Vancouver Jazz

The complete guide to jazz in Vancouver BC

South Delta Jazz Festival and Jazz Workshop finishes seventh year

 I’m finally cooling down, both literally and figuratively, after a very intense week of making music and teaching at the South Delta Jazz Workshop and Jazz Festival.  The Workshop is a summer jazz camp with thirty-five students, six full-time faculty members, and two TAs.  The Festival comprises seven concerts during the week of the workshop [...]

Jazz Journalists Association honours Bill Smith at jazz fest opening gala

On behalf of the Jazz Journalists Association, the Vancouver Jazz Festival’s artistic director, Ken Pickering, presented Bill Smith with the JJA’s “A Team” Award for lifetime achievement at the jazz fest’s opening gala at the Vancouver Art Gallery last night. Almost from the day he arrived in Toronto in 1963 from his birthplace in Bristol, [...]

“Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense” screening at VanCity Theatre June 19

There will be a special screening this Saturday of the theatrical feature version of the acclaimed, four-part TV documentary series. Looking at jazz as a modern art form that continues to evolve and expand, the film highlights what Terence Blanchard calls “the quiet revolution” going on today, including big names like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, [...]

Dave Schnitter, final appearance at the Cellar tonight

Tenor saxophonist Dave Schnitter is one of those undeservedly under-recognized major talents of jazz. It wasn’t always so. When he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in 1974 he, along with Wynton Marsalis who joined the band some time after, contributed to the revitalization of that illustrious organization. He stayed with Blakey till 1979, followed by a couple [...]

Corey Christiansen celebrates the release of his new CD this weekend

This weekend at The Cellar, guitarist COREY CHRISTIANSEN celebrates the release of his latest Orgin Records album, Outlaw Tractor. From the first note, Christiansen lights a rhythmic fire that never flickers, punctuating chords with precision and soloing with zeal… ” – Downbeat Magazine Following up on 2008′s Roll With It, Corey Christiansen’s critically acclaimed Origin [...]

“Inhabitants” CD Release, May 27

Inhabitants launch their new CD, A Vacant Lot, at the Cobalt, 917 Main Street, Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 8:00pm. The Gordon Grdina Trio will also be performing. Inhabitants continue to push forward into new sonic territory with “A Vacant Lot”, their third full-length on Drip Audio. Spacious and expressive, the new album explores the [...]

Percussive Compassion

An international consortium of percussive-oriented musicians will be performing for a worthy cause on June 13th at the Cultch. Themba Tana will be my guest on an special extended edition of the A-Trane on CFRO 102.7 FM, Friday June 4th from 2:30 to 6:30 to play some music, remember the late South African Jazz musician [...]

Vancouver Jazz Festival is Awesome. Here’s Why.

From the  Beyond Robson blog, Dan Potter’s enthusiastic recommendations. The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is Awesome. Here’s Why..

The Western Front : New Music : VOICE OVER mind Festival

A few days late posting this. VOICE OVER mind is a new biennial festival, debuting in May 2010, which responds to audiencesʼ growing appetite for unusual singers and extreme vocalists. via The Western Front : New Music : VOICE OVER mind Festival.

Up next: The 2010 Vancouver International Jazz Festival

The Cultural Olympiad is over (but not forgotten!) and it’s time to start turning to the city’s next major jazz event, the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival celebrating its 25th anniversary (how did that happen?). Let’s unravel the shows that have been announced so far .. Friday June 25 – Classic Sounds at The Centre [...]

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