Supporting and promoting Vancouver’s vibrant and emerging jazz scene

Gals & Pals with the Leading Ladies at the Pearl

For over five years, 11-woman big band The Leading Ladies have been thrilling audiences all over the Lower Mainland with their unique blend of modern cool and classic swing, all under the direction of Casey Thomas-Burns. On Sunday, November 10th, The Ladies make their long awaited debut at the Pearl on Granville with Gals & Pals, a brand new show featuring some of the city’s top R&B & Pop vocalists and bands, including Dawn Pemberton, Krystle Dos Santos, Club Sofa, Tess Anderson, with more surprises to be announced in the coming weeks!

The Ladies will be dipping into the more contemporary side of their repertoire for this special show, with familiar R&B & Pop hits sung by some of your favourite local singers.

Feven Kidane Quartet + Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat at VIFF Centre

A fierce talent on the local jazz scene, trumpeter Feven Kidane presents a very special set of original music inspired by the documentary Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat… music which seeks to connect with the film and embody a learning spirit, remembrance, and decades-old shared grief.

Feven explains, “this film gives me mixed feelings. not mixed as in “i’m half in”, but mixed in the fact that the content itself is so emotional that my horn will have to work extra hard. mixed in the fact that its honesty hurts me. this film has me enraged, inspired, and activated. it gives me hope for a united Blackness, but upset by constant thwarted plans for its achievement.

For this occasion, Feven’s band consists of Quincy Mayes on keys, Bernie Arai on drums, and Milo Johnson on bass.

Kenton Loewen & JP Carter + Wabi at Zameen Art House

This special edition of the New Thing features two long running improvising duos:
Kenton Loewen & JP Carter
Wabi, featuring Chris Gestrin & Bernie Arai.
These duos will contract and compliment each other, and deliver a unique evening of improvised music.
The New Thing is a monthly series dedicated to free jazz and improvised music. It’s co-presented by Infidels Jazz & NOW Society, and takes place at Zameen Art House one Friday a month.

Robin Layne & The Rhythm Makers at The Painted Ship

Over the past decade and a half, Juno nominated percussionist Robin Layne has steeped himself in rhythmic traditions around the world. His search for rhythm and folkloric traditions has led him to Cuba, Guinea, Mali, Mexico, and beyond. He brings these influences to bear in his compositions that are inspired by his travels. He’ll be releasing a brand new album in November, and is excited to present this new music at the Painted Ship, with the help of Jocelyn Waugh, Tim Sars, Wynston Minckler, Daniel Ruiz, and Liam MacDonald.

Vince Mai Plays Chet Baker + Let’s Get Lost at VIFF Centre

A set of smooth, sublime, and smoky jazz from trumpeter Vince Mai backed up by a stellar band with Steve Maddock on vocals. The set will feature many beloved Chet Baker standards and more in the same vein, followed by the first local screening of Bruce Weber’s documentary about Baker, one of essential films about jazz.

Scott Smith & Tony Wilson at All-City Athletics

In 1978 guitarist Lenny Breau and pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons teamed up to recorded an album entitled Minors Aloud. Recorded in Nashville, the album became a hard-to-find classic and a must-listen for guitarists of any kind. For this special concert, Tony Wilson (guitar) and Scott Smith (pedal steel), along with Jeremy Holmes (bass) and Nino DiPasquale (drums), will play the entire album as well as other tunes Lenny and Buddy collaborated on.

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