One of the finest large Jazz Ensembles in Canada makes it’s long awaited return to Vancouver’s Fox Cabaret!

On May 31, Dean Thiessen’s Stranger Friends Orchestra will be celebrating the release of their first album on Infidels Jazz, at the venue that it was recorded at almost two years ago. They’ll be performing a brand new piece by Dean: The John Steinbeck Suite. Each of the piece’s 5 movements is inspired by a different novel or short story by this celebrated American author. Oppressive gender roles and surviving the machine that is Capitalism are the themes in Steinbeck’s writing that read both as a glimpse into our recent past and a foreshadowing into our potential future. The show will also feature some of the bands favourite pieces of Deans and a few crazy antics to always keep you guessing when you come to a SFO show.

Dean Thiessen – Conductor / composer

Brent Mah – Alto Saxophone / woodwinds

John Nicholson – Tenor Saxophone / woodwinds

Adam Kyle – Tenor Saxophone / woodwinds

Sofia Avelino – Bari Saxophone

Rory Hislop – Trumpet

Feven Kidane – Trumpet

Thad Bailey-Mai . Trumpet

Greg Dent – Trombone

Nebyu Yohannes – Trombone

George McNally – Bass Trombone

Chris Fraser – Guitar

Suin Park – Piano

Jason Winikoff – Percussion

Wynston Minckler – Bass

Todd Stewart – Drums

Dean Thiessen’s Stranger Friends Orchestra

Fox Cabaret (2321 Main Street)

May 31, 2025

Doors: 7PM, Show 8PM

19+

Please note that seating is very limited at the FOX, so please arrive early if you require seating.

Presented by Infidels Jazz.