2026 Artist Bios
…a telepathic rapport and a following of tapped-in jazz fans since their founding in the early 90s. Drawing from a repertoire of synapse-firing originals and masterful interpretations of standard tunes,…
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Stranger Friends Orchestra feat. Fredrik Ljungkvist
A can’t-miss collab between bright lights of the Vancouver scene and a giant of Scandinavian jazz! Carrying the torch for the next generation of Canadian large ensembles, Stranger Friends Orchestra…
Mili Hong and Friends
…Julien Wilson (of Open Thread), and two phenomenal Vancouver jazz players in bassist Jodi Proznick and saxophonist Jon Bentley. Open Jazz Jam to follow, hosted by Mili Hong and Friends….
Mr. Boogie Woogie with Rob Montgomery and Friends
Mr. Boogie Woogie is an award-winning piano player/singer from Holland with an international following. Celebrate the music of Fats Domino and others with a musical trip to New Orleans. A…
Mr. Boogie Woogie with Rob Montgomery & Friends
…Best Dutch Blues Pianist and has also won the prestigious title of Best European Blues Pianist. For his Vancouver outing, he is backed local blues heros Rob Montgomery and Friends….
Our Friends and Club Partners: 2nd Floor Gastown
…service, food, and live music, we are in the business of creating memories and moments with friends and family that last a lifetime. From enjoying a full culinary experience to…
Digital Jazz Hotline #38
…Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GNJoP3w3cs Westcoast Big Band Festival 2017: Mighty Fraser Big Band w. Eli Bennett – Northwood United Church, 8855 156 St. Surrey (8:30pm) | Big Band Saturday, October 14 CJBS:…
Dean Thiessen’s Stranger Friends Orchestra
Composer/musical director Dean Thiessen’s 15-piece modern big band gathers some of the most creative and inspiring young voices in the West Coast music scene. With little resemblance to the ‘swing…
Maya Rae & Friends – An Eva Cassidy Tribute
Maya Rae takes you on an exciting journey paying tribute to Eva Cassidy, American singer and guitarist known for her interpretations of jazz and blues blessed with a powerful, emotive…
David Blake and Friends
The Montreal jazz festival has said that guitarist David Blake “plays with an energized style that offers a genuine feast for the soul!” His groups explore original compositions and modern…
Dean Thiessen’s Stranger Friends 4tet
Pianist Dean Thiessen’s compositions tell of struggle and frustration, triumph and delight, while drawing influence from the landscapes of his Alberta prairie childhood, the literary works of John Steinbeck, and…
Our Friends and Club Partners: Guilt & Co.
…all love. While we take these first steps of our reopening, we remind you that the changes in the room for the sake of everyone’s safety are only temporary and…
In The Company Of Friends: In Memory Of Linton Garner
Celebrating the birthday of Linton Garner who would have turned 102 on March 25, this tribute honours the music Linton enjoyed playing along with selections from his iconic recording, Thanks….
Our Friends and Club Partners: Hastings Mill Brew Co. AKA Pat’s Pub
It’s been a long few months, but our persistence with staying away from each other is paying off. As BC slowly reopens, Coastal Jazz is pleased to help spread the…
Jodi Proznick & Friends
The VSO School Of Music Summer Jazz Workshop is in full swing this week! Join artistic director and bassist Jodi Proznick and her award-winning faculty as they celebrate music together….
Jodi Proznick & Friends
The VSO School Of Music Summer Jazz Workshop is in full swing this week! Join artistic director and bassist Jodi Proznick and her award-winning faculty as they celebrate music together….
Digital Jazz Hotline #47
…– Straight Ahead/Mainstream Jesse Waldman & Friends – Libra Room, 1608 Commercial Dr (8pm) – Blues South Van Big Band – Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main St (8pm) – Big Band…
Digital Jazz Hotline #39
…Waldman & Friends – Libra Room, 1608 Commercial Dr. (8pm) | Blues Maple Leaf Jazz Band – White Rock Traditional Jazz Society, Crescent Beach Legion # 240 (2pm) | Traditional…
Digital Jazz Hotline #51
…Blues: Steve Kozak & Friends – Pat’s Pub, 403 E. Hastings St (7pm) | Blues Joy of Jazz: Karin Plato/Bill Coon/Adam Thomas – Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main St (7:30pm) |…
Digital Jazz Hotline #44
…Crescent (6pm) – World Wednesday Night Blues: Steve Kozak & Friends – Pat’s Pub (7pm) – Blues Jazz For Barb: Cory Weeds Let’s Groove Music of Earth Wind & Fire…
Digital Jazz Hotline #58
In honour of International Woman’s Day on Thursday, why not check out one of the many shows this week featuring women jazz artists!! Monday, March 5 Cottage Jazz Jam w….
Digital Jazz Hotline #59
There are tons of great shows happening this week! Check out this list of some of the shows happening this week… Monday, March 12 Cottage Jazz Jam w. Jerry Boey…
Gig List: July 16
…Frankie’s Jazz Club for a night of lyrical and swinging music. Expect an evening of some well loved jazz standards, along with some of Ben’s own compositions. With Nick Peck…
Digital Jazz Hotline #57
…Goes the Big Band: Impressions Big Band w. Keith Bennett – Vancouver Public Library 350 W Georgia St (2pm) | Big Band Tom Keenlyside/Bill Coon/Bernie Arai/Kerry Galloway – Pat’s Pub,…
Digital Jazz Hotline #46
…Orchestra Performs the Music of Gerry Mulligan w. Fred Stride & Chad Makela – Frankie’s Jazz Bar, 755 Beatty St (8pm) – Big Band Adam Rohrlick’s Hip Pocket Trio w….
Digital Jazz Hotline #60
Do you want to check out some live music? Check out this list of some of the shows happening this week… Monday, March 19th Cottage Jazz Jam w. Jerry Boey…
Digital Jazz Hotline #56
…Marinaside, 1177 Marinaside Crescent (6pm) | Swing Wednesday Night Blues: Steve Kozak & Friends – Pat’s Pub, 403 E. Hastings St (7pm) | Blues Joy of Jazz: Karin Plato/Michael Averill/James…
Digital Jazz Hotline #41
…w. Cory Weeds – Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Burnaby (6pm) Hellraiser film w/ Live Score (Eye of Newt ensemble) – Merge , Clark and Powell, (7:30pm) Live Evil (an…
Digital Jazz Hotline #42
…Marinaside Crescent (6-9pm) | Straight Ahead/Mainstream Wednesday Night Blues: Steve Kozak & Friends – Pat’s Pub 403 E. Hastings St (7pm) | Blues The Songs of Dave Frishberg: Kate Hammett…
Digital Jazz Hotline #45
…– Straight Ahead/Mainstream To Be Or Not To Bop: A Centennial Celebration of the Music of Dizzy Gillespie: UBC Jazz Ensemble 1 (directed by Fred Stride) / UBC Jazz Ensemble…
Digital Jazz Hotline #52
…Wednesday Night Blues: Steve Kozak & Friends – Pat’s Pub, 403 E. Hastings St (7pm) | Blues Jazz Evensong: Gabriel Mark Hasselbach & Friends – Brentwood Presb. Church, Bby (8pm)…
Digital Jazz Hotline #54
It’s the perfect time to start planning a night of live music as we head into Family Day long weekend! Here’s just some of the shows happening this week. Monday,…
Digital Jazz Hotline #43
…Ahead/Mainstream Wednesday Night Blues: Steve Kozak & Friends – Pat’s Pub 403 E. Hastings St (7pm) | Blues NOW Society 40th Anniversary Installation / Opening (7pm) NOW Improv Workshop Concert…
Late Nights for Cool People!
…kind of unwise choices on school nights I’m legendary for, give your morning a fighting chance by drinking a pint of water and taking two tablets of your favourite over-the-counter…
Artist Interview: Jamie Lee
…I’ve listened to this record about… five million times. The wide spectrum of style and use of sounds of this album inspired me to make my album in similar fashion….
Gig List: Nov 19
…his music and words, along with first‐hand accounts of his family, his band mates and those closest to him, Horn From the Heart tells the complex story of a man…
Digital Jazz Hotline #48
We’re taking a little break over the hols, but here’s this week’s offerings of jazzy music around the city… the Digital Jazz Hotline will return in 2018! Monday, December 18…
Tim’s Top Picks from our Free Show Lineup – Part One
…quite like the Stranger Friends Orchestra, a 15-piece big band featuring some of the best young talent in the city. If you want to hear what the future of the…
2nd Floor Gastown (at the Water St. Café)
…to be released ‘Good Samaritan Suite’ and brand new music written just for this occasion. The core meaning of STRANGER FRIENDS is a celebration of friendships that have given me…
Digital Jazz Hotline #53
Get out of the rain this week and listen to some sweet live music around the city …. Monday, January 29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI0b95xzm80 Petunia & The Vipers – WISE Hall, 1882…
Digital Jazz Hotline #37
Staying in the city this Thanksgiving weekend? Why not plan a night of live music. Here’s just a few of the great gigs happening this week… Monday, October 2 VIFF…
Gig List: August 20
…together many of the finest jazz musicians in the city Tue Aug 21 Ben Lockwood Trio Pourhouse, Gastown (7pm) An evening of well loved jazz standards, along with some of…
Digital Jazz Hotline #40
…/ avant Fund Raiser for BC Wildfire Relief: Milleraires Big Band w. Lorraine Foster – St. Catherine’s Church, 1058 Ridgewood Dr., North Vancouverm (7pm) | Straight Ahead/Mainstream Cap Jazz Series:…
Digital Jazz Hotline #50
…Geronimo – Tangent Cafe, 2095 Commercial Dr (6pm) Atomic Swing Vancouver: Just Friends Big Band w. Ben MacRae – ANZA Club, 3 W 8th Ave (8pm) | Swing Jazz Jam…
FESTIVAL TALES: HILARIOUS STORIES & CONNECTIONS MADE
…It has been 18 years together and both still involved with the Festival and we celebrate our anniversary of meeting during the best part of summer. Different kind of summer…
FESTIVAL TALES: INSIDER INFO with TEE CRANE
…me for. Ann ended her set, walked off stage, and Otis walked on right away. The band launched into the first song of his set—we were only 1 minute behind…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 2: Jesse Zubot
…now. I started learning music at a very young age studying classical music on the violin, then playing in cover bands with my father and rock bands with my friends…
FESTIVAL TALES: INSIDER INFO with NOU DADOUN
…a space about 8 feet square! Once the festival started we moved into a site office that was off to one side of one of the theatres (a festival venue!)…
The Gig List: April 16
…Layne & Friends play music that is inspired by his travels and evokes memories of summer days full of adventure and playfulness. With roots in Jazz, Latin and African traditions…
Gig List: Jan 28
…improvisers in Vancouver today. Tue Jan 29 Friends of Chamber Music: Pražák & Zemlinsky Quartets Vancouver Playhouse (8pm) Get your post-romantic period on with this extravaganza of folk-tinged string sextets…
Gig List: Nov 26
…of the finest jazz musicians in the city. An Evening of Big Band Jazz and Zappa Douglas College, New West (7:30pm) Featuring the Douglas College Dues Band, led by Jill…
FESTIVAL TALES: SHOWS GONE RIGHT (& WRONG)
…was packed, with people wandering from stage to stage, listening to band after band. That year, a buzz was created because there was a ‘Mystery Cuban Band’. A sea of…
Big Band Month: Jaelem Bhate’s 45th Avenue Jazz Band
…Jaelem Bhate, along with classic charts from across the big band canon, our commitment is to bring exciting, fresh, live big band music to as many people as we can….
In Memory of Ken Pickering
…he inspired in an expansive global community of musicians and friends. Ken was the key visionary and sustaining genius behind one of the world’s most exciting annual musical celebrations. His…
Digital Jazz Hotline #55
Just in time for the weekend, here’s our latest installment of the digital hotline…. Thursday, February 15 Coastal Jazz: Julian Lage – Frankie’s Jazz Club, 755 Beatty St (8pm) |…
Volunteers
Thank you for your interest in volunteering! Volunteering at the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival is a great way to hear amazing live music, make new friends, meet old friends,…
Digital Jazz Hotline #49
Over the holiday break vice-regal Julie Payette announced her first round of appointments of Order of Canada recipients. We’re thrilled to see Vancouver’s own Oliver Gannon honoured as a new…
Gig List: April 22
…office opens (6:30pm) at door. Orpheum Theatre (8pm) Buddy Guy is one of the most electrifying artists in contemporary blues and at age 82, he shows no signs of slowing…
Miles Davis: The Birth of the Cool
…the racial prejudice he witnessed and experienced in America, along with the pressures of success, and the temptations of drugs and alcohol. Davis was a man capable of making Manhattan…
Things to Do While Self-Isolating
…true, here are some great options: This full concert video of the Vulfpeck show at Madison Square Garden is one of the tightest, most upbeat, and joy-filled taped shows we…
Why You Should Volunteer with Us This Summer
…with us, you will be a part of one of Vancouver’s longest running music festivals. If you sometimes feel uncertain of your place in a bustling environment, having a responsibility…
Robert Plant: A Personal Reminiscence
…on a more intimate and acoustic type of material, while at the same re-visiting many Zeppelin classics. In 2010, he re-formed his pre-Zeppelin Band of Joy, (original drummer John Bonham),…
Gig List: Oct 22nd
…Eastside Heart of the City Festival Featuring over 100 events at over 40 locations throughout the Downtown Eastside The 15th annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival kicks off…
Gig List: Mar 11
…from the traditional woodwind quintet, taking advantage of the unique sounds of a closely related instrument family. The sum of their wide ranges of experience – in settings including free…
Gig List: Dec 10
…be playing a unique show in one of Vancouver’s exciting listening rooms. The Trio has a whole new slew of songs ready for this night so be some of the…
Gig List: May 14
…and a driving rhythm section reminiscent of the music of the juke joints and jazz halls of the 1920’s and ’30s. The band moves effortlessly between toe-tapping dance music, the…
Gig List: Sept 24
…soul, jazz, indie and top 40 music, Thomas will play a diverse array of music from radio hits to jazz big band and a wide array of classics in between…
Where to Start with Sun Ra
…of my suggestions, a steaming playlist, Bandcamp, or any other medium, do give his music a try. You’ll be glad you did – he has a very rewarding body of…
Mad Jazz Live
Dane Warren has had the privilege of travelling the world, bringing his love of big band music to thousands, through concerts, tours, and as a performer and entertainer aboard Holland…
Seven Drummers to Check Out at Jazz Fest 2019
…of the best albums of this century, at least in my opinion. Since then, he’s only cemented his legacy as one of the great drummers in modern improvised music, and…
The Interplanetary Adventures of Sun Ra: There Are Worlds They Have Not Told You Of!
…are now available on the Sun Ra Bandcamp Page [https://sunramusic.bandcamp.com/ ] with some helpful hints about where to start at https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/sun-ra-album-guide And of course, the upcoming Festival livestream of Marshall…
Mars Williams presents an Ayler Xmas
…Massacre, and many more.) Williams also leads the Albert Ayler tribute band Witches & Devils, and out of their holiday concerts grew a unique tradition. One listen and you’ll hear…
Get Your Canada Day On!
Here we are! We’ve arrived at the last day of the 2019 TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival. But before we wrap up, we have tons of fun planned for you…
Gig List: Nov 5
…The Pat brings together many of the finest jazz musicians in the city. Trading Places: Un Échange (Modulus Festival) The Roundhouse (9:15pm) Two of Montreal’s finest headline a night of…
Scott Smith’s Adventures in Pedal Steel
…in all kinds of genres, from country, soul, indie-folk, and gospel, to wherever its beautifully arcing, aching shimmer can be found. With a crack band at his side, a revolving…
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
…suffered in recent years from the effects of a struggling economy.” Yes, friends, we’ve been here before. As a result of funding changes, Coastal Jazz had lost about 30% of…
Jennifer Hayes – A Tribute to Nancy Wilson
…could be seen all over the city at various jazz events talking and laughing with her friends, mingling with the musicians and enjoying a glass of fine wine. Her personality…
The Gig List: March 26
…Wilner one of the most in-demand interpreters of piano jazz, he also runs two very busy Greenwich Village jazz clubs. Hailing from a long line of artists and spiritual mystics,…
Gig List: August 13
…Wood visits for a swingin’ evening of tunes from Monk, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Dexter Gordon, Clark Terry, and lots of classic jazz standards. Her great band includes Sharon Minemoto…
Gig List: Dec 17
…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. Petunia…
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TOUCHES ON: MADE IN THE UK SERIES
…top echelon, one of the most loved formats in the wider world of jazz. Although these trios have very different focuses, each of them leans towards a kind of burning…
Steve Kozak Band
…Kozak Band has been nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award as Blues Artist of the Year in 2017 and 2018. The Steve Kozak Band features: Steve Kozak, guitar and…
Cory Weeds Little Big Band with special guest Carl Allen – Early Show
…top-flight Vancouver musicians to suavely bring the big band sizzle. Conducted by Jill Townsend, the Little Big Band features Steve Kaldestad alto sax, James Danderfer tenor sax, Dave Say baritone…
EDM Legend Bonobo brings live band to the Marquee Series
…To give you an example of what Bonobo sounds like in the studio vs. live with a band, here’s a side by side comparison of the track “Break Apart” from…
Cory Weeds Little Big Band with special guest Carl Allen – Late Show
…top-flight Vancouver musicians to suavely bring the big band sizzle. Conducted by Jill Townsend, the Little Big Band features Steve Kaldestad alto sax, James Danderfer tenor sax, Dave Say baritone…
The Ironworks
…film and TV for most of the year, and you’d be surprised by how many of your favourite shows and movies are shot there. Yes, even that one. But for…
Book your holiday get-together at Frankie’s Jazz Club
…shot to the top of the Jazz charts in both Canada and the USA and resulted in Micah being named the Toronto Indie Awards Best Jazz Act of 2014. Micah…
Oliver Gannon Quartet
…is rooted in 50s and 60s bop. He is a generous leader, allowing the band members lots of room to contribute. With Nick Peck piano, Russ Botten bass and Craig…
Cory Weeds Quartet with special guest Natasha D’Agostino
…loyal fan of jazz music. She could be seen all over the city at various jazz events talking and laughing with her friends, mingling with the musicians and enjoying a…
Pearl Django
With a performance history spanning more than two decades, Pearl Django endures as one of the most highly regarded Hot Club style groups working today. Although the band’s roots are…
Open Jazz Jams
…Black – Frank Zappa Tribute June 26 – David Blake Trio June 27 – Mili Hong and Friends June 28 – Tom Wherrett Group June 29 – Daniel Deorksen Band…
GIG LIST: JULY 30
It’s a great week for the blues here in Van City. But of course, if that’s not your cup of whiskey, there are lots of other great shows to see….
Revel Room
Join us for ten nights of music at Revel Room. Most shows have a 7:30pm start but times may vary. Here are the shows: Friday, June 21: Louie Quinn Jazz…
Mimosa
Mimosa presents an inspiring set of music, much of it composed by band leader and pianist Anna Lumiere. Drawing on jazz, French cabaret and Brazilian rhythms – Mimosa’s repertoire includes…
Pearl Django
With a performance history spanning more than two decades, Pearl Django endures as one of the most highly regarded Hot Club groups working today. Although the band’s roots are firmly…
Gig List: Sept 17
…Sankaran & Friends Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre Profound and soulful rhythms as world-renowned percussion virtuoso Trichy Sankaran joins forces with world-jazz ensemble The Offering of Curtis Andrews, and…
GroundUp feat. The LowDown Brass Band
The LowDown Brass Band is a uniquely strong representation of Chicago Music culture. This talented all horn band leans heavily on dancehall and street beat rhythm, with the energy of…
Bradley/McGillivray Blues Band
…eclectic repertoire of original music and fresh takes on old favourites. Expect warmth, laughter and authenticity in every show. A band of music lovers for an audience of music lovers.”…
Anthem Sounds of Youth Stage
…Saturday, June 25: Noon | St. Thomas Aquinas Senior Jazz Band 115PM | Wellington Senior Jazz Band 230PM | Windsor Senior Jazz Band 345PM | Vancouver College Senior Band 5PM…
Steve Kozak Band
…with a prestigious Maple Blues Award for New Artist or Group of the Year in Canada by the Toronto Blues Society. The Steve Kozak Band has been nominated for a…
Peggy Lee Band – Early Show
Equally adept in far-out free improv, the classical rigour of her work with the VSO, and the arcing melodic textures of her detailed, emotionally deep compositions, cellist/composer Peggy Lee exudes…
Honeybear, the Band
Vancouver’s Honeybear, the Band kicks up a lotta dust on their old-school road trip through the back roads of American soul, blues, and roots. As the music blog B-Side Guys…
Peggy Lee Band – Late Show
Equally adept in far-out free improv, the classical rigour of her work with the VSO, and the arcing melodic textures of her detailed, emotionally deep compositions, cellist/composer Peggy Lee exudes…
Harpdog Brown & The Uptown Blues Band
Canada’s classic blues icon is back on the road again bringing his new Uptown Blues Band to Frankie’s. Harpdog is a real-deal purveyor of classic electric blues. Think of the…
Daniel Deorksen Band
…from his jazz training, funk-rock sensibilities, and professional theatre career, comes to life via an eight-piece band featuring Thomas Houlden trumpet/vocals, Choenden Kyirong trombone, Connor Lum saxophone, Kurt Schindelka piano/vocals,…
James Vickers Band
…2025 release of their debut album, Last Goodbye, the band’s reach is extending well beyond the bounds of British Columbia. James is joined in modern blues-rooted rollicking by guitarist Carson…
Peggy Lee Band
…This concert is presented with the support of Arlene James, in honour of the memory of Ralph and Barbara James, her parents, who both loved jazz. Want more bang for…
Cowboy Bebop Bebop Band
The Cowboy Bebop Bebop Band features some of Vancouver’s finest young jazz players interpreting music from the 90s cult classic Japanese anime Cowboy Bebop, a futuristic, neo-noir space western about…
Cellar Live 25th Anniversary: Cory Weeds Little Big Band ft. Jerry Weldon & Noah Franche-Nolan Trio
…reads like a virtual “Who’s Who of Jazz.” To mark the 25th anniversary of Weed’s fantastic Cellar Live record label, the band will play music from Weeds and Weldon’s albums…
Makeshift Rhythm & Blues Band
Makeshift Rhythm & Blues Band is a four-piece outfit rooted in the golden era of blues and soul music. Inspired by icons such as B.B. King, Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin,…
Band on a Boat: Murphy and the Cats
Murphy and the Cats are a talented duo of young (15 and 16-year-old) jazz musicians performing 1920’s and 1930’s hits like Minnie the Moocher and Minor Swing. All dressed up…
Aquiles Navarro & Tcheser Holmes
Afro-Caribbean improvisational trumpet-and-percussion duo Aquiles Navarro and Tcheser Holmes, are longtime friends, collaborators, devotees of New York City’s creative music scenes, and members of celebrated free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements….
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 24: Missy D
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Andrew Millar Quartet
New York City based drummer Andrew Millar returns to Vancouver to play some hard bop inspired hits with old friends. With Steve Kaldestad saxophone, David Blake guitar, and André Lachance…
VSO School of Music Jazz Faculty
…of playful, fun, and spontaneous music. The night will also feature the wonderful summer jazz workshop teaching assistants, some of the up-and-comers of jazz, Ardeshir Pourkeramati, Ilhan Seferali, Tony Wang,…
All ‘Bout that Bass
…achieved fame for being one of the first bassists to play Bebop solos in arco (bowed) styles. Of course that’s merely a small handful of the many fantastic bassists who…
VSO School of Music Jazz Faculty
…playful, fun and spontaneous music. The evening will also feature the wonderful summer jazz workshop teaching assistants, some of the up-and comers of jazz, Ardeshir Pourkeramati, Ben Sigerson, Tony Wang,…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 10: Mili Hong
…one of the bands that she collaborates with, but the one I know best is her Watermill Project (which I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of), which blends…
LA FABRIQUE LIVES UP TO LOCAL LORE
…music with Wednesday evening bands playing traditional, New Orleans, Latin, or gypsy jazz to lively, joyous crowds. On Saturday afternoons, bands play a mix of standards and original music for…
All the Clubs
…of Main and Broadway, along what was once Brewery Creek, The Cascade Room offers a daily Happy Hour (4pm-6pm) and daily drink features all days except Sunday (offering instead a…
Steve Kaldestad Quartet
…CENTRE Barbara Fudge was a passionate and loyal fan of jazz music. She could be seen all over the city at various jazz events talking and laughing with her friends,…
Chris Gestrin Quartet
…sound of jazz and creative music. For this concert, Chris has put together a quartet featuring some of his great friends and musicians from Vancouver to pay tribute to some…
Atira Presents Strong Women, Strong Music
…Art. Revel in the voices and music of these talented artists while investing in the soul and spirit of the Downtown Eastside – 100% of all proceeds go to EWMA….
A Little Festival History
…genre-benders, emerging artists, and student bands from far and wide all contributing to our ethos of nurturing creativity, encouraging collaboration, and building community. I’m often asked about some of my…
Atira Presents Strong Women, Strong Music
…Art. Revel in the voices and music of these talented artists while investing in the soul and spirit of the Downtown Eastside – 100% of all proceeds go to EWMA….
Atira Presents Strong Women, Strong Music
…Art. Revel in the voices and music of these talented artists while investing in the soul and spirit of the Downtown Eastside – 100% of all proceeds go to EWMA….
Marquis Hill: Composers Collective
One of the finest trumpeters in jazz today, Marquis Hill is a composer and bandleader whose “pan-musical vision recognizes all Black music—jazz, R&B, hip-hop, etc.—as one long continuum” (The Big…
Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra
…Fudge was a passionate and loyal fan of jazz music. She could be seen all over the city at various jazz events talking and laughing with her friends, mingling with…
Bill Runge Quintet
…some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians performing a variety of favourite tunes from Steps Ahead, Weather Report, Michael Brecker, and others in a traditional acoustic setting. With Kristian Alexandrov on…
Katherine Penfold
Celebrating her brand new Christmas album alongside the friends who helped make it happen, Katherine Penfold will be performing your favourite Christmas tunes, original music and Jazz/Blues standards all night…
2022 Festival Playlists
…with friends of the festival including Rob Thomson from Full Circle, Robyn Jacob, Mary Ancheta, Parlour Panther, and Aram Bajakian all generously provided their aural expertise to curate some of…
A TURNING POINT FOR COASTAL JAZZ
…do you want to shape the future of Coastal Jazz and Jazz Fest? When Coastal Jazz began, it was a bold and spirited startup—a group of friends with a vision…
I’m Hip! Kate Hammett-Vaughan sings the songs of Dave Frishberg
…“My Attorney Bernie”, and “Peel Me A Grape” are often performed and recorded, there is a catalogue of incredible songs for audiences to discover and enjoy. Join one of Canada’s…
More Must-See Free Shows
…Lee, showing us how the proverbial sausage is made. Sounds of Youth Stage One of the highlights of the Jazz Festival’s free programming in the last decade or so has…
Happy Jazz Appreciation Month
…of jazz. As April unfolds and Spring blossoms, I write to you to celebrate the incredible jazz scene we have created and cultivated in our beautiful city of Vancouver. For…
The Music of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
…history of jazz. Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross made music history with their vocal renditions of instrumental classics by Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, Wardell Gray, Count Basie, and…
Karin Plato / Lorraine Foster Quintet
Vancouver vocalists Lorraine Foster and Karin Plato share a love of songs from the Great American Songbook: lyrics that tell stories of the heart and melodies that crave being sung….
Chris Gestrin Trio
Since graduating with a Film Scoring degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1995, Vancouver native Chris Gestrin has become an integral part of the Canadian music scene….
All That Jazz
…various seating options like benches, delicious snack menu, and one of the best Moscow Mules in town. A fine selection of local craft beers can be consumed in mass quantities…
Giving Tuesday: A Letter from Board Co-Chair Karen Dar Woon
…Government support is limited and donations from people like you are critical to make our free stages, youth programs, and artist collaborations possible. Thanks to friends of Coastal Jazz, the…
Supporting Artists During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Peggy Lee says WASH YOUR HANDS. In times of great collective strife, we inevitably turn to art – we share new music with our friends, we return to shows…
Cory Weeds Quartet play Jackie McLean
…Vancouver, and has been an essential part of Vancouver’s cultural landscape since its opening in 1977. Following a mandate of promoting Italian culture, values and heritage and to share these…
Getting Ready for the Downbeat: 6 Guiding Thoughts to Developing Covid-19 Safety Plans for Jazz Fest 2021
Hi folks, Eduardo here, Operations Director for Coastal Jazz. Most of you don’t know me because I’m one of the many people behind the scenes who works with a great…
Frankies Jazz Club
…remaining daringly modern. Since her debut, Cabin Fever, she has played the Montreux Jazz Festival, and her album Bandshell was named one of the best of the past decade by…
Veda Hille Sisterhood
…out of a lockdown collaboration with Nicholas Krgovich with a wealth of new material and a post-Covid need to sing with friends. Her latest ensemble Veda Hille Sisterhood (VHS) layers…
Miles Black Trio
Based in Vancouver, Miles Black is a highly respected career musician bringing an enormous wealth of musical experience and expertise to most every facet of the music industry. First known…
Kandace Springs
…a lot of friends with her engaging talent. As The Guardian said in a four-star review, “she has a rare ability that can’t be taught—to sound like an old soul,…
BRASILEIRA
…CULTURAL CENTRE’S JAZZ FOR BARB SERIES Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre, located in the heart of East Vancouver, is and has been an essential part of Vancouver’s cultural landscape since…
Ardeshir Quintet
Saxophonist Ardeshir Pourkeramati is one of Canada’s young and up-and-coming young musicians. Having studied with saxophone master Stan Karp, he is searching for his own voice through the influences of…
How to Enjoy Winter Jazz at Home
…together, so we put together a list of some ways you can make Winter Jazz a great at-home experience. 1. Watch with a friend One of the best parts of…
Donor Spotlight: Franco Ferrari
…in 1993, stuffing envelopes and licking stamps as well as helping out at some of the smaller year-round gigs. It was through friends of mine that I got involved as…
David Lam Park Jazz Fun!
…to get you prepared! IT’S JUNEUARY! We never know what type of weather this time of year will bring so come prepared for it all. Bring sunscreen, wear layers, an…
Burrows/Morena Quartet
…various jazz events talking and laughing with her friends, mingling with the musicians and enjoying a glass of fine wine. Her personality and laugh were contagious and although no longer…
Spotlight On: Made In The UK
…with an approach that might harken back in time to medieval minstrels of centuries ago, a fusion of poetry and musical accompaniment that is authentic and uncontrived. With echoes of…
Ruthie Ha Big Band
Ruthie Ha is a saxophonist and composer based in Vancouver, and a recent graduate of Capilano University’s Jazz program. Their Big Band plays entirely original music by Ha, who draws…
The Terminal City Brass Band
Featuring traditional and contemporary New Orleans-style brass band music and a healthy dose of funk and honk. Bring a wind or percussion instrument (washboard?), your voice, or just your drinking…
Peggy Lee Band
…Equally adept in way-out free improv, the classical rigor of her work with the VSO, and the arcing melodic texturing of her detailed, emotionally deep compositions, Lee exudes mastery in…
Cat Murphy Band
Audiences both young and old, prepare for something a little different. Cat Murphy Band delivers a passionate mix of humour, originality and musical nonsense. These guys won’t knock before they…
Gig List: Apr 1
…2 Music on Main Month of Tuesdays: Claire Edwardes, percussion Fox Cabaret (8pm) This Australian ‘sorceress of percussion’ is well known for her powerhouse style of playing and stage presence….
Louis Cole Big Band
Futuresonic drummer Louis Cole (KNOWER, Thundercat) is an L.A.-based, Grammy Award-winning producer, composer, DIY digital creator, and all-around musical live wire. Viral videos like “Bank Account” have amassed millions of…
Cross-border collaboration connecting high-calibre artists
…series of concerts around the city at the end of the summer and the band instantly felt like a family! I’ve got a new band for the jazz festival this…
TERMINAL CITY BRASS BAND
Featuring traditional and contemporary New Orleans-style brass band music and a healthy dose of funk and honk. Bring a wind or percussion instrument (washboard?), your voice, or just your drinking…
Doc Fingers Band
His name is Doc Fingers, but you can call him Doc. It was in the early seventies, during a stint with the Ronnie Hawkins Band that Bruce Gallagher acquired that…
The Marcus Abramzik Band (Early Show)
Veteran Vancouver bass player/band leader Marcus Abramzik brings his own group tonight for 2 sets of funk, jazz and fusion….
Louie Quinn Band with Special Guest Dutch Robinson
Louis Quinn is comprised of established top Vancouver jazz, funk, and blues musicians Doug Louie on piano and Dave Quinn on clarinet and saxophone. The band collaborate to write, perform,…
Bradley / McGillivray Blues Band
Led by groove, improv and raw, unadulterated emotion, the Bradley/McGillivray band blend blues, jazz, Motown and gospel into its own hip brand of soul. Ruth’s a singer you don’t want…
Louie Quinn Band with guests Patty Verner & Nick Apivor
Louis Quinn is comprised of established top Vancouver jazz, funk, and blues musicians Doug Louie on piano and Dave Quinn on clarinet and saxophone. The band collaborate to write, perform,…
Honeybear, The Band
…up 1.6 million Spotify listens. The groove-driven Vancouver band’s members – bassist/vocalist Ian Beaty, guitarist Colin Brumelle, keyboardist Mike Kenney and drummer Tim Watson – have recorded and toured with…
Company B Jazz Band
Company B Jazz Band is one of Canada’s foremost vintage jazz ensembles, featuring a vocal trio inspired by renowned female harmony groups like the Andrews Sisters and the Boswell Sisters….
Tony Wilson & Patsy Klein Band
…plaintive, emotional voice of Vancouver hidden gem Patsy Klein (Veda Hille). Understated and beautiful, the band features recent Montreal transplant Joshua Zubot violin and Russell Sholberg (Pugs & Crows) bass….
Louie Quinn Band with Special Guest Dutch Robinson
Louis Quinn is comprised of established top Vancouver jazz, funk, and blues musicians Doug Louie on piano and Dave Quinn on clarinet and saxophone. The band collaborate to write, perform,…
Louie Quinn Band with Special Guest Cecile LaRochelle
Louis Quinn is comprised of established top Vancouver jazz, funk, and blues musicians Doug Louie on piano and Dave Quinn on clarinet and saxophone. The band collaborate to write, perform,…
Cory Weeds Little Big Band Explosion
…soulful big band project. From New York, guests trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, trombonist Steve Davis (2013’s Let’s Go), and baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, a 30-year veteran of the world famous Vanguard…
Cory Weeds Little Big Band Explosion
…soulful big band project. From New York, guests trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, trombonist Steve Davis (2013’s Let’s Go), and baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, a 30-year veteran of the world famous Vanguard…
Gig List: May 6
…Guitar Month! Only $10 cover. Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm) “Fingers”—as guitarist Oliver Gannon is often referred to is fresh off the release of his third record as a bandleader. The…
Company B Jazz Band
Equal parts sassy and sweet, the seven-piece Company B Jazz Band blends old time jazz and swing with lush, pitch perfect melodies, and an infectious sense of fun. Classic repertoire…
Louie Quinn Band with Special Guest Dutch Robinson
Louis Quinn is comprised of established top Vancouver jazz, funk, and blues musicians Doug Louie on piano and Dave Quinn on clarinet and saxophone. The band collaborate to write, perform,…
Guilt & Co.
…Funk Ensemble celebrates the amazing variety of music that has grown out of the Jazz, Blues and Snazzy Grooves in New Orleans. The 9 member band includes a 3-piece horn…
Terminal City Brass Band
Formed in 2016, as one of the late, great Ouisi Bistro’s house bands, Terminal City Brass Band plays a full-on range of good vibes, from trad jazz and to funk…
Donny McCaslin and his Band
“If you want to hear how David Bowie still casts a spell over fellow musicians from the great unknown, here’s a prime exhibit.”—The Times Having collaborated on Bowie’s final album,…
Bradley / McGillivray Blues Band
Led by groove, improv and raw, unadulterated emotion, the Bradley/McGillivray Blues Band blend blues, jazz, Motown, and gospel into its own hip brand of soul. Ruth’s a singer you don’t…
LowDown Brass Band
LowDown Brass Band (LDB) deftly synthesizes the gritty sounds of Chicago with the high energy street beat of the Crescent City. Combining the poetic ferocity of Billa Camp with stellar…
Downtown Jazz
…school together and his jokes made some of those early morning classes a little more tolerable. Ghost-Note (Georgia Stage, 7:30pm) We had the odd pleasure of hearing this band perform…
Bill Runge Band
…quintet features some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians performing original music from Bill’s solo projects and a variety of favourite tunes from the likes of Steps Ahead, Weather Report, and…
MUSIC NERDDOM AND JEFF PARKER
…gotten into Jeff Parker and many of these other artists. But it’s a lot more fun to think about all of it—dozens of records, CDs and shows—originating from that one…
Robin Layne Band
A world traveller and passionate student of rhythm, award-winning composer/marimba player Robin Layne’s irresistibly uplifting, dance floor-filling mix of jazz, Latin and African traditions evokes memories of summer days full…
THE GENIUS OF JOHN BEASLEY
…in that band. Beasley brings the whole orchestral palette of sounds to bear on some of the same compositions incorporating innovations of Gil Evans and Thad Jones. But he still…
The Butter and Egg Band
Hot enough to melt her butter and fry his eggs. Traditional Jazz influenced by Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Preservation Hall and Louis Prima.
This Year’s Crowd Pleasers
…crowd-pleasing acts at this year’s festival – bands that prove that popular can also mean good. The Nightcrawlers Ocean Artworks June 25, 8:30PM This band of local heroes has been…
Festival Artists Who Defy Boundaries
…description. Irreversible Entanglements Irreversible Entanglements are one of the biggest success stories of the creative music scene over the last decade or so, with their utterly unique blend of…
The Peggy Lee Band
…musics. Even during the moments of dissonance, there’s a peaceful flow that borders on enchantment” (Bandcamp Daily). Formed in 1998, this melody-driven ensemble is cellist Peggy Lee’s vehicle for exploring…
Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints
…of mid-20th century American music – from americana to blues to jazz, soul and vintage rock ’n’ roll – the versatile Seattle-based band offers a rangy dial’s worth of songs…
Arntzen Classic Jazz Band
Lloyd and Tom Arntzen team up to create plenty of rhythm and swing with this show! BC Entertainment Hall of Fame member Lloyd Arntzen (clarinet, soprano sax, vocals) is a…
Bradley / McGillivray Blues Band
Led by groove, improv and raw, unadulterated emotion, Bradley/McGillivray blend blues, jazz, Motown and gospel into their own hip brand of soul. Ruth’s a singer you don’t want to miss-captivating,…
Festival Focus: Saxophonists
…him to Vancouver for this festival, leading a band comprised of some of Turkey’s finest musicians. His sound has a lot in common with that of Shabaka Hutchings, and fans…
Sounds of Youth: Day 2
…Schedule: 1:00pm – R.E. Mountain Secondary Senior Jazz Band 2:15pm – Alpha Secondary Senior Jazz Band 3:30pm – MEI Secondary Senior Jazz Band 4:45pm – Langley Fine Arts Secondary Senior…
Downtown Jazz – Saturday Line Up
…1-2pm: Kwalikum Secondary School Band 2-3pm: Burnaby North Senior Band 3-4pm: West Vancouver Secondary Jazz Band 4-5pm: VSO School of Music Big Band 9:30pm: Documentary Film Screening, presented with DOXA…
Bradley/McGillivray Blues Band
Led by groove, improv and raw, unadulterated emotion, Bradley/McGillivray blend blues, jazz, Motown and gospel into their own hip brand of soul. Ruth’s a singer you don’t want to miss-captivating,…
Steve Kozak Band
…Artist or Group of the Year in 2012 and the group was nominated for a 2017 Western Canadian Music Award as Blues Artist of the Year by Break Out West….
Colin Sankey Band
Colin Sankey is a bassist, composer, and arranger from Vancouver whose use of extended techniques, such as tapping and harmonics, creates lush harmonies and infectious grooves that sound almost orchestral,…
Good Noise Gospel Band
Joining forces once again with gospel singer Crystal Hicks, the musicians of the dynamic Good Noise Gospel Choir featuring Artistic Director Gail Suderman, Michael Kalanj, Elliot Polsky, Laurence Mollerup and…
Greta Matassa Band
One of the most talented singers working in jazz today, Greta Matassa has been voted Northwest Vocalist of the Year by Earshot Jazz seven times in 15 years, and honoured…
Greta Matassa Band
One of the most talented singers working in jazz today, Greta Matassa has been voted Northwest Vocalist of the Year by Earshot Jazz seven times in 15 years, and honored…
The Stephen Nikleva Band
After years of side man work with many of Canada’s diverse artists including recording & touring with Sarah McLachlan, producing records for Dan Mangan & Veda Hille, and touring the…
Black Top Blues Band
Saxophonist John Paton leads a stomping, electric quintet of Vancouver players through classic blues material by artists such as Magic Sam, Ronnie Earl, and Little Walter. With Sam King vocals/harmonica/guitar,…
The Jerry Douglas Band
…in collaborations with Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss and Union Station, and The Earls of Leicester. An outright virtuoso, Douglas has absorbed and transcended the conventions of bluegrass, country, jazz, blues,…
Tim Berne – A Leader in the Downtown Scene
Memories of a distant past At this stage of the game it feels like I’ve known Tim Berne (as a friend and long time fan) for a huge swath of…
Monkey Bar Band
…+ electric bass ) joined in 2015. A few of the many bands they cover include: Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, Radiohead, REM, Ben Harper…
John Korsrud Latin Band
An evening of high-energy Latin-jazz standards and originals featuring John Korsrud trumpet, Dave Say saxophones, Andre Carrasquero piano, Allan Johnston bass, and Juan Encinales drums.
Andy Hunter-James Danderfer Quartet
…directing the “Mambísimo Big Band,” a Mambo Big Band conjuring the era of dance music inspired by Tito Puente’s classic big band. With James Danderfer clarinet/saxophone, Conrad Good bass, and…
Bradley/McGillivray Blues Band
…is rounded out by an inventive rhythm section. Expect a setlist of original tunes and signature versions of old favourites. November Artist In Residence Steve Kaldestad will return next Wednesday….
Christie Grace Band
Known for moving audiences with her sweet honey voice and smooth phrasing, Christie Grace performs jazz standards, Joni Mitchell classics and original compositions that infuse modern jazz with pop, folk,…
Anthem Sounds of Youth Stage
…Band 1PM | Kwalikum Secondary School Band 2PM | Burnaby North Senior Band 3PM | West Vancouver Secondary Jazz Band 4PM | VSO School of Music Big Band Presented by:…
Blowout Band
No chords and the truth—four of Vancouver’s finest musicians let loose on one of jazz’s purest forms: the chordless horns/bass/drums group. Brad Turner trumpet, Jon Bentley sax, André Lachance bass,…
Gig List: Feb 25
…of choral, jazz, and pop music in collaboration with one of Canada’s best-known jazz artists, Jodi Proznick, and her handpicked band. An unforgettable exploration of fascinating rhythms and treasured melodies….
John Korsrud Latin Band
John Korsrud Latin Quintet plays high-energy, high-groove music from Cuba and South America, featuring tunes by composers such as Eddie Palmieri, Chucho Valdez, and Arturo Sandoval. With John Korsrud trumpet,…
Gig of the Week: February 10-16
…Reinert is a Vancouver-based writer and broadcaster who worked in the music retail industry for over 15 years. He is the current president of the board of directors of the…
Tim Reinert’s Top 10 Most Memorable Jazz Fest Gigs
…the beginning of my interest in large jazz ensembles, which continues to this day. Vincent Herring Quintet – Pyatt Hall (2018) One of my favourite parts of Jazz Fest…
Gig List: Feb 11
…Joni Mitchell. Valentines Day with Black Gardenia Featuring Daphne Roubini Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm) Black Gardenia is a different kind of vintage jazz band. Their exploration of the mysterious place…
Sounds of Youth: Day 1
…Secondary Senior Jazz Band 4:45pm – Grandview Heights Secondary Senior Jazz Band 6:00pm – Semiahmoo Secondary Senior Jazz Band With additional support from Anthem Properties and Tom Lee Music….
Downtown Jazz – Sunday Line up
…Cousin Harley Sounds of Youth Stage: 12-1pm: Earl Marriott Senior Band 1-2pm: McRoberts Secondary School Combo 2-3pm: Fleetwood Park Senior Band 3-4pm: Seaquam Senior Band 4-5pm: Wellington Senior Jazz Band…
Gig List: Jan 14
…Meek Centre (7:30pm) Joining for an evening of tribute to ‘The Bands’ 50th anniversary, Dustbowl Revival blends folk-Americana and Stax-era soul, while Hot Club of Cowtown combines hot jazz with…
NEXT GENERATION OF JAZZ & BEYOND
…trumpet player, and Thad carries the family tradition with flair and skill. One of the bright lights of the latest generation of artists to graduate from the Jazz Studies program…
Gig List: Jan 21
…Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm) The multi-talented Say plays in a diverse number of bands ranging from jazz, R&B, funk, and big band. Known for his soulful melodic sound and powerhouse…
Guitars (and a dobro) at the Festival: Part One
…a great of example of just that: https://youtu.be/t-ReVx3QttA Lage is at Performance Works June 26 and missing him would mean missing one of the true highlights of the festival. Marc…
Sounds of Youth
Come hear the Sounds of Youth! This initiative is dedicated to showcasing some of Metro Vancouver’s best high school jazz combos and big bands. It’s always a highlight of Downtown…
Anthem Sounds of Youth Stage
Come hear the Sounds of Youth! This initiative is dedicated to showcasing some of Metro Vancouver’s best high school jazz combos and big bands. It’s always a highlight of Downtown…
The Class of 2018…. TD High School Jazz Intensive
…music studies. TD High School Jazz Intensive band members will also receive generous awards from our program sponsor, TD Bank. These talented teens are worthy of investment and we are…
Gig of the Week: February 3-9
…“One of the things that annoyed me most when I moved to Vancouver was the amount of people saying that they play authentic New Orleanian music. What does that even…
Hudson’s Powerhouse Players Unite on Tour
When I hear the term supergroup, I cringe. More often than not what passes for a supergroup turns out to be a collection of famous solo artists with king size…
SubCurrent
Inspired by keyboard-bass bands such as Chris Potter’s Underground Band; Joshua Redman’s Elastic Band; Medeski, Martin, and Wood; and Soulive; subCurrent explores a variety of modern funk and jazz fusion…
Leenalchi
“Sometimes haunting, often hilarious, always highly expressive, Leenalchi’s radical arrangements, and the inspired deliveries of the band’s five sorriggun (traditional singers) amount to one of the most impressive episodes of…
STILL PUSHING MUSICAL BOUNDARIES
…are extremely proud of our role in the development of and growth of our city.” These words are just as relevant today as we celebrate our 40th year We are…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 25: Alvaro Rojas
…film music, chamber music, electronic music, and a bunch of other stuff. The music I’m writing now is the product of all these experiences of course, and I find the…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 6: Colin Cowan
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Around the World in Five Concerts
…group was today’s gift. The purity of anger, of seeking, of breaking through the bones of the earth like rivers and fires. I felt so free through the voice and…
Gig of the Week: Feb 17-23
…Hol starts things off at 8pm with a band full of local R&B and Soul hotshots. People are still buzzing from her crisp set of 60s soul-influenced groovers at Jazz…
Hidden Gems in the Free Program
“A million gemstones falling down our stairwell” – Chad VanGaalen Aside from Dan Gaucher’s drumming, Chad VanGaalen is probably one of my favourite things to come out of Calgary. Unfortunately…
Gig List: August 27
…29 Rumba Calzada Frankie’s Jazz Club (8pm) Playing sold out shows across Canada, US, and Asia, Canada’s tightest Latin band, Rumba Calzada, is our treat this Wednesday as part of…
Gig List: Dec 3
…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…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 16: Anita Eccleston
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Festival Focus: Trumpets
…at Pyatt Hall this year. Brad Turner, with his Pacific band (The Roundhouse, June 30. IT’S FREEEE!) Turner has been one of the cornerstones of the Vancouver jazz scene for…
Herbie Hancock – Restless Explorer
…acoustic jazz. A favourite album of mine is River: The Joni Letters, a fascinating collection of jazz renderings of Joni Mitchell compositions released in 2007 on which Herbie collaborates with…
JAZZ MUSIC HAS A MAJOR MOMENT
…the good news of bringing in a younger demographic to a never-ending world of jazz. In fact, youth was a big theme that year. As a Harvard sophomore, Mark Zuckerberg…
Ladies Sing The Blues
…Barton bass and Darrell Mayes drums. This show has become an audience favourite, and brings together four of Canada’s premiere singers, all together onstage with a band of top session…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 19: Jesus Caballero
…a recording you’d like to promote)? Where can people get it? My latest recording is a demo/EP with the local band Omianan–a creative band that plays a collaboration of original…
The Straight-Ahead Scene: Jazz at Pyatt Hall & Frankie’s Jazz Club
My love of and dedication, to all things straight-ahead, has been well documented. The torch bearers of this great music sometimes receive less critical attention than purveyors of innovation, but…
The Gig List: Sept 10
…(8pm) From the smoke and burlesque of Berlin to the sleek sophistication of New York, Moderne Frau brings to life the daring of Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker, and Margot Lion…
Dueling Pianos with Mike Van Eyes & Coris Aeven
…roles in the city’s legendary R&B troupe, The Epics – and the all-star band of rockers, The Trespassers, with members of DOA and the Scramblers, to his past stints with…
Gig List: Mar 4
…of the finest jazz musicians in the city. Petunia & The Vipers Residency WISE Lounge (8pm) Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie’s hobo junction is just one way of…
Steve Kozak
…a Western Canadian Music Award as Blues Artist of the Year in 2017 and 2018. The Steve Kozak Band features: Steve Kozak guitar/vocal, Michael Kalanj piano/organ (Powder Blues Band, Jim…
Guitars at the Festival: Part Two, the Local scene
…two innovative Vancouver bands, SICK BOSS and the Juno Award-winning Pugs & Crows, both of whom are playing the festival. Schmidt is an example of what the festival can offer…
Valentines Day with Black Gardenia featuring Daphne Roubini
Black Gardenia is a different kind of vintage jazz band. Their exploration of the mysterious place where jazz, blues, folk and old country meet has yielded a sound that takes…
Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters
…been, and he ruminates on where he—and our world—might be headed. Bittersweet songs of love remembered and of time passing, are juxtaposed against cautionary tales, of people and nations that…
TO THE BEAT OF – JAZZ?
…Deal. Big band lovers were indulged with Legends of the Bandstand, a quintet of jazz elders featuring Hank Jones, Curtis Fuller, Gary Bartz, Ray Drummond, and Louis Hayes. Other legends…
Gig List: May 13
…delights listeners, will be presented in her effortless vocal style with a bit of humour and patter thrown into the mix. Accompanying Helen is a ‘ringer’ of a band of…
FESTIVAL TALES: ARTIST ENCOUNTERS
…of you that don’t know, he’s self taught and extolled the values of being a lifelong learner—as most musicians are. That’s the fun and most humbling part of playing improvised…
Sounds that Swing at the Jazz Festival
…to look at the schedule of this year’s Jazz Festival is to look at a map of a genre…lots of different places to go, and they all connect. Kind of….
CANCELLED: Kutapira
…25-30, who started playing this fusion of world music when they were kids over 15 years ago. At the core of this band is the marimba music of Zimbabwe, fused…
10 Days & 150 Free Shows!
…an explosion of funk! Versatility is one of the band’s hallmarks. Red Baraat can mesmerize an audience with a funk groove, turn a switch, and drive the same crowd to…
It’s a French Fries and Champagne Party
…an authentic portrayal of the band, containing high-culture baroque-esque elements in some songs, and up-tempo hot jazz elements in other songs that are reflective of their Brooklyn roots. The album…
Gig List: Oct 29
…Tim Stacey (bass), and guest singers Dalannah Gail Bowen and Thelma Gibson. A part of the DTES Heart of the City Festival. Hip Pocket presents The Scary Sounds of New…
International Harmonies at The Festival
…of ancient songs (known as Yolngu) of the Australian Manikay people, some of which are thousands, and possibly tens of thousands of years old. Co-led by Daniel Wilfred and Sunny…
Emerging Artists at the 2019 Jazz Festival
…education. This year, 5 high school jazz bands comprised of some of the best young musicians in Metro Vancouver, have an opportunity to play as part of the festival. If…
Gig List: May 22
…PM Revue Stage 1601 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9 Often described as the “Patriarch of Czech jazz piano,” pianist and composer Emil Viklický has performed in the USA, Canada,…
Matt Mitchell’s tribute to Tim Berne
…somewhat of an endurance test! But it was cool *smile* with a full house, packed with lots of familiar faces and plenty of new ones (to me) as well. For…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 1: Peggy Lee
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
A New Appreciation of Jazz
…of the most imaginative and exciting piano trios of the day. A Spotlight on French Jazz offered up French American Peace Ensemble, featuring Francois Tusques joined by three French improvisers….
Dabin Ryu Workshop
Dabin Ryu is an award-winning NYC-based jazz pianist and composer from Seoul, South Korea. She holds a BMus from Berklee College of Music, a Master of Music from the Manhattan…
Rumba Calzada
…New York Countless tours, festivals and sold-out shows across Canada, the US, Malaysia, and the Philippines have earned Rumba Calzada the title of Canada’s tightest Latin band. Originally formed in…
CANCELLED: Ladies Sing the Blues
…Harris, and Amanda Dean backed by Bandleader Rob Montgomery and his All-Star Band with Steve Werbicki, Dave Barton and Darrell Mayes. This show brings 4 of Canada’s finest lady singers…
Happy Holidays!
…a definitive jazz hit version of “Little Drummer Boy”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei1O04PlDHM “Christmas Celebration” B.B. King – A Christmas Celebration of Hope A Christmas Celebration of Hope is the 39th studio album…
North Shore Jazz
…long summer nights and 10 days of eclectic, energizing and exhilarating music throughout Vancouver and the North Shore, both free and ticketed. The NSJ Series kicks off with Briga and…
WHY WE SUPPORT: Inspired by Giving Tuesday
…some really, really, really dynamic and interesting people whom I became a colleague of and hopefully a friend of. I choose Coastal Jazz to be the active volunteerism of my…
Robin Layne
…and pursued his studies in LA, Cuba, Mexico and West Africa. Inspired by his global travels, Robin’s music evokes memories of summer days full of adventure and playfulness. Since forming…
Festival Artists Reinventing the Jazz Genre
…callback to the years where our Jazz Festival was dominated by Scandinavians. Alto saxophonist Signe Emmeluth is another great example of that, and her Amoeba band is full of Norwegians…
Mike WT Allen’s Space Elevator
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the 20-person jazz-metal powerhouse that is Space Elevator channels Mike WT Allen’s ideas of what big band music can sound like in the modern age…and it…
SOLD OUT Steve Maddock and The Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra play Sinatra at The Sands – Late Show
…occasion, jazz vocalist extraordinaire Steve Maddock joins the ensemble as they pay tribute to the classic sounds of Frank Sinatra with the Count Basie Big Band, who originally recorded definitive…
Idle Moon
Featuring members of Miami Device, Pugs & Crows, and Jasper Sloan Yip’s band, the new Vancouver instrumental soul/groove band Idle Moon takes funky inspiration from The Meters, Mulatu Astatke, and…
The Matinee
The Matinee’s words paint an apt depiction of how we’ve all felt these past few years. Having suddenly had time at home, the band could have easily found themselves passing…
Vancouver Youth Jazz Orchestra
…the opportunity to cultivate their talents and networks through mentorship by a professional band director and members of the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra over five weeks of rehearsals in May-June. The…
Rumba Calzada
Countless tours, festivals, and sold out shows across Canada, the US, and Asia have earned Rumba Calzada the title of Canada’s tightest Latin band. Originally formed in 1991 by Boying…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 4: Aram Bajakian
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
72 Bands in 12 Days
…I clearly make terrible life choices. Needless to say, I saw a lot of great shows. Dozens of great shows, in fact. To make a list of the “best” shows…
Song Form // Less: Sean Cronin // Patrick Shiroishi
…as Harry Partch, John Prine, and Jelly Roll Morton. His current band, Gory Dove, is an anagram of his former band, Very Good. In each performance he integrates his loves…
The Ironworks
Since the very beginnings of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Coastal Jazz has dedicated a healthy amount of programming to music that doesn’t always conform to traditional expectations of what…
Way North
The best kind of musical collaboration is born out of the joy of playing together and Way North is the perfect example of that. The band brings together four musicians…
Ivan Hartle
…inspiration from the classic soul sounds of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, and newer artists like John Mayer and Leon Bridges. His smooth danceable grooves also recall 1990s band Jamiroquai….
Festival Focus: Pianists
…the top of the list of my favourite albums of 2019. Eric Reed, as part of Eric Alexander’s Quartet (Pyatt Hall, June 26 – Early show; Late show) If there’s…
Blue Moon Marqee
Stemming from the Badlands of the Rocky Mountain prairies, Blue Moon Marquee is a self-styled gypsy blues band. This authentic duo writes and performs original compositions influenced by early blues,…
Feven Kidane Plays Dido & The Handpeople
…this performance offers a rare opportunity to celebrate the iconic sounds of one of Vancouver’s most vibrant and important ensembles. With Biboye Onanuga drums, Yoro Noukoussi percussion, Jonny Tobin synths,…
Vancouver Legacy Jazz Orchestra: Tribute to Gerry Mulligan
Founded by Michael Kim and Fred Stride in 2015, Vancouver Legacy Jazz Orchestra plays tribute to the world’s greatest big band composers, the likes of Rob McConnell, Thad Jones, Oliver…
Rumba Calzada
…recorded four albums with an array of nominations and awards, including a Juno Award (World Music Album of the Year), Westcoast Music Awards (Outstanding World Recording of the Year) and…
Ryan McNally
Whether he’s playing with his own solo band or other various outfits, he can’t be kept off Canadian stages. Ryan puts most of his energy in his passion for studying…
The Show Must Go On
…see the likes of jazz icon Wayne Shorter Quartet with a bona fide supergroup of players, Joshua Redman’s Elastic Band, Patricia Barber, John Scofield, and Medeski Martin & Wood. Wayne…
Louisiana Joymakers
Louisiana Joymakers made its debut appearance at Frankie’s Jazz Club last year and it’s great to have the band return to our stage to play a mix of well known…
The Reinvention of The Bad Plus
…made them one of the most talked about groups of the early 2000s. It’s safe to say that without trailblazers like The Bad Plus and E.S.T., groups like GoGo Penguin…
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
…Band at 8 years old, and the New Orleans Philharmonic by 12. He moved to New York in ‘79, fresh out of high school, and quickly traded his Julliard plans…
Gig List: Oct 1st
…School of Music (noon) Six-time Juno nominee John Stetch pushes the boundaries of classical and jazz. Improvising over some of the great works of Chopin, Bach, and Mozart, some classic…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 12: Meredith Bates
…be releasing our first album of Afro-Peruvian-avant garde jazz tunes soon. It’s a huge band of heavy hitters and the music is out of this world, groovy and challenging, and…
Swim Team
Post-punk urgency, engaging indie-prog song structures, artful sonic layering, and hooks a pop band would kill for. A Vancouver band to keep an eye and two ears on, Swim Team…
Vancouver Jazz Orchestra Plays Dave Robbins Happy Faces
Under the direction of saxophonist/clarinetist James Danderfer, the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra (VJO) features an array of the city’s finest jazz artists. The VJO is dedicated to the presentation of classic…
Everybody loves singers: Roberta Gambarini, Morgan James, Maya Rae, Macy Gray, and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrWZftYkt04 Whether it’s Roberta Gambarini’s skilled vocal technique or the powerhouse vocals of Morgan James, Maya Rae’s chops beyond her years or Macy Gray’s raspy, soulful edge… each of these…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 13: Stephen Lyons
…kind of dips and spreads are available. Limbs of the Stars is more of a Russian rye bread, I’d say. Darker. More of a slow chew. Just a hint of…
Mazacote
MAZACOTE is a hard-hitting world Latin party band playing brass soaked tropical dance beats. Inspired by the sounds of Colombia, Mozambique, and Nicaragua – they weave driving rhythms and heavy…
Unusual Instruments at Jazz Fest
…Jazz Festival has plenty of traditional instrumentation, with the expected trios, quartets, and big bands, but there are also a handful of unusual instruments making appearances throughout the week. If…
Late Nights for Cool People: Ironworks, China Cloud and Jam
Years ago, I heard a band of Bill Frisell’s at our festival. Before starting his second encore, he stepped up to the mic and asked, “Where do you get your…
The Skaky Alibis
The Shaky Alibis are a Vancouver based rock and roll band. The band consists of Christopher Johnson, Jan Toren, Dave Manson, and recent addition, Tobacco Brown. Since forming in late…
Rumba Calzada
…Geronimo, Vancouver’s Rumba Calzada is an eclectic, powerful mix of salsa, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Stirring up a mesmerizing Caribbean musical fusion, this JUNO-nominated “world class Latin band” (The Province)…
Review: Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jazz at Lincoln Center
…enough to catch a pre-covid performance of Ogresse in New York at Rose Hall and wrote about it here. Ogresse is a Brothers Grimm-style fable that tells of a ravenous…
Downtown Jazz
…the heels of nominations for the 2018 Polaris Prize and the 2019 JUNO for Indigenous Music Album of the Year, and they show no signs of stopping. The hip-hop duo…
Wild Blue Herons
“I had the great pleasure of getting to hear my dear friend and colleague, Bill Sample, and the band WBH a couple of months back. It was a treat from…
Mazacote
Mazacote is a hard-hitting world latin party band playing brass-soaked tropical dance beats. Inspired by the sounds of Colombia, Mozambique and Nicaragua, they weave driving rhythms and heavy groove with…
Black BC Artists Whose Music You Should Purchase (and Stream!)
…when you cannot buy tickets for in-person concerts (the sales of which account for anywhere from 70-95% of artists’ income), one of the most impactful ways you can support artists…
Broken Shadows
Named for one of Ornette Coleman’s most evocative compositions, this all-star project honours the Coleman legacy along with the music of Coleman’s fellow Fort Worth native reed players Dewey Redman…
Steelin’ in the Years
“Is this Vancouver’s best cover band?” We hear you, Vancouver Sun. Steelin’ in the Years, a Steely Dan cover band based in the Lower Mainland, is 11 members strong and…
THE DAWN OF DAVID LAM PARK
…like Coastal Jazz. This December 3rd is Giving Tuesday, which kicks off our end of year fundraising campaign. With your support, Coastal Jazz can remain a vital part of Vancouver’s…
Missy D + CAST
…and rapping since age 11, Missy fuses her musical heritage with hip hop, soul, and R&B. Her dizzyingly diverse sense of genre is matched by her stellar band: Ian Cardona…
Live @ 295! The Bundle
…guitarist/bassist of Amsterdam’s wildly improvisational and wonderfully confrontational Cactus Truck. He plays guitar, bass and mandolin in bands such as PolyBand, Blood Cloud, Spinifex, Made to Break, Shelter, Balconies, Bazooka,…
The Roots
…bands around by Rolling Stone and serve as the official house band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Forsaking usual hip-hop protocol, they are endlessly creative, whether with their…
Steve Kozak
…2013, Kozak was awarded with a prestigious Maple Blues Award for New Artist or Group of the Year in Canada by the Toronto Blues Society. The Steve Kozak Band has…
Chopping Spree!
A post-fusion band that thrives in the highest-energy pockets of Vancouver’s live music scene, Chopping Spree! makes every show a must-see see with their intensely fun stage presence and captivating…
Jazz at Pyatt Hall
…International Jazz Festival debut on June 25, with her own band full of Canadian heavy hitters. Has anybody made more of a splash on the international jazz scene in the…
Bonobo
Bonobo’s rise has been stealthy but unstoppable, and Si Green, the man behind it all, is now one of the biggest electronic artists of our time. His subtle, emotional, ambiguous…
Gig List: July 23
…well as workshops, panels, and youth mentorships. The goal of this symposium is to foster and disseminate feminist content through the cross-pollination of ideas, and intergenerational knowledge sharing. By offering…
Dave Say’s Soul Serenade
Known for his soulful melodic sound and powerhouse improvisation, the multi-talented Say plays in a diverse number of bands ranging from jazz, R&B, funk, and big band. His latest project…
Tim’s Picks – Must-See Free Shows
…not more) over the decades. Featuring some of the heaviest of Vancouver’s heavy hitters, this group has recorded six albums of the some of the finest jazz/folk/chamber music you’ll ever…
Bruno Hubert Trio with Brad Turner
…won a National Jazz Award for Composer of the Year, Musician of the Year, Trumpeter of the Year, Producer of the Year, and the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award, among many…
Black Gardenia featuring Daphne Roubini
…all” —Georgia Straight Jazz meets Americana in a different kind of vintage band. Blending reinterpreted classics with vintage-inspired originals, the band’s sound proves that cool is always classy and noir…
JAZZ FEST IS A SMASH
…Event in the Straight’s Best of Vancouver Awards that year. The paper noted, “Vancouverites on the tightest of budgets can enjoy several hours of top-quality music, absolutely free, every day…
COASTAL CREATES A MUSICAL UNIVERSE
…again the Festival presents diverse musical influences within the genre, from the free jazz piano of Marilyn Crispell to the big band ersatz swing of Vancouver’s Jazzmanian Devils.” As it…
Rumba Calzada
Countless tours, festivals and sold out shows across Canada, the US, and Asia have earned Rumba Calzada the title of Canada’s tightest Latin band. Originally formed in 1991 by Boying…
The Dog Ears
The band is composed of experienced, Vancouver-based musicians with a wide range of musical backgrounds and influences. The band plays a mixture of Jazz Standards, Swing, R&B and Blues. Les…
Kirk MacDonald Quartet featuring Harold Mabern
This great band features acclaimed Toronto-based saxophonist/composer Kirk MacDonald and the legendary American pianist Harold Mabern, joined by bassist Kieran Overs and Vancouver drummer Jesse Cahill. The quartet plays original…
Kirk MacDonald Quartet featuring Harold Mabern
This great band features acclaimed Toronto-based saxophonist/composer Kirk MacDonald and the legendary American pianist Harold Mabern, joined by bassist Kieran Overs and Vancouver drummer Jesse Cahill. The quartet plays original…
Adam Robert Thomas Trio
Adam Robert Thomas performs a diverse array of music from favourite radio hits of this year all the way back to music from the jazz and big band era, and…
THE WONDERFUL CHAOS OF JAZZ
…in our office – head to Instagram for a peek.) The world was still reeling in the wake of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. Coastal Jazz paid tribute to the birthplace of…
10 Phenomenal Women at the 2019 Jazz Festival
…to highlight some of the women performing at the festival this year, I leapt. This post will walk through some of the recent history of women-led bands in festivals, and…
Juhli Conlinn Trio: A Tribute to Edith Piaf
Juhli Conlinn’s fascination with the evocative music of Edith Piaf began during her teenage years. Since completing her Bachelor of Jazz Studies, she has illuminated countless stages of various sizes,…
Rumba Calzada
Countless tours, festivals and sold out shows across Canada, the US, and Asia have earned Rumba Calzada the title of Canada’s tightest Latin band. Originally formed in 1991 by Boying…
John Gross Trio
John Gross is a master of saxophone multiphonics, Vancouver-based American tenorist John Gross has worked with Billy Mintz, Tony Malaby, and Lionel Hampton. Saxophone Journal called him “a phenomenon of…
Jaelem Bhate Jazz Orchestra
…Celebrate the release of his debut album, his 8 arrangements of Bizet’s Carmen for jazz orchestra, and a preview of what’s next. Saxophones: Brent Mah, Mo Miao, Eli Bennett, Jackosn…
Scott Smith and The Evil Ways: A Celebration of the Music of Santana
Honouring the lineup of the original Santana band that stunned the world with their legendary appearance at Woodstock, Scott Smith and the Evil Ways features the breathtaking guitar chops of…
Jack Garton & the Demon Squadron
Steeped in the solitude of the mountains and islands of the Pacific Northwest, raised in the boisterous and irreverent East Vancouver arts community, Jack Garton’s music is a dance party…
SOLD OUT Steve Maddock and The Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra play Sinatra at The Sands – Early Show
…occasion, jazz vocalist extraordinaire Steve Maddock joins the ensemble as they pay tribute to the classic sounds of Frank Sinatra with the Count Basie Big Band, who originally recorded definitive…
Celebrating Canada Day At Granville Island Jazz!
I had loads of fun at Granville Island Jazz on Canada Day last year. The sun was shining, Granville Island was bustling with all of the Canada Day celebrations, there…
Guilt & Co.
Join us for eleven nights of music at Guilt & Co. Shows: 3 sets starting at 9:30 or 10:00 Here are the shows: Friday, June 21: Lowdown Brass Band Saturday,…
Festival Playlists 2019
…playlists to scratch your musical itch and give you a solid preview of what you can expect. Why not follow us on Spotify, and never miss curated lists of the…
John Beasley’s MONK’estra Septet
…vivid, genre-blind 21st century treatment that renowned jazz critic Don Heckman called “some of the most mesmerizing big band music of recent memory.” Over the past three decades, GRAMMY Award-winner…
JAZZ BECOMES LEGEND
…Wayne’s love of small-group improvisation. Tim Berne brought a “challenging program” with his band Bloodcount at Ironworks. Ken was also proud of bringing together two ensembles that had been successfully…
Kelby MacNayr Quintet
…spirit and magic of Art Blakey was born. For this special concert celebrating centennial of Art’s birth and the timeless spirit and of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the renowned drummer…
The Gig List: April 9
…organ, Brad Turner drums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HYjCRkYRUg New York Standards Quartet Friday, April 13, 8pm Frankie’s Jazz Club, 755 Beatty Street, Vancouver A collaborative band of jazz stalwarts, the New York Standards…
Thad Bailey-Mai Trio
…in numerous festivals and venues in Canada. Having a diverse musical background, Thad’s performances evoke a colourful mosaic of harmonic choices, all while remaining deeply rooted in the traditions of…
Hugh Fraser’s VEJI
SOLD OUT! Chance of limited tickets at the door–note, we’re being extremely conservative about capacity, as there are a bazillion people in the band! One they’re all on stage, there…
Rumba Calzada
…son, Raphael Geronimo, the band has recorded four albums with an array of nominations and awards, including a Juno Award (World Music Album of the Year), Westcoast Music Awards (Outstanding…
Ring in 2018 with Mazacote
Say goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018 with Mazacote! Mazacote is a hard hitting six piece Latin dance band, playing horn-driven New York salsa dura and beats from Colombia,…
Texas Connection: The Davis-Danderfer Quintet
Professor of jazz drums at the world-renowned University of North Texas, Quincy Davis returns to Frankie’s with his long-time collaborator, Vancouver’s own James Danderfer on clarinet/saxophone. Featuring JUNO award winners…
Dave Say’s Soul Serenade
Known for his soulful melodic sound and powerhouse improvisation, the multi-talented Dave Say plays in a diverse number of bands ranging from jazz, R&B, funk, and big band. His latest…
San Pedro Cinco
San Pedro Cinco is a quintet of well-known Vancouver musicians. The band plays original cumbia, calypso, and other Latin jazz styles. They also play covers by jazz musicians such as…
Texas Connection: The Davis-Danderfer Quintet
Professor of jazz drums at the world-renowned University of North Texas, Quincy Davis returns to Frankie’s with his long-time collaborator, Vancouver’s own James Danderfer on clarinet/saxophone. Featuring JUNO award winners…
Q&A with Elizabeth Bougerol of The Hot Sardines
…music? Music was the constant. My grandad (Bobby Gimby) had an orchestra in the heydey of the big bands in Canada. He’s the first person I ever heard play an…
Red Baraat
…the ethnically diverse, eight-piece Brooklyn-based iTunes and Billboard World Music Chart-topping band’s hard-driving bhangra/funk/hip-hop fusion makes for “the best party band in years.”—NPR. Thanks to the Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation….
Gig List: May 28
…together many of the finest jazz musicians in the city. Guest musicians join host Sharon Minemoto for a great night of live jazz. Happy Hour specials at one of the…
Haleluya Hailu plays Ethiopia, directed by Feven Kidane
…for a night of shared cultural expression that highlights canonical works from the Ethiopian Golden Age of music, through to the popular music of the 1980s and ’90s. Inspired by…
Gig of the Week: March 9-15
…of the board of directors of the Vancouver Improvised Arts Society, and has been emceeing various jazz and improvised music shows for Coastal Jazz and other organizations for 25 years….
FESTIVAL TALES: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
…the greatest. I tried a wide variety of shifts. My best memory is from being an usher at Granville Island on Canada Day. The band playing the evening of Canada…
The Music of Alan Matheson
Originally, this evening was dedicated to the music of Clark Terry and featuring Vancouver jazz musician Alan Matheson on trumpet. Unfortunately, Alan very recently broke his arm and is not…
Geoff Claridge Quartet: Benny Goodman Tribute Gig
…a full big band in the height of the swing era. Tonight’s performance showcases the original quartet’s gorgeous ballads and unparalleled energy, whilst also encompassing the later talents of Charlie…
Alicia Hansen
…albums of original material, the newest of which was produced by Polaris-prize-winning producer Jesse Zubot, releasing this May. Her sublime band features Ben Brown (drums), James Meger (bass), Peggy Lee…
The Speakeasy Charm of Guilt & Co.
Wanting Qu | photo courtesy of Guilt & Co. By Zara Khan A must-see venue in the heart of Gastown that combines the charm of a New York City speakeasy…
Mike WT Allen’s Space Elevator
…jazz/metal/funk experimental powerhouse kicks up a loud, complex, and thrilling ruckus that one reviewer called “one of the most awe-inspiring demonstrations of musical prowess that I have ever experienced” (Discorder)….
VANCOUVER LANDS ON THE WORLD STAGE
…summer’s hottest movie. The band Boney M released The Best of 10 Years album, while a boy group called New Kids on the Block were birthed in a recording studio….
Bonnie Northgraves and the Big Loud
…turns heads and fills dance floors. Though rooted in the spirit of New Orleans, they love to take playful offramps to hot jazz takes on modern favourites. Whether you’re a…
Davina and The Vagabonds
With New Orleans charm, Memphis soul swagger, and tender gospel passages, Davina and The Vagabonds synthesize 100 years of American music with original tunes full of edgy nostalgia and fresh…
Brad Turner Trio
The internationally acclaimed Brad Turner Trio has been a mainstay on the Vancouver jazz scene since 1997. Drawing from a large repertoire of original compositions, and interpretations of standard tunes,…
Irreversible Entanglements
…April of 2015 at Musicians Against Police Brutality, a day of protest sound and discussion in Brooklyn. All were artists and activists of varying degrees: Philadelphia-based Ayewa and Neuringer, and…
Early Show: amarElas
…covers with their unique flair. Their repertoire spans a diverse range of Brazilian genres—including MPB, Samba, Forró, Bossa Nova, and more—offering audiences a taste of Brazillian musical richness and diversity….
The Rumble feat. Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.
On Mardi Gras, your eyes might feast on the intricate and elaborate beadwork of the Indians as they dance down the street, but the first thing you’ll hear when they…
Omianan
…challenging and enchanting debut album Paper Dream was released in February 2022, and the band was just nominated for Global Artist of the Year by the Western Canadian Music Awards!…
North Shore Jazz: Bringing you maverick music choices for 17 years!
…and out, to suit the tastes of most everyone. Kicking off the series on June 22 at the West Vancouver Memorial Library will be a free performance of the Delvon…
Simply Twisted
A six piece band dedicated to making music that is folky, funky and fun. Classic tunes that you’ve never heard before, crafted to make you move your feet and have…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 23: Shannon Scott
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Artist Interview: Sara Kim’s Watermill Project
…do so. How have you found the experience of using Korean traditional musical influences with non-Korean performers in the band? It’s been fun and inspiring to see what happens to…
The Cookers Quintet
An exciting straight-ahead collective of some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians, the Cookers Quintet represents the best of two worlds. Drawing largely on the straight-ahead, classic jazz tradition, the band…
Adam Robert Thomas
JUNO-nominated vocalist/guitarist Adam Robert Thomas’ deeply grooving music has elements of soul, R&B, funk, and jazz reminiscent of Ray Charles, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and The Meters. His top-shelf band…
David Ward presents ‘Propeller’
…name of soul music, collaboration and dance. The goal of Propeller is to unite, challenge and elevate the Vancouver music scene, bringing together music-loving audiences and today’s most soulful bands….
The New Marauderz
An energetic party band, playing a mix of retro rock/pop/new wave classics. Based in Vancouver they perform as a duo or trio and cover such artists as Dire straits, Elvis…
Oliver Gannon Trio
…will make up Gannon’s 4th record on Cellar Live! Gannon cites Barney Kessell and Wes Montgomery as formative models, of horn players as conceptual influences, and of Art Blakey’s music…
Thumbscrew
Royalty of Brooklyn’s avant-garde jazz scene, MacArthur Fellowship-winning guitarist Mary Halvorson, drummer/vibraphonist Tomas Fujiwara (Chris Speed), and bassist Michael Formanek (Tim Berne) all keep very, very busy with their myriad…
Bend Sinister
…tight playing” (Vancouver Sun) into their anthemic, feel-good, stadium-ready bangers. Their new album Foolish Games finds the band at their catchy, infectious best. Pump your fists and come sing along!…
Missy D
…Hill, and J. Cole. Now based in Vancouver, Missy D is a force of nature. A proud member of Laydy Jams, she was named Francophone Artist of the Year in…
Brad Turner Trio
…of the band have worked with Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Gary Bartz, Ingrid Jensen, Bill Frisell, Kenny Wheeler, Cedar Walton, Joanne Brakeen, Renee Rosnes, and John Scofield, among others. With…
Oliver Gannon Trio
…what will make up Gannon’s 4th record on Cellar Live! Gannon cites Barney Kessell and Wes Montgomery as formative models, of horn players as conceptual influences, and of Art Blakey’s…
Five Alarm Funk and Too Many Zooz – SOLD OUT
…featuring Leo P (of Too Many Zooz). Of course, they’re also all about inflatable sharks, costume changes, synchronized dance moves, tutus, sparkles, sequins and spandex, and all kinds of sweat-drenched…
Wayne Horvitz Electric Circus
…keys for this project, Horvitz uses “conduction” – in the tradition of Butch Morris – to guide players through a psychedelic montage of tight ensemble sections, full-on dance party grooves,…
Raashan Ahmad
Oakland singer/MC Raashan Ahmad makes feel-good, jazzy West Coast hip-hop that spreads the love while getting heads bobbing. This irresistible seven-piece band keeps things bumping, sun-kissed, and soulful. With Tony…
Sunny Jain
A product of the ever-evolving tastes and worldviews of a globalized generation, Sunny Jain is always at the tip of the cultural spear. Called the “Hendrix of dhol” by Manchester…
From New York: Champian Fulton
…simultaneously), along with a killer backing band. This is the type of traditional vocal/piano jazz that never goes out of style, perfect for an intimate setting and guaranteed to put…
Kristin Fung
…joy” (From The Intercom), Fung leads a four-piece band of Vancouver groovemasters through nu-retro sounds that invoke Aretha Franklin, Patrice Rushen, and Alicia Keys. With Jonny Tobin keyboards, JeanSe Le…
Kate Hammett-Vaughan: Art Songs For Improvisers
Ten Vancouver composers have provided original songs for intrepid, three-time JUNO Award-nominated vocalist Kate Hammett-Vaughan and her magnificent band to interpret. From Mark Armanini’s Asian-influenced melodies to Ron Samworth’s edgy…
Latin Music Sundays feat. Brejera
…music together. From this point on the band was serving up styles of traditional samba, baião, frevo and choro. Venturing into a mix of Mario Silva on 7 string guitar/vocals,…
INCOGNITO featuring Nadine States and Rob Montgomery
…sound of classic soul, R&B, and blues. Featuring the incredible vocals of soul dynamite Miss Nadine States along with vanguard of the Vancouver music scene & bandleader Rob Montgomery on…
Black Gardenia
Black Gardenia is a different kind of vintage jazz band – an exploration of the mysterious place where jazz, blues, folk and old country meet creating a sound that takes…
From New York: Champian Fulton
…simultaneously), along with a killer backing band. This is the type of traditional vocal/piano jazz that never goes out of style, perfect for an intimate setting and guaranteed to put…
Flat Earth Society
…1998, when artist, clarinetist, saxophonist, keyboard player, composer, and producer Peter Vermeersch wanted to explore new horizons. Peter assembled a pack of inspired and inimitable musicians, forming a big band…
Étran de L’Aïr
Étran de L’Aïr (or “stars of the Aïr region”) have been stars of the wedding circuit around Agadez, Niger, since forming in 1995, when current band leader Moussa “Abindi” Ibra…
Ndidi O
Ndidi O’s remarkable seventh studio album, It’s About Time, merges riveting alt-country, jazzy blues, and Irish traditional elements – it was recorded in Cork, Ireland, and features members of Irish…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 27: Sara Kim
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Locarno
Locarno draws on folk traditions mostly from Latin America, but also from Africa, as well contemporary pop and soul to concoct the joyful, danceable tunes played by the six-piece band….
Mike Allen Quartet
Saxophonist Mike Allen and his band perform an array of well-loved jazz classics by great bandleaders like Horace Silver (Song For My Father, Nica’s Dream, Peace), Duke Ellington (Chelsea Bridge,…
Flat Earth Society plays live score to “The Oyster Princess”
“…the sonic equivalent of a freak show—weird, wonderful and like nothing you’ve come across before.”—AllAboutJazz The beloved Flat Earth Society returns to Vancouver, this time to Music on Main’s Modulus…
STREAMING PACKAGES
Why not purchase a package of tickets and save? Choose your packages early as the number of discounted tickets is limited. Concerts will be streamed via our YouTube channel for…
Why Nordic Jazz at the Festival?
…our most memorable live encounter with the that northern scene. Each of those players went on to become notable bandleaders and beacons of the Nordic jazz scene. The year 1999…
Longhand + 2 plays Long
…who also played in Long’s band. Now, Tony’s Longhand Trio has recorded a full album of Peder’s music which they’ll release at this concert. Bassist Russell Sholberg and drummer Skye…
Jasper Sloan Yip
“… eloquent and gently melodic”—New Music Canada A veteran of the Vancouver indie scene, guitarist/vocalist Jasper Sloan Yip is known for his earnest warmth, skillfully introspective songwriting, and gorgeous chamber…
Alvaro Rojas’ Gran Kasa
Imagine a ’70s prog band, a salsa group, and a string quartet going on a road trip together. Composer/guitarist Alvaro Rojas calls on some of Vancouver’s finest creative players to…
New York Standards Quartet
A collaborative band of jazz stalwarts, the New York Standards Quartet is made up of world-class musicians who have been playing, composing and arranging music based on classic jazz standards…
From Toronto: Bob Brough Quartet
Saxophonist Bob Brough has been a key member of the national jazz music scene for over five decades. Having come to prominence with Time Warp and Jim Galway’s Wee Big…
Davidovici/Hong Quintet
Emerging bass and drum duo, Eli Davidovici and Mili Hong, have been performing in Canada for over a decade now, playing with Canadian Jazz icons such as Brad Turner, Kevin…
Cousin Harley
Guitarist “Paul Pigat and his rockabilly trio Cousin Harley play hot enough to raise sweat on a chunk of granite!”—Monday Magazine. Canada’s premier rockabilly band, Cousin Harley delivers blistering roots,…
Maya Rae & Terminal Station
…in 2017, and she is currently working on her sophomore album of original music with Steve Dawson in Nashville, Tennessee. Her music conveys messages of authenticity, self-love, hope and female…
GETTING THE KEYS TO THE CITY
…Northwest. They had made global headlines with the first du Maurier International Jazz Festival during Expo 86. The City of Vancouver officially commemorated the week of June 26, 1987 “du…
Natasha D’Agostino Quartet
…and form. Whether she is performing familiar standards, or her own compelling originals, Natasha’s soulful voice soars with her dynamic band. Join us for a celebration of Natasha’s debut release,…
Festival Playlists 2018
…something for everyone. Whether it’s the Afro-future sounds of saxophonist Kamasi Washington, the soulful singing of Macy Gray, the trancey rhythms of Bonobo (with a live band!) or Robert Plant’s…
The Jason Winikoff Hot 5
…King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Jelly Roll Morton, as well as contemporaries like Shannon Powell, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Herlin Riley. Bandleader Jason Winikoff cut his…
Dirk Quinn
Dirk Quinn is the guitarist for a high-energy funk/jazz band based out of Philadelphia that travels extensively throughout the US and Canada. Utilizing over a decade of steady performing, Quinn…
Maya Rae & Terminal Station
…in 2017, and she is currently working on her sophomore album of original music with Steve Dawson in Nashville, Tennessee. Her music conveys messages of authenticity, self-love, hope and female…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 29: Parlour Panther
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Stringsongs With Laura Crema and Bill Coon
…of beautiful sounds while nurturing playful interplay between its members. Laura and Bill have been co-creating a book of new songs that speaks of their love of creating mood and…
Parlour Panther
…enchanting indie rockers are embarking on a new musical journey with their album BLOOM, an apt title for a band that’s always growing! Presented in association with Queer Arts Festival….
Big Names Big Crowds
…– half of those free! – featuring 1800 musicians at 35 indoor and outdoor venues. By now Coastal Jazz has a well-balanced offering of big shows on free, outdoor stages,…
Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra featuring Darynn Dean
Vancouver trumpeter and composer Daniel Hersog leads an adventurous orchestra comprised of the cream of the Vancouver jazz community. This show features guest vocalist Darynn Dean, who studied with Herbie…
Ben Henriques Quintet
Saxophonist Ben Henriques has been making a name for himself in the jazz scenes of Montreal and Vancouver. His clear, emotive tone leads a lively and daring band through swing,…
Tom Lee Workshops 2022
Each year, we offer free workshops and lectures at Tom Lee Music Hall led by some of the best artists in the world. Learn from the pros in an intimate…
Coco Jafro
…throwback 60s rhythms, their latest album, Forces of Nature is the reflection of the band’s high energy performances while still following its mantra of remaining grounded, protecting our earth and…
Vancouver Youth Jazz Orchestra
…of the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra over four weeks of rehearsals in June. The intensive culminates with a live performance on the closing day of the 2024 Vancouver international Jazz Festival….
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 9: Daniel Hersog
…leader of the Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra, a 17 piece ensemble made up of top Vancouver jazz musicians. I am a co-leader of the hardbop sextet Sonny’s Cousin. As a…
Jimi James Fraser Sextet
…from Art Blakey, The VEJI (Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation), Horace Silver, and other great multi-horn lineups of the 50s and 60s, the band absolutely cooks on originals and new…
Sofia Avelino sings Elis Regina
…what inspires Avelino. With her ace band, including guitarist Vicente Regis, pianist Mauricio Zani, bassist Julia Farry, trumpeter Rory Hislop and drummer Jordy McIntosh, Avelino sings 1970s Brazilian classics in…
Johnny Trash
Johnny Trash consists of 4 band members, taking original Johnny Cash covers and speeding them up till your liver explodes and your ears bleed!!
Christie Grace “Cloud’s Illusions” – An evening of Joni Mitchell Classics
…eternal love of Mitchell’s poetic genius along with several new arrangements. With Daryl Jahnke on guitar (original Joni Mitchell band), Dan Reynolds on piano, Conrad Good on bass, and Buff…
Mazacote
…Juan Encinales on congas, pianist Niho Takase and trumpeter Malcolm Aiken. Playing music off their new album Nueva Era (TrebleFive Records), that was recently nominated as World Album of the…
Michael Formanek Drome Trio
…musical palindromes that began as graphic scores before being reinterpreted into conventional notation. Rounded out by Chet Doxas saxophones/clarinet and Vinnie Sperrazza drums, the band’s live set promises heady exhilaration….
Biboye Onanuga New Standards Quartet
…jazz”—a blend of hip-hop, rock, and ambient influences—listeners and players submit, together, to the music of the moment. Open Jazz Jam to follow, hosted by Biboye Onanuga New Standards Trio….
Cimafunk
Cimafunk’s deliriously danceable “nonstop river of rhythm” (Chicago Tribune) takes cues from Afro-Cuban traditions, Funkadelic’s euphoric bounce, and the electro-grease synths of late-80s era Prince. Fronting a nine-piece band of…
Help Us Preserve Vancouver’s Cultural Jazz Legacy
…Jazz is unique for the amount of accessible world class music it presents, and the intentional community building and support of local talent it provides. For over 38 years, Coastal…
How Do You Stream, Anyway?
…the one-cord solution Box Office Assistant Benjamin Anton, COVID Safety Officer & Bar Manager Ian Wardle, Volunteer Coordinator liisa hannus all have set ups that involve connecting their TV to…
Adam Robert Thomas
Adam Thomas performs a diverse array of music from favourite radio hits of this year all the way back to music from the jazz and big band era, and a…
The 2023 Festival First Timers Club
…composer & bassist, and a member of the Abenaki First Nation in Quebec. Her debut album Sweet Tooth was one of my favourite albums of 2022, and she’s easily one…
LATE SHOW: Ava Mendoza + Emad Armoush
…members of his group Rayhan, some of Canada’s most innovative improvising musicians, “Electritradition”, an album of 5 duets, and “Lunar” with his most recent project, The Avant-garde Flamenco Trio. An…
David Lam Park Jazz Weekend
Join us for a free weekend of jazz! Music of the world in Yaletown’s back yard. Indoor and outdoor stages, kids activities, food trucks, licensed bars, and more. DAVID LAM…
Deerhoof
…“the best band in the world.” From their humble beginnings as an obscure San Francisco noise act, they’ve become one of indie music’s most influential bands with their ecstatic and…
Miles Okazaki’s Trickster
…complex, and individualistic compositions seem fresh and enjoyable, while still showcasing the incredible skill of this crack band. With Anthony Tidd bass, and Sean Rickman drums, and Matt Mitchell piano….
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 14: Julia Ulehla
…day, year, what else? What does a song need, at any given moment, to be alive? As the band members of Dálava know (Dálava is one of my main projects),…
Rumba Calzada
Led by composer/percussionist/bandleader Raphael Geronimo, Vancouver’s Rumba Calzada is an eclectic, powerful mix of salsa, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Stirring up a mesmerizing Caribbean musical fusion, this JUNO-nominated “world class…
Jodi Proznick Quartet
Two time Juno-nominated and National Jazz Award winning bassist Jodi Proznick is one of Canada’s finest mainstream jazz artists. Not only has she released three critically acclaimed albums—Foundations, Triology, and…
Jocelyn Waugh Quartet
In-demand Vancouver trumpeter Jocelyn Waugh (Locarno, Hard Rubber Orchestra) breathes vibrant life into myriad styles, from Mariachi to big band. With her new quartet featuring Chris Fraser guitar, Wynston Minckler…
Cherry Glazerr
Hailed as “LA’s new faces of rock” by The Los Angeles Times, Cherry Glazerr is everything you’d want from your new favourite indie band: super catchy riffs, punk rock abandon,…
Coldwater & The Bootleggers
Coldwater & The Bootleggers are a White Rock raised original rock and roll band. Coming together after many years of jamming together on different stages. With shades of Southern Rock,…
Pasquale Grasso Trio feat. André Lachance and Andrew Millar
…rising guitarists can only dream of, but what’s more impressive is that this exceptional player doesn’t sound like Metheny in the slightest. Nor does he follow in the paths of…
KNOWER
…bass, Jacob Mann keys, and Thom Gill guitar, KNOWER is a “hyperactive blend of post-ironic jazz fusion that sounds like the bastard child of Giorgio Moroder and Weather Report” (JazzWise)….
Gig List: Mar 18
…of the finest jazz musicians in the city. Petunia & The Vipers Residency WISE Lounge (8pm) Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie’s hobo junction is just one way of…
Sister Jazz Orchestra
Directed by Christian Morrison, the powerhouse 18-woman Sister Jazz Orchestra showcases Vancouver’s most accomplished female musicians while inspiring new generations of jazzwomen. Shining a light on composers from Mary Lou…
Potatohead People + Xhalida
…“formidable tandem” (OkayPlayer) has released three albums of forward-thinking grooves, assembled a kicking 10-piece band, and worked with artists like De La Soul, Moka Only, and Kaytranada. XHALIDA From Filipina…
Steve Dawson & The Lucky Hand String Quartet
Nashville-based Canadian guitar maestro Steve Dawson has never created music as sweeping, dynamic, and visually suggestive as Lucky Hand. With Jesse Zubot on violin and innovative string arrangements, Peggy Lee…
Gig List: April 15
…and highly effective [compositional] voice” (Canadian Music Center), composer, bandleader, and conductor Jaelem Bhate releases his anticipated debut album of his original works for jazz orchestra. It includes his multi-movement…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 17: Kevin Romain
…of in the mid 1960s post-bop vibe which is an era of music that’s been a big part of my journey. Really though as a musician I’m interested in anything…
Jasper Stadhouders with Special Guests
Jasper Stadhouders is the unrepentant guitarist/bassist of Amsterdam’s wildly improvisational and wonderfully confrontational Cactus Truck. He plays guitar, bass and mandolin in bands such as PolyBand, Blood Cloud, Spinifex, Made…
Brad Shigeta Organ Boptet feat. Cory Weeds
…the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington. The Brad Shigeta Boptet features fiery new arrangements of bebop standards of the ’40s and ’50s. If you enjoy hard…
The Ironworks
…on July 2. — by Tim Reinert Listen along to The Infidels podcast for a taste of what each of these bands has in store at The Ironworks this year….
DJ O Show Artist Talk, moderated by Gillian Thomson
…of the Squamish Nation who embraces and embodies teachings from both of her cultural backgrounds. Winner of the 2022 International Indigenous Hip Hop Award for DJ of the Year, she’s…
GO BIG AND GO GLOBAL
…plenty of accolades and worldwide media attention, but as the year kicked off, the team at Coastal was likely more interested in the music – and for good reason. In…
GoGo Penguin – SOLD OUT
…most exciting band to emerge from the UK in years. The New York Times highlighted them as one of the 12 best bands at SXSW 2017. Made in the UK….
Mike Henry Plays Motown
Experience a night of joyful tunes that will take you back to the golden days of Motown! From the heyday of Detroit in the 50s and 60s, Mike Henry brings…
Brad Shigeta Boptet
…Jacquet, Wynton Marsalis, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington. The Brad Shigeta Boptet features fiery new arrangements of bebop standards of the ’40s and ’50s….
Mike Allen Quartet
Saxophonist Mike Allen’s “burnished tone and understated approach” (The Whole Note) set the stage for wonderfully fluid feels and eloquent melodicism. A member of Sonny Greenwich’s band in the ‘90s,…
Jaimie Branch Fly Or Die
“This is free jazz, in that it’s free of constraints.” –The Village Voice Fly or Die is jazz trumpeter/composer/improviser Jaimie Branch’s vanguard NYC-by-way-of-Chicago quartet with an unorthodox instrumentation of trumpet,…
Brad Turner Trio
…the members of the band have worked with Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Ingrid Jensen, Bill Frisell, Kenny Wheeler, Renee Rosnes, John Scofield, and countless other greats. Drawing from a large…
Gabriel Hasselbach
Award-winning hornmeister Gabriel Mark Hasselbach brings his hot band to Frankie’s with a diverse show of mainstream and contemporary jazz from his numerous albums and ten Billboard hits. Also featured…
Karen Ng
Toronto-based improviser Karen Ng can be found in many different projects across a wide range of music. She has performed with The Weather Station, Andy Shauf, Lido Pimienta, Luka Kuplowsky,…
Pernell Reichert
…pubs, clubs, bars and coffee houses throughout Western Canada, either as a solo performer, or with his 3 piece band, and more recently as a duo with Ross Christopher Fairbairn…
Andrea Superstein
…blues and pop confection—often in the same song—Andrea lures listeners in with killer improvisational instincts, exceptional storytelling, and a red-hot band featuring Chris Gestrin keys, Nino DiPasquale drums, and Jodi…
Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon
…a broad range of playing situations and then delivers with performances that shine. Jerry Weldon is one of today’s leading proponents of Soul Jazz who represents the ‘bar-walkin’, hard-blowing, tenor…
Pugs & Crows
“This is music of great strength and beauty.” – Georgia Straight Celebrating the release of their phenomenal new album Uncle!, Pugs & Crows incorporate influences from tango and chamber music…
SEAMUS BLAKE QUARTET
New York-based saxophonist/composer Seamus Blake is recognized as one of the finest exponents of contemporary jazz. His music is known for its sophistication, bold improvisations and sheer swagger. John Scofield,…
ES:MO – Elizabeth Shepherd and Michael Occhipinti – Early Show
…band for her acclaimed albums MONtreal and The Signal. With their new duo album—nominated for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at this year’s JUNOs—this pairing of two of Canada’s…
Jocelyn Waugh Trio
An in demand trumpeter in the Vancouver live music scene, Jocelyn Waugh has worked in many different bands from Mariachi to Big Band, and in this setting will be performing…
Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon
…a broad range of playing situations and then delivers with performances that shine. Jerry Weldon is one of today’s leading proponents of Soul Jazz who represents the ‘bar-walkin’, hard-blowing, tenor…
Alex Maher
Engaging Vancouver-based multi-instrumentalist Alex Maher and his ultra-tight six-piece band fuse hip hop, soul, pop, jazz, and funk influences to explore human connection in the digital age. With lush layers,…
ES:MO – Elizabeth Shepherd and Michael Occhipinti – Late Show
…band for her acclaimed albums MONtreal and The Signal. With their new duo album—nominated for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at this year’s JUNOs—this pairing of two of Canada’s…
Andy Summers
…book of short stories Fretted and Moaning, share insights on his music and photography including his most recent photography book A Series of Glances, and also perform selections from his…
Tony Wilson’s Burn Down the Cornfield
…John Kastelic viola, Peggy Lee cello, James Meger bass, Dylan van der Schyff drums, and Patsy Klein vocals. Join this cool new band as they celebrate the release of their…
Rich Hope
…blaze through their original repertoire of blues-boogie and Americana on Live At The ANZA Club, which was named one of the 10 best B.C. albums of 2025 by the Vancouver…
The Suffers
“The sort of neo-retro group you never knew music was so badly missing.” (Spin Magazine), eight-piece wonder-band The Suffers are a fired-up, contemporary version of the great R&B/funk bands of…
An Interview with Indigenous Artist in Residence Russell Wallace
…bit about your own creative practice? I am a traditional singer of Lil’wat music and approach a lot of my compositions from that perspective. A lot of my composition comes…
Daphne Roubini & Black Gardenia
Led by the mesmerizing Daphne Roubini on vocals/ukulele, Black Gardenia’s burnished blend of vintage jazz, country, folk, and blues takes listeners back to an age when cool meant classy and…
Gary Smulyan with Strings
Multiple Grammy Award-winning baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan’s impressive resume includes work with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie and Joe Henderson to Joe Lovano and the Mingus Big Band. His playing is…
Russ Botten Quartet plays Cedar Walton
Vancouver bassist Russ Botten swinging feel and big bass sound has made him a top-call player in the city. For this evening only Russ has assembled a band including saxophonist…
Tanika Charles
…the best kept secret in soul, Tanika Charles is a two-time JUNO-nominated Polaris Prize long-lister who—with her aptly-named backing band The Wonderfuls—continues to win over audiences one stream, one Shazam,…
Krystle Dos Santos
With her powerful three-piece band, two-time Western Canadian Music Award winner Krystle Dos Santos combines original soul music with Motown and soul classics made famous by Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder,…
Sharon Minemoto Trio
…the end of summer. Her quartet’s recording, “Safe Travels”, took the band on a Canadian tour in February and March of 2018. In addition to her own ensembles, she has…
New Jazz Underground
…online and on stage, garnering tonnes of acclaim for their distinctive merging of traditional jazz sensibilities with modern influences like hip-hop, house/afro-beat, and Afro-Cuban music. The core of the group…
Oddity
The name of this cooperative quartet accurately describes the unusual, unique, and exceptional music they create. Formed a decade ago as an opportunity to work with each other on new…
Dawn Pemberton + Francis Baptiste
…with Full Circle: First Nations Performance FRANCIS BAPTISTE Echoes of early-2000s indie-rock inhabit Francis Baptiste’s arching, melodic debut album Snəqsilxʷ (A). From the Osoyoos Indian Band, the Vancouver-based singer/songwriter features…
Ben Henriques Quintet
…and daring band through swing, bebop, and a few surprising rock-tinged escapades. This performance will feature new music composed for the more traditional jazz instrumentation of trumpet, sax and rhythm…
Grungle
Grungle is defined as “stringing several mispronounced words together to form one unified, confused sound.” Grungle—the band—joyfully takes skronkiness in a new direction that’s actually very fluent, full-tilt, EDM-inspired brasshouse…
Siobhan
…powerful voice! With flavours of R&B, neo-soul, and jazz, her music is bound to make you groove! The band will feature Jonny Tobin on keys, Derek DiFilippo on bass, Johnny…
Longhand Trio Plus Zubots
…Zubot (Land of Kush). The Zubots are remarkable talents who match traditional mastery of their instruments with wide-screen, cinematic use of electronics and extended techniques. With JUNO Award winners Russell…
Dave King Trio – Sold Out!
…reinterpretations of standards, rich with free interplay and quiet rumination. Dave King is one of the most celebrated drummers in modern jazz. His contributions to the Minneapolis and New York…
David Ward + Golden Future
…of R&B, art-rock, pop and funk, singer/songwriter David Ward’s stunningly soulful songs are rendered in widescreen technicolour by a dazzling 6-piece band of local heavy-hitters and some special surprise guests!…
Terminal Station
The members of Terminal Station have been key sidemen in Vancouver’s blues, roots and jazz scenes for a couple of decades. Known as an exciting blues-rock band, Terminal Station is…
Ches Smith’s Clone Row
…headlong into the feedback loop of composition and improvisation armed with chemistry created by their mutual appreciation and enduring friendships. “This definitely ain’t your father’s guitar band,” writes no less…
Siobhan Walsh
Siobhan is one of Vancouver’s most versatile and authentic vocalists. After moving to the city from Vancouver Island four years ago, Siobhan is hitting hard with her soulful, resonant, and…
Coldwater & the Bootleggers
Coldwater & The Bootleggers are a White Rock raised original rock and roll band. Coming together after many years of jamming together on different stages. With shades of Southern Rock,…
Missy D
…Fest, and numerous other national festivals. She has performed with the likes of Busty and the Bass, Maestro Fresh Wes, Jully Black, Nomadic Massive, Sons of Kemet, Mr. Eazi, Snotty…
Emily Chambers
Come celebrate the holiday season with powerhouse vocalist Emily Chambers accompanied by a fantastic eight-piece band. Expect a handful of holiday favourites mixed in with some Motown classics, Emily Chambers…
Insider’s Guide to the Festival
…full band. If you haven’t heard of Kamasi Washington, he’s getting a lot of attention for his recent work with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, and Flying Lotus. Washington also…
Nick Peck Organ Trio
…from Groove Holmes, Big John Patton, Don Wilkerson, Harold Vick, Shirley Scott, and more. This week the band is Nick Peck organ, Jesse Cahill drums, and Steve Kaldestad tenor sax….
Davina and The Vagabonds
…fresh new music. Led by saucy vocalist/keys Davina Sowers, the band has released a trio of albums filled with Crescent City-inflected blues, jazz, and R&B. Compared to the likes of…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 18: Marin Patenaude
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Hanging Hearts
“Intelligent and fascinating fusion for the 21st century” – All About Jazz Rooted in Chicago’s rich tradition of forward-thinking jazz and experimental music, Hanging Hearts thrives at the intersection of…
Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions
New York-based Swedish/Turkish saxophonist, impresario and general scene-maker Ilhan Ersahin’s exploration of his Turkish roots began in the ‘90s and continues to this day with this Istanbul-based creative take on…
Alvaro Rojas’ Gran Kasa
…of Canada’s finest new music groups, including Turning Point Ensemble, Aventa Ensemble, and the Microcosmos String Quartet. Gran Kasa, his latest project, features an all-star lineup of Canadian musicians from…
Mary Ancheta’s MAQkestra Performs the Music of Betty Davis
Vancouver keyboardist Ancheta has long been influenced by Betty Davis, a crucial voice of 1970s funk. Ancheta’s six-piece band performs the flamboyant diva’s gritty, sexually-charged, incredibly funky tunes – mostly…
INCOGNITO featuring Rob Montgomery
…25 years, led by bandleader Rob Montgomery (guitar/vocals) along with the soulful powerhouse singer Amanda Dean, and a stellar band of session musicians. The group’s musical passion is truly infectious!…
Sax virtuoso Kamasi Washington plays our Marquee Series
…ideas and concepts that would eventually prove to be inspiring and compelling to a lot of listeners. Fast-forward and the 37-year old saxophonist and bandleader is considered the hottest artist…
Gig List: May 1
…In The Dark, features a stellar lineup of fierce session players – including the brilliant work of guitarist Jon Roper. With the infectious rhythm and vibe she creates on stage,…
The Bad Plus
…chemistry of The Bad Plus, supercharged with new-band excitement. As they say themselves, “evolution is necessary for life and creativity. We’ve evolved, but we’re still The Bad Plus.” For Accessible…
Kids’ Table Quartet
The Kids’ Table Quartet is a brand new band featuring the compositions of Jeremy Page tenor saxophone and Cole Schmidt guitar.Grape juice will be spilled by the ridiculous rhythm section…
Mazacote
A hard-hitting six-piece world/Latin band with deep roots in Nicaragua, Mozambique, and Colombia. Mazacote features Nicaraguan singer/songwriter David Lopez, a groove-heavy rhythm section featuring Carlos Arias bass, Chris Couto timbales,…
Christine Jensen Quartet
…Award-winners for Jazz Album of the Year (group) in 2011 and 2014, respectively, while her third jazz orchestra album Harbour (Justin-Time Records) is nominated in this year’s signature celebration of…
Pressley Murillo Trio
Pressley Murillo is a Vancouver-based Mexican-American vocalist and band leader in her fourth year of the Capilano University Jazz Studies program. With deep love and respect for the tradition of…
Erin Propp
…Propp’s 2026 debut album as a band leader is a melody-driven exploration of her jazz, folk, and gospel roots. Aptly named The Longing Years, it finds the Winnipeg-based artist empathically…
Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra
Join the critically acclaimed JTJO for a very special evening of hard swinging and delectable music, featuring sparking compositions and arrangements by Jill Townsend and guitar sensation Bill Coon. Among…
Dawn Pemberton
…chips on Pemberton becoming “the new queen of Canadian soul.” With a tight, expressive band featuring Gavin Youngash guitar, Mike Ardagh drums, Max Zipursky keys, and André Lachance bass, Dawn…
Crossing Borders
…melodic, engaging style. The music covers a broad source base: standards, pop, originals – all with a unique and heartfelt twist. The band includes guitarist Scott Sorkin (Count Basie Orchestra,…
Shake Stew
Led by dynamic bassist Lukas Kranzelbinder (Mario Rom’s Interzone), Shake Stew is Austria’s jazz band of the hour. A highly unconventional septet, two drummers and two double bassists churn and…
JAZZ FEST PROVES ITS STRENGTH
…be proud of as Artistic Director, Ken Pickering, noted in the program guide. “Jazz connoisseurs often say this Festival has one of the most adventurous, balanced programs in the world.”…
Lucy Lambert Trio
…accordion playing add a beautiful feminine presence to all events. She is the bandleader and creative director of her jazz quintets albums and music videos. Her jazz band, “Lucy Lambert’s…
Mike Allen Quartet
Saxophonist Mike Allen and his band perform new and classic compositions by Canadian guitar legend Sonny Greenwich. As a member of Sonny Greenwich’s bands in the 1990s, Mike’s playing first…
Tom Keenlyside Quartet
Performing with vitality and expertise, the Tom Keenlyside Quartet communicate with an ESP-like energy. Whether playing standards, originals or free improvising, the band never fails to engage and surprise the…
Sharon Minemoto Quartet
The Sharon Minemoto Quartet has been Minemoto’s main creative outlet for the past three years with the band performing her original arrangements and compositions. Her writing is of a highly…
Big Easy Funk Ensemble
Big Easy Funk Ensemble celebrates the amazing variety of music that has grown out of the Jazz, Blues and Snazzy Grooves of New Orleans. The 9 member band includes a…
The Gang (Late Show)
‘The Gang’ is a Vancouver-based Latin jazz sextet bringing together some of the city’s finest musicians for an electrifying blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythm, classic Latin jazz, and soulful improvisation. Drawing…
The Rocket Revellers
The Rocket Revellers are the house band at Gastown’s Revel Room. Lead vocalist Dennis Brock designed and built the Revel Room in 2008 to be an extension of his living…
Mike Allen Trio Plays Swingin’ Standards
Saxophonist Mike Allen and his band perform an array of well-loved jazz classics by great bandleaders like Horace Silver (Song For My Father, Nica’s Dream, Peace), Duke Ellington (Chelsea Bridge,…
Kneebody
“Putting a finger on a band like Kneebody is a bit like raising it to the wind. At any given moment, the group’s artistic inclinations can whip in an unpredictable…
Hastings Mill Brewing Co. / Pat’s Pub
Join us for eight nights of music at Hastings Mill Brewing Co. Showtimes vary as indicated. Here are the shows: Friday, June 21: Rebecca Kilgore 4tet with Bill Coon, Mike…
Spotlight on Montreal
…but that doesn’t explain a lot. One of the more inspiring pieces of the music scene in Montreal comes from a small but dedicated group of individuals that run a…
Jeremy Pelt Quintet
The newest of esteemed trumpet player and composer Jeremy Pelt’s musical projects, The Jeremy Pelt Quintet features an exciting collection of young talents. With Victor Gould on piano, Richie Goods…
King Khan & the Shrines
King Khan, Aquarius and founder of the greatest cult phenomenon since the parting of the Milky Way, brings his 8-piece musical shrine back to Vancouver. Dressed in their ceremonial duds,…
Ikue Mori Jim Black Duo
Ikue Mori is “one of the most singular musicians in modern music history” (Chicago Reader). Moving from Tokyo to New York in 1977, she co-founded the seminal no-wave band DNA,…
A2Z Collective
…soul, zouk, and more are energetically explored by the Vancouver quintet. The band’s lineup of red-hot players can vary, but the steadfast commitment to groove and sonic freedom doesn’t waver….
Ballads, Bossas, and Blues
Ballads, Bossas, and Blues are a Vancouver-based band formed in 2016 to play the compositions of bandleader Jake Huse. They combine contemporary jazz with influences from reggae, African and groove…
Zapato Negro
Zapato Negro have built a reputation in Canada and beyond for their own exiting blend of progressive jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythm. Knowing it’s not enough to have talented individuals, they’ve…
Guitar Wizards – Female Division
…the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s, Mary Osborne, schooled in her love of the guitar of Charlie Christian, blazed her way through the bands of Art Tatum, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins…
Geoff Claridge Quartet
The Benny Goodman Quartet was one of the most electrifying quartets in the history of jazz, breaking the racial gap and somehow holding its own every night paired against a…
An Interview with James Meger
…know you as a side player—in previous years you have done a lot of playing at the Festival in other people’s bands, but this is one of the first projects…
Ring in 2019 with Mazacote
Say goodbye to 2018 and hello to 2019 with Mazacote! Mazacote is a hard hitting 6-piece world/Latin band from Vancouver, Canada with deep roots in Nicaragua, Mozambique, and Colombia. Inspired…
Parlour Panther
…of blues-inflected vocals, playful synths and an energetic low-end that’ll have you moving your hips and shoulders in the midst of your soul-searching” (Exclaim!) Frankie Brave guitar/vocals, Lee Brave bass/synths/vocals,…
Taras Luka
Vancouver-based Ukrainian jazz and classical accordionist Taras Luka’s 2023 album Part of the Journey is an exciting fusion of contemporary jazz and pan-Latin styles for accordion and septet. Luka has…
IronFest IV: Tony Wilson: The Homeless Project
…struggles people face in the Downtown Eastside and across Canada. The Homeless Project is the third in a series of multimedia presentations that deal with social issues. The first was…
Leora Cashe
Leora is excited to reunite with her longtime music partner Jaye Krebs on piano to present an uplifting and swingin’ concert. Together with her all star band featuring David Sinclair…
Joyce N’Sana
Montreal-based singer/songwriter Joyce N’sana calls her music Afroblueshop. It’s an apt description of her energetic fusion of Afro-blues and hip hop with sides of satisfying reggae, soul, and gospel. With…
Scott Hills
…earthy melodies and rich arrangements. Starting as a drummer with alt-blues band The Perpetrators, he co-wrote their Juno-nominated album The Gas and the Clutch. After releasing his debut solo album…
Small Town Artillery
Small Town Artillery are a rock band originally from Kaslo, British Columbia with a mission to create melodic, heartfelt and high-energy music. They play heart-on-sleeve Rock & Roll music, having…
Cory Weeds Quintet featuring Atley King & David Hazeltine
Alto saxophonist Cory Weeds teams up with frequent collaborator, New York City pianist David Hazeltine for a night of hard swinging thoughtful jazz. David Hazeltine is one of a handful…
Cory Weeds Quintet featuring Atley King & David Hazeltine
Alto saxophonist Cory Weeds teams up with frequent collaborator, New York City pianist David Hazeltine for a night of hard swinging thoughtful jazz. David Hazeltine is one of a handful…
BM4 with special guest Jennifer Scott
Bass trombonist Brad Muirhead has been a huge presence in the Vancouver jazz scene since 1980. Here he pushes the limits of his instrument while steering a top-notch band through…
Mazacote
Mazacote is a hard-hitting six-piece world/Latin band with deep roots in Nicaragua, Mozambique, and Colombia. Inspired by Afro-Caribbean percussion and tropical party sounds with a socially conscious message, Mazacote features…
Wendy Eisenberg Viewfinder
…in the past proven to be more than capable of shredding, doesn’t necessarily step out in front of the band; their intricate, textural guitar playing acts more as a canvas…
The Lesley Branton Trio
…and the timeless voice of Ella Fitzgerald, Les set out to follow her dream of becoming a professional singer. Alvin is one of Vancouver’s most sought-after guitarists, celebrated for his…
Erika Chow’s General Assembly
…a quartet, but has recently expanded to a quintet, adding trumpet to allow the band to explore more of Shorter’s extensive repertoire. From the early 60s Jazz Messengers, to Miles’…
Melody Diachun
JUNO and National Jazz Awards nominated vocalist Melody Diachun and her crackerjack band perform music that unites the freedom and excitement of improvisation with funk, R&B, and fun. Celebrating her…
Leah Abramson’s Songs For a Lost Pod
…and ecological issues from the perspective of various whale species. With a “pod” of eight vocalists, a narrator, and a lush chamber pop band, this is a stunning, can’t-miss performance….
Wild Blue Herons
“I had the great pleasure of getting to hear my dear friend and colleague, Bill Sample, and the band Wild Blue Herons… It was a treat from beginning to end.”…
Lydia Hol
Leading an “unbelievably tight” (Discorder) seven-piece band of some of Vancouver’s best young jazz, funk, and indie rock players, vocalist/guitarist Lydia Hol deftly combines early ‘60s soul and lush psychedelic…
Marlie Collins
Since the release of Marlie Collins self-titled album last year. Marlie and her band of collaborators “Marlie&Co” bring a smooth soulful sound that delivers a depth with an authentic modern…
Assertion
…Ritchie drums/vocals, Russell Sholberg bass, and Charlene Vickers bass/electronics/vocals, the long-running band’s new recording Medusa was released in January 2021. Split into two distinct halves, it leads with original songs…
Spindle!
An exploration of storytelling through sound, Spindle! artfully enlivens the senses. Vocalist/composer Kria Wall uses personal lyricism and a broad palette of compositional colours to delve into a space between…
Performance Works
…vibraphone in person is like watching a tornado dance. One of the many highlights of the 2019 festival was the Vancouver debut of Les Filles De Illighadad (July 3). They…
VANCOUVER’S FIRST DANCE PARTY IN THE STREETS
It’s fitting that the cover of the 1990 jazz festival guidebook featured an image of artists playing instruments atop a cityscape background. In just five years, the annual music…
David Ward + Golden Future
…—Georgia Straight A thrilling blend of R&B, art-rock, and funk, singer/songwriter David Ward’s stunningly soulful songs are rendered in widescreen technicolour by a dazzling band of local heavy-hitters. A must-see!…
Lydia Hol
Leading an “unbelievably tight” (Discorder) seven-piece band of some of Vancouver’s best young jazz, funk, and indie rock players, vocalist/guitarist Lydia Hol deftly combines early ‘60s soul and lush psychedelic…
Ludic
…soul of Hiatus Kaiyote. The CBC said it: “this wildly original indie-jazz-funk-fused band seems poised for a major breakthrough!” Want more bang for your buck? Check out our ticket package…
Biboye Onanuga Quartet
…in the Edmonton scene through his instrumental hip-hop/jazz band Good Information and the two-year (so far) tenure of his weekly music series, New Standards. Inspired by innovators like Ambrose Akinmusire,…
Art Of The Trio: Brad Turner
…Between them, the members of the band have worked with (among others) Joe Lovano, Kenny Werner, Gary Bartz, Ingrid Jensen, Bill Frisell, Kenny Wheeler, Cedar Walton, Joanne Brakeen, Renee Rosnes,…
AHEAD BY A CENTURY
…Cowboy Junkies and Esthero, who both appeared. Of course, no Vancouver jazz festival would be complete without a healthy dose of creative music. The roster of improvisers in 1999 was…
Jeff Parker (solo)
…the quiet iconoclast is a member of influential indie band Tortoise, a founding member of Chicago Underground, and a broad-ranging collaborator with the likes of Andrew Bird, Meshell Ndegeocello, Makaya…
Shruti Ramani Trio
…specialization in voice from Capilano University. Her original music is an exciting and novel combination of Indian and Jazz traditions. Shruti is the band leader of and vocalist in Raagaverse….
Crimson and Blue
…of experience, including leading a blues band in San Francisco and performing as a soloist with the Marcus Mosely Chorale. Together, they create magical harmonies that leave a lasting impression….
SPOTLIGHT ON ITALY
This year we are delighted to present a magnificent journey into a broad spectrum of Italian music, made possible through the outstanding support of the Consulate General of Italy in…
Sasha Berliner Quintet
LetterOne ‘RISING STARS’ Jazz Award-winner Sasha Berliner “is blazing a path for herself as someone to watch” (Paste Magazine). Leading a five-piece band, the emerging NYC-based San Franciscan is among…
The Underdogs
…The Underdogs pay tribute to the heavy sound of Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band, with a nod to the iconic style of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers….
Bonnie Northgraves Trio
…member in Company B Jazz Band, Jeff Gladstone and the Bad Ideas, T Lizzy, and many others. She is a performer, recording artist, teacher, and clinician. She is passionate about…
Phil Dwyer Trio
…Parker, as well as playing his own music. His “Family Band” trio interacts intuitively and telepathically, a testament to their musical common ground and the depth of their shared history….
Cousin Harley
Guitarist “Paul Pigat and his rockabilly trio Cousin Harley play hot enough to raise sweat on a chunk of granite!”—Monday Magazine. Canada’s premier rockabilly band, Cousin Harley delivers blistering roots,…
Rob Montgomery: Ladies Sing the Blues
Four of Canada’s finest female singers are backed by four of Vancouver’s top session musicians performing an evening of R&B, blues, soul, and beyond. You’ll leave musically satisfied and wanting…
Vamp Til Cue
…saxophone, Russell Sholberg on bass and Jesus Caballero on drums, playing originals composed by the band and a few covers too. Stay after the set for an open jazz jam….
Sharon Minemoto Quartet
Since the age of sixteen, Sharon Minemoto has been performing to audiences around the world. She is the leader of a trio, a quartet and a quintet. Her trio and…
Dirty Projectors
…album “some of the best music the band has ever made.” Touring for the first time in five years, Longstreth is joined by longtime members Nat Baldwin bass and Mike…
The Rocket Revellers
The Rocket Revellers are the house band at Gastown’s Revel Room. Lead vocalist Dennis Brock designed and built the Revel Room in 2008 to be an extension of his living…
Emmeluth’s Amoeba
…Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra. Guitarist Karl Bjorå has recorded and toured extensively with groups like Megalodon Collective, Yes Deer, and his own band. Drummer Ole Mofjell is a force of nature…
John Nicholson Quintet
…now formed his own band, gathering an all-star group of Canada’s top jazz talents to perform his original compositions. Called ”an animated soloist” by All About Jazz, Nicholson is joined…
Raagaverse featuring Cassius Khan
2025 JUNO nominees for Jazz Album of the Year (Group), creative Indo-Jazz fusion band Raagaverse pays homage to two historical and culturally-significant genres: classical Hindustani music and jazz. Led by…
Naughty Professor
“…among the finest jazz-funk bands in New Orleans.”—Offbeat Magazine Weaving together complex, inventive compositions and organic improv, this iconoclastic New Orleans sextet honours its hometown’s jazz, R&B, and brass-band traditions…
Lydia Hol & Dawn Pemberton
…7:30pm and planning for a short time in an outdoor line-up. Leading an “unbelievably tight” (Discorder) band of some of Vancouver’s best young jazz, funk, and indie rock players, vocalist/guitarist…
Kaja Draksler, Torsten Müller, Dylan van der Schyff
Slovenian-born, Amsterdam-based Kaja Draksler is a pianist with improvisational skills that push way beyond the foundation of her classical training. A member of the duo Feecho, she’s collaborated with Ab…
Kuya Quartet
…his 2006 award-winning piano trio release “Alay.” Kuya Quartet is a continuation of this journey with a new band, different instrumentation, and a fresh take on the traditional. Featuring Victor…
Team Hegdal
…international greats like Joshua Redman, Pat Metheny, and Dave Holland. Team Hegdal is the Norwegian saxophonist/clarinetist’s compositional playground for the small band format, and over the course of five albums,…
Hot Jazz Wednesdays feat. Josh Roberts
Vancouver-based guitarist Josh Roberts has performed across North America, Europe and the Caribbean. He leads a group playing the swinging hot jazz of the 1930s and 40s. The band features…
A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS
…of the Festival’s origins, the birth of the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society and the friendship of the organization’s three co-founders – Robert Kerr, John Orysik and Ken Pickering. Their…
EARLY SHOW: Ava Mendoza + Emad Armoush
…members of his group Rayhan, some of Canada’s most innovative improvising musicians, “Electritradition”, an album of 5 duets, and “Lunar” with his most recent project, The Avant-garde Flamenco Trio. An…
St. Paul and the Broken Bones
…band mines a wealth of classic American music influences from Motown’s golden age, to Sly Stone and Prince. St. Paul and The Broken Bones is a powerhouse mating of ‘60s…
Horse Lords
…and approaches. The band’s palette includes the mantra-like repetition of minimalism and global traditional musics, complex counterpoint, the subtleties of microtonality, and a breadth of timbres and textures drawn from…
Igneous
…tunes from big bands of the volcanic islands of Japan with the hot pressure of big bands in NYC. Come check out how time swings to this quartz. Featuring RJ…
Vancouver Tap Dance Festival Jam
…local jazz musicians to celebrate the union of music and dance. Swing by for a night of inspired music making as we commemorate two decades of celebrating Tap Dance in…
The Music of Chet Baker with Adam Robert Thomas
…saxophone, and Adam will be singing and playing guitar. Rounding out the band will be mighty swinging duo force of Steve Holy on acoustic bass and Dave Robbins on drums….
Burn Down the Cornfield
…string quartet. With compositions by guitarist Tony Wilson, the band also plays covers by bassist Jaco Pastorius and blues great Robert Johnson. Featuring Meredith Bates and Joshua Zubot violins, John…
PERNELL REICHERT
…come to the right place! Vancouver’s own singer-songwriter Pernell Reichert entertains solo with his slow self-penned ballads, rockin’ with his toe tappin’ band, or with the amazing sounds of bluegrass….
Adam Robert Thomas: Sides of Stevie
…contains some of Adam’s favourite songs of all time. Adam personally guarantees it will be funky, in spite of the absence of a clavinet. With Adam Robert Thomas vocals/guitar, Tristan…
Mike Downes Root Structure
Fresh off his 2018 JUNO Awards win for Jazz Album Of The Year, Mike Downes is undertaking a cross-Canada tour in support of this acclaimed album Root Structure. Joined by…
Alvaro Rojas (solo)
…rock, jazz and improvised music communities. As a composer, Alvaro has had works performed by many of Canada’s finest new music groups, including the Turning Point Ensemble, Aventa Ensemble and…
The Juli Wood Quartet
Chicago-based saxophonist and vocalist Juli Wood visits for a swingin’ evening of tunes from Monk, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Dexter Gordon, Clark Terry, and lots of classic jazz standards. Her…
Susana Williams
Susana Williams is a musician, producer and composer based out of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. Her musical career began in Caracas, Venezuela at the age of 13 as…
Teresa Marie and the Three with Jennifer Scott
…the band is joined by Jennifer Scott, one of Teresa’s mentors from Capilano University’s Jazz program. Lauded as “an important Jazz Voice” by the San Jose Journal, Scott has been…
Ethiopiques: Revolt of the Soul
…the Soul explores this rich history through a lively compilation of interviews with Eshete, Falceto, and many of the Ethiopian musicians—including Girma Bèyènè, pianist and arranger for the Walias Band….
Oliver Gannon Quartet
…in ’50s and ’60s bop. He is a generous leader, allowing the band members lots of room to contribute. With Nick Peck piano, Russ Botten bass and Craig Scott drums…
Mike Zachernuk Quartet
…such as Blaine Wikjord, Sharon Minemoto, and the big bands of Jill Townsend, Fred Stride, and John Korsrud, he made the move to Tokyo, Japan, where he is currently active…
Jeff Parker & The New Breed
…A long-time member of influential post-rock band Tortoise, and a pillar of the Chicago jazz and experimental music scene, Parker draws upon pop, rock, new music, and the seemingly disparate…
Serving up Trumpets and Keys
…often thought of as a solo artist, her 2020 Trio record Fumitsuke has changed that narrative quickly. She’s one of the most interesting performers on the contemporary European scene, and…
Improvisation is the Backbone to Jazz
…mantra-like repetition of minimalism and global traditional musics, complex counterpoint, the subtleties of microtonality, and a breadth of timbres and textures drawn from all across the avant-garde. Date: Sunday, June…
Benny Green
…release in the coming year. Taking inventory of the music industry and societal perception of jazz today, Benny Green states that he is committed to the truth of what has…
Confiture (Late Show)
Confiture is a band dedicated to celebrating house and EDM from the 80’s to today. They will be playing and improvising on tracks by Miguel Migs, Armand Van Helden, Erro…
Festival Announcements So Far!
…June 25 @ 8pm ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES plus Khari Wendell McClelland Wednesday, June 27 @ 8pm THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND plus Steve Dawson & the Lucky Hand…
Cory Weeds Quintet featuring Roy McCurdy
…Weeds has assembled a hard swinging band including the drummer on the Swingin’ In Seattle date and the only living member of the original quintet, drummer Roy McCurdy to celebrate…
Krystle Dos Santos
…To add more flavor to the performance we have also included the music of British artists such as Joss Stone, Adele, and others. The band members consist of Krystle Dos…
Tom Keenlyside Quartet
This outing for the Tom Keenlyside Quartet will feature new and exciting material, publicly performed for the first time at Frankie’s, with original musical contributions from all the band members….
From New York: Nick Hempton
From the legendary organ rooms of Harlem and Greenwich Village, veteran New York City saxophonist Nick Hempton is bringing his free-blowing blend of “barroom excitement and modern jazz finesse” to…
Sean Cronin
Sean Cronin, like many, has not performed his music in over a year. The last time he did, it was in New York, releasing his band Very Good’s ambitious LP…
John Boutté Quartet
…Boutté can often evoke the sound of Sam Cooke. But his stage manner, his choice of repertory and his rapport with musicians all point back to New Orleans. It’s hard…
Eric Reed
Frankies Jazz Club presents SOLO, a concert series featuring today’s premiere pianists in the intimate confines the beautiful Pyatt Hall at the VSO School of Music. As a piano-playing prodigy,…
THE DEBUT OF DOWNTOWN JAZZ
Janelle Monae performs at the 2012 Jazz Festival In 2012, after many months of behind-the-scenes work with the City of Vancouver, Coastal Jazz unveiled a new location for the Jazz…
Early Show: Mivule
Mivule is a diverse band incorporating the styles of Reggae, Afrobeat, and Dub in English as well as in Luganda. Their infectious rhythms and heartfelt lyrics are primed to get…
Hugh Fraser Quintet Live Recording
Equally revered as a trombonist, pianist, composer, and bandleader, Hugh Fraser is a musical performer of the highest order. A native Victorian with a truly international reach, Fraser has been…
From New York: Nick Hempton
From the legendary organ rooms of Harlem and Greenwich Village, veteran New York City saxophonist Nick Hempton is bringing his free-blowing blend of “barroom excitement and modern jazz finesse” to…
Mad Jazz Live
…style and charismatic stage presence that recalls the golden era of swing, Warren has become known for celebrating the enduring appeal of classic vocal jazz. His acclaimed productions, including Christmas…
Jack Garton
…to the art of live music as well as an impressive breadth of life experience including his roles as a father and husband, local gravedigger, theatre artist, and music teacher….
Gig List: July 29
…Jimmy Van Heusen will forever be considered one of the unsung heroes of the Great American Songbook. He wrote over 800 songs, 50 of which we consider to be standards….
Kahil El’Zabar & Isaiah Collier
…more. He is a true icon of spritual and free Jazz. On June 30, this percussionist/vocalist/composer will be performing two rare concerts with one of the most dynamic up and…
Asef
The name Asef has its origins in Arabic and Persian cultures. The members of the group bring to the stage many years of experience playing a variety of music from…
Hugh Fraser Quintet Live Recording
Equally revered as a trombonist, pianist, composer, and bandleader, Hugh Fraser is a musical performer of the highest order. A native Victorian with a truly international reach, Fraser has been…
Keyon Harrold “Foreverland and Songs For Miles”
…Common, Robert Glasper, PJ Morton, and Laura Mvula, Keyon’s world-class band freestyles and solos across through the spectrum of African American music to create a brand of sonic expression that‘s…
Cory Weeds Quintet featuring Roy McCurdy
…Weeds has assembled a hard swinging band including the drummer on the Swingin’ In Seattle date and the only living member of the original quintet, drummer Roy McCurdy to celebrate…
Hugh Fraser Quintet Live Recording
Equally revered as a trombonist, pianist, composer, and bandleader, Hugh Fraser is a musical performer of the highest order. A native Victorian with a truly international reach, Fraser has been…
Latin Music Sundays feat. Brejera
…From this point on the band was serving up styles of traditional samba, baião, frevo and choro . Venturing into a mix of Mario Silva on 7string guitar/vocals, Trevor Murray…
Ciao, Bella! Spotlight on Italy
…original to any band he is a part of. ARTIST WEBSITE HEAR IN NOW INNOVATION SERIES @ THE IRONWORKS Monday, June 25, 5PM | FREE A world-calibre collective of women…
Kahil El’Zabar & Isaiah Collier
…more. He is a true icon of spritual and free Jazz. On June 30, this percussionist/vocalist/composer will be performing two rare concerts with one of the most dynamic up and…
John Paton’s Parallax
Saxophonist/composer John Paton has led many distinctive projects over the years, including Soft Morning City and Black Top Blues Band. His new quartet with Thomas Hoeller guitar, James Meger bass,…
Acoustic Groove
…Taylor’s soulful vocals and pocketed acoustic guitar playing, and Tony Chamberlist’s command of a djembe hand drum, the band is rounded out by vocalist/pianist Diane Lines and guitarist Tim Porter….
Russ Botten Quartet plays Cedar Walton
Vancouver bassist Russ Botten’s swinging feel and big bass sound has made him a top call player in the city. For this evening only Russ has assembled a band featuring…
Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions
New York-based Swedish/Turkish saxophonist, impresario and general scene-maker Ilhan Ersahin’s exploration of his Turkish roots began in the ‘90s and continues to this day with this Istanbul-based creative take on…
Rumba Calzada
Led by composer/percussionist/bandleader Raphael Geronimo, Vancouver’s Rumba Calzada is an eclectic, powerful mix of salsa, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Stirring up a mesmerizing Caribbean musical fusion, this JUNO-nominated “world class…
The Ex with Grdina/Lillinger
The Ex is a band resolutely focused on the future. After more than 45 years of existence and constant reinvention, it rejects all nostalgia, preferring to explore new alliances and…
Sun Ra Arkestra
…A massive influence on generations of avant-jazz players—as well as artists ranging from Sonic Youth to Solange—the visionary Afrofuturism pioneer Sun Ra released over a hundred albums between the late-1950s…
Brandon Woody’s Upendo (EARLY SHOW)
Brandon Woody is a Baltimore-born, Bach-endorsed trumpeter, composer, and bandleader whose music flows from the rich lineage of Black music, including jazz, gospel, improvisation, and beyond, to explore themes of…
Sounds of Youth
Come hear the Sounds of Youth! This initiative is dedicated to showcasing some of Metro Vancouver’s best high school jazz combos and big bands. It’s always a highlight of Downtown…
Black Gardenia
Hot off the release of their latest album Lucky Star (to rave reviews), Daphne Roubini, the “First Lady of Uke”, leads her all star band Black Gardenia. The Vancouver-based five-piece…
Emma Augustsson, Cat Toren, Mili Hong
…most exciting emerging players in Canadian creative music, performing in idiosyncratic indie-rock band Moondle, Eli Davidovici’s Shapes, and a host of improv collaborations. Thanks Konstnärsnämnden (Sweden). Door entry: $10 cash…
Nightingale North
Nightingale North is a dynamic West Coast jazz band from the vibrant city of Vancouver, BC. Comprised of seasoned and professional musicians, this collective brings a fusion of traditional jazz,…
Gig of the Week: March 2-8
…He is the current president of the board of directors of the Vancouver Improvised Arts Society, and has been emceeing various jazz and improvised music shows for Coastal Jazz and…
Russ Botten Quartet plays Wes Montgomery
Vancouver bassist Russ Botten’s swinging feel and big bass sound has made him a top call player in the city. For this evening only Russ has assembled a band featuring…
Just a Season
Just A Season is a Vancouver folk-rock band fronted by singer-songwriter Scott Smith. Smith has been a key player in Vancouver’s roots scene for a couple decades, playing guitar and…
Brandon Woody’s Upendo (LATE SHOW)
Brandon Woody is a Baltimore-born, Bach-endorsed trumpeter, composer, and bandleader whose music flows from the rich lineage of Black music, including jazz, gospel, improvisation, and beyond, to explore themes of…
The Vancouver Jazz Scene
…every night of the week in Vancouver, at a wide variety of performance spaces. Even during the pandemic, several of those venues have provided a space for us to listen….
Graham Villette Quartet
Nanaimo drummer, band leader and music curator, Graham Villette brings you a night of soulful and swinging music at Vancouver’s premier jazz club. From swing to lush ballads layered with…
Florian Hoeffer & Subtone
Subtone stands in the forefront of today’s young innovative jazz ensembles. Founded in 2005 in Berlin, its members now live on both sides of the Atlantic, in St. John’s, Netherlands,…
Marin Patenaude
…into something sublimely intangible. With an all-star band featuring Cole Schmidt (Pugs & Crows, SICKBOSS) guitar, Pete Schmitt (Inhabitants, Sunkiller) bass, Skye Brooks (Co-Pilots, Aeroplan Trio, Longhand) drums, and Peggy…
Black Art Jazz Collective
…solos and locked-in rhythm, the band is more likely to launch into a counterpoint riff or the spacious funk of hip-hop than the svelte lines of classic walking bass. The…
Jasper Sloan Yip
A jewel of the Vancouver indie scene, guitarist/vocalist Jasper Sloan Yip is known for his earnest warmth, skillfully introspective songwriting, and gorgeous chamber pop arrangements for his 7-piece band. “Eloquent…
Dave Say
Known for his soulful melodic sound and powerhouse improvisation, the multi-talented Dave Say plays in a diverse number of bands ranging from jazz, R&B, funk, and big bands. His latest…
A Time Remembered
…Israels, Paul Motian, Gary Peacock, and Joe LaBarbera. “For his dedication to Evans’s legacy and his unmistakable love of his music, both of which are vividly demonstrated in this fine…
Helen Hansen
…presented in her effortless vocal style with a bit of humour and patter thrown into the mix. Accompanying Helen is a ‘ringer’ of a band of Miles Black piano, Bill…
Jeremy Pelt Quintet
The newest of esteemed trumpet player and composer Jeremy Pelt’s musical projects, The Jeremy Pelt Quintet features an exciting collection of young talents. With Victor Gould on piano, Richie Goods…
Black Art Jazz Collective
…solos and locked-in rhythm, the band is more likely to launch into a counterpoint riff or the spacious funk of hip-hop than the svelte lines of classic walking bass. The…
Rumba Calzada
Led by composer/percussionist/bandleader Raphael Geronimo, Vancouver’s Rumba Calzada is an eclectic, powerful mix of salsa, jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Stirring up a mesmerizing Caribbean musical fusion, this JUNO-nominated “world class…
Scott Smith and the Midnight Riders: Allman Brothers Celebration
With the same instrumentation as the ’60s-era southern rock band, this Vancouver supergroup, led by guitarist Scott Smith, combines blues, country, jazz and psychedelia to celebrate one of the most…
Siobhan Walsh
…powerful voice! With flavours of R&B, neo-soul, and jazz, her music is bound to make you groove! Siobhan will be releasing her debut EP later this year. The band will…
Michael Blake’s Variety Hour: Halloween Special
The New York City based saxophonist Michael Blake is no stranger to hometown fans. He’s been performing and recording with members of his band The Variety Hour for over a…
Coco Jafro
…throwback 60s rhythms, their latest album, Forces of Nature is the reflection of the band’s high energy performances while still following its mantra of remaining grounded, protecting our earth and…
The Rocket Revellers
The Rocket Revellers give you an energetic mix of western swing, jump blues, and rockabilly. Members of the band have toured with Ray Condo and Petunia & The Vipers. Featuring:…
Tony Wilson’s Tribute to Sonny Greenwich
…the 1970s and his career spanned several decades. His very original style combines the phrasing of jazz great Grant Green and the spiritual qualities of John Coltrane’s music. The band…
The Gig List: April 3
…the mesmerizing violin and captivating voice of Maarja Nuut, they will create a sound not often experienced with stories not often heard. This will be a magical, melodious encounter of…
Beverly Glenn-Copeland
…folk-jazz album in the vein of peers such as Tim Buckley and Joni Mitchell. Don’t miss this rare live performance by one of music’s purest individualists and his five-piece band….
Gig List: April 8
…of the finest jazz musicians in the city. Debra Jean & the Dreams Guilt & Co. (9:30pm) Debra-Jean & The Dreams are a group of some of Vancouver’s most experienced…
Early Show: Cassandra Maze
…the meaning of “one-woman-band” with her multi-instrumental abilities and live looping skills, attracting thousands of viewers on her YouTube channel. As an old soul with a fresh perspective, Maze blends…
Buy a Record, Make a Difference 20: Kristin Fung
…already been completed. In each post, we’ll ask a local artist a series of the same questions, give them the opportunity to talk about recordings they’re proud of, and ask…
Y La Bamba
750 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7 Drawing from a myriad of influences—from Mexican tunes from the 1930s to the experimental folk of recent collaborator Devendra Banhart—Y La Bamba ”suffuses…
Mazacote
Mazacote is a hard-hitting six-piece world/Latin band from Vancouver with deep roots in Nicaragua, Mozambique, and Colombia. Inspired by Afro-Caribbean percussion and tropical party sounds, they play brass-heavy Latin dance…
Kneebody
…no-holds-barred improvising. But really, all “sounds-like” references can be set aside; this band has created a genre and style all its own. Kneebody draws upon influences spanning D’Angelo’s Voodoo to…
Sun Ra Arkestra
An enormous influence on generations of avant-jazz players—as well as artists ranging from Sonic Youth to Solange—the visionary Afrofuturism pioneer Sun Ra released over a hundred albums between the mid-1950s…
Hot Jazz Wednesday feat. Josh Roberts
Vancouver-based guitarist Josh Roberts has performed across North America, Europe and the Caribbean. He leads a group playing the swinging hot jazz of the 1930s and 40s. The band features…
Lydia Hol
Leading an “unbelievably tight” (Discorder) band of some of Vancouver’s best young jazz, funk, and indie rock players, vocalist/guitarist Lydia Hol deftly combines early ‘60s soul, folk, and lush psychedelic…
