Mon Dec 3
The Ballad of Shirley Collins + live music by Petunia
Vancity Theatre (6:30pm)
Join for a celebration of folk with a live solo performance by Vancouver’s resident hillbilly alchemist Petunia at 6.30pm, followed at 7.15 by the Vancouver premiere of “the music documentary of the year” (Louder than War). The Ballad of Shirley Collins is a moving portrait of the epochal British folk singer.
Jam Session w. Sharon Minemoto
Pat’s Pub (7:30pm)
Join multi-faceted Vancouver pianist Sharon for the city’s longest running jazz jam. Sessions at The Pat brings together many of the finest jazz musicians in the city.
John Korsrud Latin Band
Libra Room (7:30pm)
The John Korsrud Latin Band plays high-energy, high-groove music at the beloved Libra Room.
Tue Dec 4
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Queen Elizabeth Theatre (8pm)
This a 20-date, coast-to-coast tour concludes on December 4th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Open Mic
Railway Stage and Beer Café (8:30pm)
Bring your instrument of choice and play your songs once a week on the Railway Stage. Drum kit and bass and guitar amps available so bring your bands. Hosted by Jess Vaira.
Sawdust Collector Series
Gold Saucer (9pmish)
Weekly performance series curated by Barbara Adler, Cole Schmidt & James Meger. This week it’s the Shannon Scott Trio featuring Shannon Scott piano/vocals, Skye Brooks drums, and Jeff Younger guitar, as well as Daniel O’Shea.
Wed Dec 5
Young Lions:
John Lee
Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm)
John Lee is known for his incredible proficiency as a multi-instrumentalist as well as his ability to connect audience to his music and live charisma. He has shared the stage with artists such as Cyrus Chestnut, Larry Fuller, George Colligan, Seamus Blake, Terell Stafford, Ingrid Jensen as well as Canadian jazz greats Christine Jensen (CJ Jazz Orchestra), Brad Turner, Jodi Proznick, and Phil Dwyer. With John Lee on piano, Daniel Howard on bass and Graham Villette on drums.
RESERVE TABLE
The Sultans of String with the North Shore Celtic Ensemble
Centennial Theatre (7pm)
Celebrate the season with an adventurous musical trip around the world! Sultans of String deliver an exuberant performance featuring original world-music inspired classics and seasonal favourites to warm your heart on a cold winter’s night.
The Jen Hodge All Stars
Guilt & Company (9:30pm)
Upright bassist Jen Hodge leads a rotating cast of local and visiting musicians through a night of high energy traditional jazz music every Wednesday. Expect hard swinging grooves, boisterous New Orleans style horns, cheeky lyrics, clever arrangements, and plenty of spontaneous fun.
Thu Dec 6
Bill Mays and the Toronto Chamber Jazz Septet
Evergreen Cultural Centre (8pm)
In this Holiday-themed show, the Septet combine improvisation and classical themes as they present jazz versions of the Nutcracker Suite and other holiday favorites.
Natasha D’Agostino Quartet
Tangent Cafe (8:30pm)
A creative composer and improviser, vocalist Natasha D’Agostino draws influence from jazz visionaries Norma Winstone, Fred Hersch, and Wayne Shorter. Catch her at the Libra Room with her fantastic quartet.
From New York: Ari Hoenig Trio
Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm)
Philadelphia-born drummer Ari Hoenig relentlessly explores the melodic possibilities of the drums. The other members of the Ari Hoenig Trio are the highly talented Israeli musicians Nitai Hershkovits and Or Bareket. Pianist Hershkovits is equally at home in jazz as he is in classical music. His playing is elegant and tinged with melancholy. Bassist Bareket’s career is one of the fastest moving on the New York jazz scene. His distinctive improvisation style reflects Mediterranean, South American, and North African influences but is nonetheless always rooted in the traditions of American jazz.
RESERVE TABLE
Fri Dec 7
From New York: Nick Hempton
Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm)
A swinging, soulful, CD release! Straight from the jazz organ rooms of Harlem, veteran New York saxophonist Nick Hempton is bringing the blues, boogaloos, and shuffles of Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Sonny Stitt to Vancouver. Hempton, along with organist Nick Peck and drummer Jesse Cahill, will be dishing out “big fat grooves, a real sense of swing, strong melodies and even stronger rhythms” over two rousing nights of swinging straight ahead jazz!
RESERVE TABLE
Friday Jazz: Jeremy Wong Quartet
Tyrant Studios (9pm)
“Friday Jazz” – A weekly live Jazz show and bar. Jeremy Wong is a rising star of the Vancouver jazz scene, taking his inspiration from jazz giants like Mark Murphy and Chet Baker.
Sat Dec 8
Pat’s Pub (3pm)
Hot Food. Cool Jazz. No Cover. Brad Turner trumpet, Jon Bentley saxophone, Bruno Hubert piano. André Lachance bass, and Dylan Van der Schyff drums.
Festivus with The Big Easy Funk Ensemble
Fairview Pub (9pm)
Vancouver based band The Big Easy Funk Ensemble plays New Orleans funk and holiday classics.
Gord Grdina NYC Quartet
BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts (8pm)
This Vancouver local legend is a Juno award-winning guitarist and oud virtuoso. He fell in love with the oud, a Middle-Eastern lute, and developed a unique sound evolving from fusing jazz with classical Persian music. His New York Quartet, which released its latest album, Inroads, in 2017, is an adventurous, avant-garde experience mixing improvisational jazz with a heavier, darker electric sound.
From New York: Nick Hempton
Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm)
A swinging, soulful, CD release! Straight from the jazz organ rooms of Harlem, veteran New York saxophonist Nick Hempton is bringing the blues, boogaloos, and shuffles of Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Sonny Stitt to Vancouver. Hempton, along with organist Nick Peck and drummer Jesse Cahill, will be dishing out “big fat grooves, a real sense of swing, strong melodies and even stronger rhythms” over two rousing nights of swinging straight ahead jazz!
RESERVE TABLE
Sun Dec 9
Jazz Vespers – Shannon Gaye / Kristian Alexandrov Trio
St. Andrew’s-Wesley (4pm)
Shannon Gaye and the Kristian Alexandrov Trio will perform songs from Shannon’s new Christmas CD “Songs of Joy & Peace” – from jazz-infused tunes like “The Christmas Song” to the bluesy sass of “Merry Christmas Baby”.
Micah Barnes (of The Nylons) Christmas in New York
Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm)
This Holiday season let chart topping Jazz crooner Micah Barnes take you on a musical tour through New York City! Micah’s show “Christmas in New York” includes favorite holiday tunes, Nylons classics and Jazz standards that pay tribute to the musical history of New York!
RESERVE TABLE
