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Jeni’s Picks for the week aheadDear Picks People… Rain, rain go away! In the meantime while waiting for the lull, here is this week’s list. 2018 Vancouver International Jazz Festival (June 22-July 1) is getting closer. Events will sell out very early so get your tickets before they are gone! More info here As usual, before you venture out, please check with venues for any last minute changes/cancellations. Enjoy!!  West Point Grey Legion – WOW Jazz Orchestra By DonationApril 17, 2018 8:00 pm
Great large band music celebrating swing style bands of the 40s and 50s led by Jack Stafford, with Derry Byrne, Sharman King, Craig Scott, Oliver Gannon, Chris Startup and other well-known local jazz musicians. Playing the arrangements of Paul Ruhland and Jack Fulton. For listening and dancing if you wish.  Libra Room – Big Top By DonationThis event runs from January 9, 2018 until June 12, 2018.
Guitarist/composer Scott McLeod brings his band Big Top to the Libra Room most Tuesdays.A musical dedication to the life and times, both past and present, of the roustabouts, carnies, rubes, misfits and performers of the circus. A Roots Americana soundscape.  Provence Marinaside – Hip Pocket plays music of French Composers Free eventApril 18, 2018 6:00 pm
Hip Pocket will play the music of Michel Legrand, Edith Piaf, Django Reinhardt & Bireli Lagrene. Adam Rohrlick: electric guitar & tenor saxophone Brent Gubbels: acoustic bass Kristian Alexandrov: keyboards  Cottage Bistro – Lorraine Foster & Friends Celebrate Spring By DonationApril 18, 2018 7:00 pm
A rare solo performance by vocalist Lorraine Foster. Lorraine sang with Dal Richards and his orchestra for 11 years. She performed and recorded with legendary pianist Linton Garner and with internationally acclaimed Oliver Jones. With Ron Thompson-guitar, Cameron Hood – bass and Mike Higgins- drums Suggested donation $10  Frankie’s Jazz Club – John Korsrud Latin QuintetApril 18, 2018 8:00 pm
World Music Wednesdays 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, Bill Runge saxophone, Raphael Geronimo drums, Niho Takase piano, and Ronnie Swirl bass. Cover $10  Vancity Theatre – Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould Free eventApril 18, 2018 8:40 pm
National Canada Film Day Some films are so good that they remind us of cinema’s capabilities, by, in a sense, reinventing the medium’s shape and form. This is one of those films. Granted, Gould makes an extraordinary subject. But the masterstroke here is to a cue from Gould’s most famous piece, his interpretation(s) of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, and to structure the film as 32 fragments, each revealing a different perspective. We see Gould at various junctures, but while they’re loosely in chronological order, these sequences are not really biographical, but tasters of a strangely distant, always compelling personality. *Tickets are free, but booking ahead is recommended. Seats are not guaranteed and will be allotted to ticket-holders on a first-come, first-served basis.  Libra Room – Rollin’ & Tumblin’ By DonationApril 18, 2018 9:00 pm
Some classic blues and funky instrumentals with Dave Webb on piano, Sandy Bone Smith on drums and Dave Paterson on guitar,harmonica and vocals …Classics by Jimmy Reed, TBone Walker, Earl Hooker, Muddy Waters and more.  China Cloud – Free Improv Sextet By DonationApril 18, 2018 9:00 pm
INVISIBLE TASTE W E D N E S D A Y S China Cloud’s ONLY weekly program featuring some of Vancouver’s best new music and artistry This week..a stellar lineup of local improvisers for two sets of improv (in various configurations) to welcome Alex Catona (Cello) to the local improvised music scene Alex Catona – Cello Cole Schmidt – Guitar Jeremy Page – Tenor Saxophone John Paton – Tenor Saxophone Colin Cowan – Bass Dan Gaucher – Drums  Gold Saucer – Otra + Elkhorn Pay-what-you-canApril 18, 2018 9:00 pm
Self Help Presents … ElkHorn creates compelling music inspired by guitarist/composer Tom Wherrett’s Nebraskan childhood. Elements of jazz, post-rock, and folk make for an imaginative trip to where the west begins. With Meredith Bates violin/viola, Russell Sholberg bass, Sam Davidson bass clarinets, Mike Magnusson drums. with Otra. Suggested donation $5-10  Verses Festival of Words April 19-29, 2018April 19, 2018
Hullabaloo Youth Poetry Slam Competition Spoken Word + Music Showcases 5 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championships bouts Friday late night cabaret show Five community stages Two Talk the Talk community discussions …and much more! Read more here Buy a Festival Pass or individual tickets. (Buffy St.Marie already sold out of course)  Rio Theatre – Delinquent (Vancouver Premiere)April 19, 2018 6:30 pm
The Vancouver Premiere of director David I. Strasser‘s, Delinquent, the first feature-length film to be shot on British Columbia’s Salt Spring Island. Nominated for several film awards, DELINQUENT tells the inspirational story of a rebellious teenager on a downward spiral. Jakob Levin is sentenced by the courts to serve his time on an organic farm run by his uncle. Put to work with a bunch of misfit interns, he soon discovers that not everything is as idyllic as it first appears, and beneath the beauty of the farm, potentially malevolent forces are at play. Tickets $10/12 Lead actors will be in attendance with writer/director and director for a post screening Q&A.  Cottage Bistro – Al Purdy Poetry Night & Fundraiser By DonationApril 19, 2018 7:00 pm
A fundraiser for the Al Purdy A-Frame Association. The a-frame that belonged to the Purdys is now the site of the A-Frame Residency Program, through which writers are offered a time and place to work in a location that is attractive and of historic significance. A celebration of the 100 years of the life & poetry of Al Purdy. Featuring George Bowering, Rhea Tregebov, Rob Taylor, Jane Munro, Raoul Fernandes, Danny Peart, Kate Braid and more $10 suggested donation at door  WISE Hall – Hank Pine By DonationThis event runs from April 12, 2018 until April 19, 2018.
Hank Pine brings his stellar band of all-stars through a maelstrom of psychedelic music plunging deep into many of his favourite genres. Musical megastars and magickal mayhem every Thursday in April at the Wise Lounge! $10 suggested donation  Frankie’s Jazz Club – BrasileiraApril 19, 2018 8:00 pm
Presented with Italian Cultural Cen Whether it’s a hypnotic Jobim tune or a pulsing samba, Jennifer Scott’s Brasileira fills the senses and entertains with engaging warmth and an energy to have you dancing in your seat! Jennifer Scott piano and vocals, Bill Coon guitar, Rene Worst bass, Cory Weeds saxphone, and Nino DiPasquale drums. With special guest Raphael Geronimo on percussion. Cover $15  Jazz at Tangent Cafe – **From Montreal** Mark Nelson’s Sympathetic Frequencies By DonationApril 19, 2018 8:30 pm
Free of any polyphonic instruments, drummer Mark Nelson’s project encourages spontaneous musical creation, with dazzling melody lines and rhythmic conversations. With Ben Henriques – saxophones & Paul Rushka – bass  The Heatley – Lone Bear Trio By DonationApril 19, 2018 8:30 pm
Lone Bear Trio Jeff Younger on guitar with Russell Sholberg on bass and Bernie Arai on drums tweaking out instrumental hits. On the menu this month, tunes by Ozzy Osbourne, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Phil Collins (yeah, In The Air Tonight, but the arrangement is cool!), maybe some Iron Maiden, The Temptations and yes, some of the killer Sabbath tunes.  The Toast Collective – Enemy Pigeon + Natasha D’Agostino Trio Pay-what-you-canApril 19, 2018 9:00 pm
Do Improvise Yourself presents a cozy night of music and chilling… Enemy Pigeon – Post-Bop quintet in the mid-60s vibe Kevin Romain – Drumset + Compositions Roisin Adams – Piano Ridley Bishop – Tenor Saxophone Dominic Conway – Tenor Saxophone Nikko Whitworth – Upright Bass Natasha D’Agostino Trio Natasha D’Agostino (Voice) David Blake (Guitar) Conrad Good (Upright Bass)  Rio Theatre – Hardcore Logo (a Fundraiser)April 19, 2018 9:30 pm
A Save the Rio Fundraiser on National Canadian Film Day (well, one day after!) hands down, one of the most acclaimed Canadian films ever made, HARD CORE LOGO. Based on the novel by Michael Turner, director Bruce Macdonald plays “himself” – a filmmaker following the cult punk-rock bank Hard Core Logo as they embark on a harrowing, last-gasp reunion tour through Western Canada. As magnetic lead-singer Joe Dick (Hugh Dillon) holds the whole magilla together with his sheer force of will, all the tensions and pitfalls of life on the road come bubbling to the surface – including that guitarist Billy Tallent (Callum Keith Rennie) is actually “on hold” with another, more popular band, which adds to his already fraught relationship with Joe, for whom the band is everything. Toss in an erratic bassist (John Pyper-Ferguson) and hard-partying drummer (Bernie Coulson), and the result is a rock n’ roll road trip movie unlike any other. Tickets $10 advance $12 at the door Director of Photography Danny Nowak will be on-hand for a Q&A. Proceeds from this screening of HARD CORE LOGO to benefit the #SavetheRio campaign!  MERGE – Parkland/CJ Boyd/RóisínAdams + an early show By DonationApril 20, 2018 7:00 pm
The incomparable and captivating CJ Boyd has been touring the world literally nonstop for 10 years, returning at intervals to Vancouver like a rare comet in the night sky. Don’t miss out, stargazers! Bassist, composer, vagabond, CJ Boyd uses low-end loops and voices in order to try and stop time. On perpetual tour since March 2008, movement and stasis are both at the center of his music. Though solo performance takes up the bulk of his time and effort, he also plays in the bands Desert Center, Kurva Choir, Rhonya, and Move. His non-stop travels between North America and Europe have been propelled by vans, cars, trains, buses, planes, and boats, but most of all a commitment to ceaseless discovery and re-invention. His oceanic sounds provide a home for the homeless and journeys to the homebound. Listen here Experimental pianist/composer Róisín Adams will be opening the night with her Mirror Compositions, and then joining Parkland on keys later in the evening. Parkland is the constantly – evolving music project of singer/guitarist/producer Rob Malowany. And…Go early (7-9pm) for the opening of “Somewhere, BC” a photo and sound exhibit by Wally Barber and Stephen Lyons More info here  Frankie’s Jazz Club – From New York: Ken Fowser QuintetThis event runs from April 20, 2018 until April 21, 2018.
From New York, the hard-hitting Ken Fowser Quintet is fronted by trumpet impresario Josh Bruneau, a rising star in the jazz scene. Debuting his new highly-acclaimed album Now Hear This(Positone), Ken brings “hard bop fans a solid set of free wheeling jazz with a swagger… and with a polished sheen… that keeps your attention and swings mightily” (Audiophile Audition). With Nick Peck piano, John Lee bass, and Kelby MacNayr drums. Tickets $20  China Cloud – Grdina/Honari/Razmi/Dhillon Pay-what-you-canApril 20, 2018 9:00 pm
Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer Neelamjit Dhillon is in town after touring Europe and spending 3 months in India 9:30 Gordon Grdina-Hamin Honari GG- Oud HH-Tombak, Daf 10:15 Gordon Grdina-Hamin Honari-Neelamjit Dhillon-Ali Razmi Gordon Grdina-Oud Hamin Honari-Tombak, Daf Neelamjit Dhillon-Tabla Ali Razmi-Tar, Setar $20-$10 sliding scale  WISE Hall – Peggy Lee’s Echo Painting Album LaunchApril 20, 2018 9:00 pm
Barking Sphinx Performance Society, Live at the Wise & Sawdust Collector Present Peggy Lee’s ‘Echo Painting’ Album Launch Party • ECHO PAINTING • The Echo Painting project was conceived with the help of Rainbow Robert of Coastal Jazz and Blues in Vancouver. The intent was to create a new large ensemble including some of the most active and interesting improvisors on the Vancouver scene today. Peggy Lee – Cello Meredith Bates – Violin Brad Turner – Trumpet Jon Bentley – Tenor & Soprano sax John Paton – Tenor Saxophone Rod Murray – Trombone Cole Schmidt – Guitar Bradshaw Pack – Pedal Steel Guitar André Lachance – Electric Bass Dylan van der Schyff – Drums + Robin Holcomb – Vocals Also with Wallgrin and Alex MacKenzie Tickets $15/$20 at the door (or PWYC.. no-one turned away)  15th Annual Motown Meltdown – SEVA FundraiserApril 21, 2018 7:00 pm
Motown Meltdown is celebrating 15 years of classic soul music. A Night of Music and Dancing in support of sight. 25 dynamic performers, accompanied by a scorching 12-piece band of the most seasoned session musicians in the country, will bring the Motown songbook to life. Prepare to start “Dancing in the Streets” and celebrating the music and musicians of a powerful era, including Diana Ross, Otis Redding, Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and many more! With Joani Bye, Dawn Pemberton, Linda Kidder, Jane Mortifee, Don Stewart, Will Sanders plus, plus. Tickets $34.75 Alpen Club – Big Band Big Bang!April 21, 2018 8:00 pm
Arokis Music Annual Fundraiser featuring two big bands… Impressions and Urbana. The event helps Arokis fulfill their mission of promoting and preserving big band jazz in the Vancouver area. For lovers of the music, it’s a rare opportunity to hear two of Vancouver’s top community big bands share the stage. It also gives the bands a chance to experience each others’ repertoire and music skills. For listening and dancing. Tickets $20/$15  St.Andrews Wesley Jazz Vespers – Andrea Superstein By DonationApril 22, 2018 4:00 pm
You have to know the rules in order to break them. Andrea Superstein knows the rules. And she breaks them. Subtly infusing electro, indie and other unexpected elements, she as Tom Harrison, music critic for the Vancouver Province, said, is “redefining jazz.” Think Amy Winehouse meets Portishead.  Jazz at Tangent Cafe – Gavin Youngash Trio By DonationApril 22, 2018 6:00 pm
Guitarist Gavin Youngash is often heard plating with Dawn Pemberton, Star Captains, and other psychedelic bands. On this event he will focus on his own music which fuses jazz harmony with contemporary rhythm and melody. With Eli Davidovici – bass and Kai Basanta – drums  Frankie’s Jazz Club – From New York: Manuel Valera TrioApril 22, 2018 8:00 pm
Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Manuel Valera was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. Well known on the New York modern jazz scene, Manuel has garnered national American reviews and lent his talents as a pianist and composer to such notable artists as Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Jeff Tain Watts, and Joel Frahm, Brian Lynch, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, among many others. A dynamic and prolific artist, Manuel has released 12 CDs as a bandleader with touring projects, ranging from his group New Cuban Express to his modern contemporary trio to solo piano. His latest trio recording The Seasons (MAVO Records) was released last year. With Hans Hans Glawishnig bass and Mark Whitfield Jr. drums. Tickets $20  Libra Room – Jesse Waldman & friends By DonationThis event runs from January 7, 2018 until June 10, 2018.
Every Sunday guitarist/singer/songwriter Jesse Waldman and special guests…. (expect great musicians like Marc L’Esperance, Noah Walker and Paul Pigat)  Libra Room – John Korsrud Latin Jazz Band By DonationThis event runs from January 8, 2018 until June 11, 2018.
Monday Latin Night returns to Libra Room… trumpet player/composer/band leader John Korsrud (Goma Dura/Hard Rubber) will bring some of Vancouver’s finest players to the Drive most Mondays. |
"Jeni's Picks" is a curated list of eclectic events that I feel are of particular interest to my readership. If you know of an event of interest, let me know and I'll consider it for inclusion.
Jeni Mastin, JenisPicks.com
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