO Awards.

Julian Award for Excellence for Emerging Canadian Artists

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | No Comments

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CJSF 90.1FM and The Jazz Spectrum have announced the four nominees for the 2013 Julian Award for Excellence for Emerging Canadian Artists.

Read article . . .

Jazz Vespers remembers Jerry Wennes

Posted on | January 16, 2013 | 1 Comment

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wennes

For seven years Jerry Wennes booked the artists who performed every week at St. Andrew’s-Wesley Jazz Vespers, and helped grow a small gathering of musicians into an outstanding jazz service. Every Sunday afternoon at four o’clock he would stride to the front of the sanctuary and introduce the musicians, always “with style”, as he said, which meant his unique combination of old world manners, lilting Dutch accent, and trademark smile that warmed everyone who saw it.

After several years of illness, Jerry slipped away in the early morning hours on January 6. His beloved wife Anne was at his side.

On 27 January we’ll honour Jerry’s memory and celebrate, really celebrate, his life with a very special Jazz Vespers. Some of Jerry’s longtime friends and regulars at Jazz Vespers including Jim Byrnes, Karin Plato, Marcus Mosely, and Laura Crema will fill the church with music. This will be a time for Jerry’s friends and family to pause, take a breath, and remember our dear friend. As Jerry signed his emails the past few years, “Enjoy the music!”

Sunday, 27 January, 4-5p. St. Andrew’s-Wesley, Burrard/Nelson. Free parking available in the church parking lot.

Cap Jazz Series presents A Tribute to Clare Fischer

Posted on | January 14, 2013 | No Comments

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Cap Jazz Series
A Tribute to Clare Fischer
With “A” Band and NiteCap and faculty guests
Friday, January 25 @ 8:00 PM Tickets: $28/$25

Musical Direction: Brad Turner (“A” Band), Réjean Marois (NiteCap) Faculty Guests: Bill Coon, Dennis Esson, Steve Kaldestad, Chad Makela, Lisa Cay Miller, Jodi Proznick, Dave Robbins, Ron Samworth, Brad Turner

North Shore Credit Union
Centre for the Performing Arts 
Capilano University
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver
BOX OFFICE
Tickets + Information: 604.990.7810  |  capilanou.ca/nscucentre

“Fischer’s arranging and composing invariably possessed a
rich harmonic palette, one that attracted and
influenced other musicians.” – LA Times

Capilano University’s NSCU Centre presents A Tribute to Clare Fischer on Friday, January 25 at 8 PM. The concert showcases the talent of the university’s two senior student ensembles – “A” Band and NiteCap – featuring top musicians and singers in the Jazz Studies program as well as faculty guests. This year, the evening honours Clare Fischer, the Amercian Grammy Award-winning composer, arranger, conductor and pianist who crossed jazz, Latin and pop music genres. Herbie Hancock was influenced by Fischer’s early work, and Clare worked with jazz greats the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Natalie Cole and Joao Gilberto, and masters of pop such as Paul McCartney, Prince and Michael Jackson.

Fischer released over 50 albums in his 60 year career before his death last year at the age of 83. He received 12 Grammy Award nominations, including one for the upcoming 2013 awards for ¡Ritmo! by The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band. He won two Grammy Awards for ClareFischer and Salsa Picante Present 2+2 (1981) and Free Fall (1986), and composed the popular standards “Pensativa” and “Morning”.

After graduating from Michigan State University in 1957, Fischer moved to Los Angeles to work with the Hi-Lo’s as their accompanist and arranger. He wrote for Dizzy Gillespie’s 1960 album, A Portrait of Duke Ellington. His interest in Latin rhythms began in the early 60s, and he alternated between jazz and Latin formats for the rest of his career. He formed the vocal-dominated Brazilian group Salsa Picante in 1975, and recorded in a wide variety of settings from solo piano to big bands throughout the years. Fischer started working on arrangements for R&B groups in the 70s including Rufus with Chaka Khan and The Jacksons. In 1985 he began his long standing collaboration with Prince, arranging for his music and films such as Under the Cherry Moon. Fischer received an honorary doctorate from Michigan State University in 1999 for his outstanding contributions to jazz music. In 2003, he produced his first classical CD, After the Rain.

IN BRIEF

A Tribute to Clare Fischer  |  Friday, January 25 @ 8:00 pm  |  Tickets: $28/$25

Celebrating the career of Grammy Award-winning American jazz and Latin composer, arranger, bandleader and pianist.

Tickets + Information: 604.990.7810  |  capilanou.ca/nscucentre

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