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Jeni’s Picks for the week aheadDear Picks People… out of time. Too many interesting events this week to list them all. A happy thing! Will add to my website as time allows. The 2018 Jazz Festival Guide is available for download!! Get your tickets before they are all gone. More info here. 10 days of music and 150 free shows. More info here. Please check with venues for any last minute changes/cancellations. Enjoy!!  Rio Theatre – ItzhakMay 22, 2018 6:45 pm
From Schubert to Strauss, Bach to Brahms, Mozart to… Billy Joel, Itzhak Perlman’s violin playing transcends mere performance to evoke the celebrations and struggles of real life; “praying with the violin,” says renowned Tel Aviv violin-maker Amnon Weinstein. Alison Chernick’s enchanting documentary looks beyond the sublime musician to see the polio survivor whose parents emigrated from Poland to Israel, and the young man who struggled to be taken seriously as a music student when schools saw only his disability. Itzhak himself is funny, irreverent and self-deprecating, and here his life story unspools in conversations with masterful musicians, family and friends, and most endearingly his devoted wife of 50 years, Toby. Itzhak and Toby’s lives are dedicated to their large, loving, Jewish family in NYC and their continual support of young musicians. As charming and entrancing as the famous violinist himself, ITZHAK is a portrait of musical virtuosity seamlessly enclosed in warmth, humor, and above all: Love. Tickets $10 advance $12 at door  West Point Grey Legion – WOW Jazz Orchestra By DonationMay 22, 2018 8:00 pm
Big band music with Jack Stafford, Derry Byrne, Sharman King, Craig Scott, Oliver Gannon, Chris Startup and other local great jazz musicians playing the arrangements of Paul Ruhland and Jack Fulton  Libra Room – Malleus Trio Free eventMay 22, 2018 9:00 pm
The Malleus Trio is back to the Libra Room this week to explore some original compositions and favourite standards. Dominic Conway on Tenor Sax, Ben Brown on Drums and Geordie Hart on upright bass.  Provence Marinaside – Hip Pocket with Jason de Couto Free eventMay 23, 2018 6:00 pm
Hip Pocket Trio with special guest Jason de Couto Adam Rohrlick: electric guitar & tenor saxophone Brent Gubbels: acoustic bass Jason de Couto: keyboards  VPL Main Branch – Incite Celebrates Arsenal Pulp Press Free eventMay 23, 2018 7:30 pm
Insightful & inciting evenings presented by VPL and Writer’s Festival. In the Alice MacKay Room For almost five decades, Arsenal Pulp Press has been at the heart of cutting-edge, boundary-pushing publishing in Canada. A platform for diverse voices across the country, Arsenal has published more than 300 titles that engage and challenge readers, asking probing questions about the world around us, including literary fiction and nonfiction; cultural and gender studies; LGBTQ2 and multicultural literature. Join Amber Dawn (Sodom Road Exit), Casey Plett (Little Fish) and Joshua Whitehead (Jonny Appleseed)—three incredible, expansive authors from the Arsenal Pulp Press roster  Libra Room – Deanna Knight & The Hot Club of Mars By DonationMay 24, 2018 7:00 pm
Travel back in time to the early acoustic swing era of the 1920’s & 30’s and experience one of Vancouver’s most eclectic gypsy-jazz ensembles. Chanteuse Deanna Knight shares sassy and sultry vocals alongside the driving rhythms and hot solos of Michael Dunn and the Hot Club of Mars  Blue Martini – Bill RungeMay 24, 2018 7:00 pm
Bill has been a successful performer, composer, arranger, and orchestrator for over 30 years. A multi-instrumentalist, he has performed and recorded on saxophones, flutes, clarinets, electric and string bass, piano and other keyboards, guitar, pennywhistle, and accordion. Bill has produced four recordings and is an in demand studio musician who has recorded with such acts as K-OS, INXS, Powder Blues, Traci Ullman, The Hard Rubber Orchestra, Swollen Members, Tower of Power horns, Long John Baldry, Shari Ulrich, The Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI), Amos Garrett, The Paperboys, Lowell Fulson, Jackyll, and many more. Cover Charge May Be Applied to Some Shows  WISE Hall – Christie Rose & The Bottom Shelf Bourbon Trio Pay-what-you-canMay 24, 2018 8:00 pm
Christie Rose and The Bottom Shelf Bourbon Trio join forces in collaboration for a night of good music and good company in the speakeasy coziness of the WISE Lounge. CHRISTIE ROSE From a cheeky turn of phrase, to the ache of love and loss, to the vivid beauty and plain revelation evoked by small details, Christie Rose’s lyric-driven songs tread a varied range of observation and human emotion. With striking melodies, delivered in a voice both powerful and nuanced, she’s a folk artist who’s also in love with rockabilly, doo-wop, soul, rock n’ roll, country, atmospheric ballads, and poetry. THE BOTTOM SHELF BOURBON TRIO The Bottom Shelf Bourbon Trio plays core roots music anchored between the lowdown grit and growl of early blues, the high lonesome sounds of bluegrass, and contemporary americana. Their music explores universal themes of substance abuse, infidelity, blue-collar angst, unrequited love, and wanderlust.  Jazz at Tangent Cafe – Organ Chemistry Trio By DonationMay 24, 2018 8:30 pm
Funky Trio playing classic organ jazz, drawing from influences such as Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, and Larry Young. With Jason DeCouto – organ, Adam Rohrlick – guitar and Joel Fountain – drums  Parker Art SalonMay 25, 2018 6:00 pm
Now in its fourth year, The Parker Art Salon 2018 is one of Vancouver’s premier art events, a unique, salon-style exhibition showcasing the work of more than 60 fine artists at the iconic 1000 Parker Street Studios. Featuring artist talks, studio tours, live music and more. May 25th COLLECTOR’S NIGHT Appetizers, cash bar featuring BC wine & beer ( 1 complimentary drink ), music, + art auction + small art wall -sharing proceeds with the charity, AnxietyBC www.anxietybc.ca May 26th & 27th OPEN STUDIOS Sandra Kadel will be giving guided tours of selected artists studios on Saturday and Sunday May 26-27. Each walking tour is one hour, they happen twice a day, at 2pm and 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Tickets by donation.  Pacific Cinematheque -No Maps on My Taps + About TapMay 25, 2018 7:00 pm
In celebration of National Tap Dance Day, observed annually (and internationally) on May 25, West Coast Tap and The Cinematheque are pleased to present new restorations of two exhilarating dance films by American documentary filmmaker George T. Nierenberg. Introduction by Michael van der Bos former Cotton Club tap dancer. New Restoration! NO MAPS ON MY TAPS (1979) | 58 min Documentarian George T. Nierenberg (Say Amen, Somebody) had intended to make an elegy for the then-dying art of tap; his joyous, ebullient 1979 film was actually instrumental in the dance form’s revival. NO MAPS ON MY TAPS showcases legendary New York hoofers Bunny Briggs, Chuck Green, and Howard “Sandman” Sims, all still dancing up a storm (here, to Lionel Hampton’s music) as they approach their senior years. Great clips from the 1930s demonstrate the gifts of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, John Bubbles, and others New Restoration! ABOUT TAP (1985) | 28 min George T. Nierenberg’s 1979 hit documentary NO MAPS ON MY TAPS arrived hot on the heels (pun intended) of Gregory Hines’s star-making turn in 1978’s Broadway smash Eubie! The two events are credited with reenergizing the art of tap. In Nierenberg’s sequel, Hines shares childhood memories of attending Harlem’s  St.Paul’s Labyrinth – Tony Kastelic: Bach Suites on Viola By DonationMay 25, 2018 7:00 pm
Walk the labyrinth to the soothing Baroque melodies of composer J. S. Bach. Performed by classically trained musician Tony Kastelic, these Bach suites are played on the viola and interpreted with spirited vigour. Walk and reflect or sit and contemplate to this beautiful and profound music. It’s music for the soul and for the month of May.  Shake, Shake, Shake – Fundraiser for Parkinson’s & MSMay 25, 2018 7:30 pm
Shake Shake Shake was created by sisters Kate and Emily Chambers in 2015 and aptly named by their father, Barry Chambers who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2002. This phenomenal event has supported Parkinson Society British Columbia for 2 years, and in 2018, they invited the MS Society to join them in raising awareness for these two neurological diseases. Musical Acts: Emily Chambers Dawn Pemberton Khari McClelland With special guest DJ David Love Jones of Vinyl Records VIP ticket holders will enjoy early entry and a performance by one of Canada’s premier guitarists Paul Pigat. There will be both a silent and live auction and a 50/50 raffle Concert Tickets $30/35 and VIP Concert and Reception $125  Unity of Vancouver – Home: Songs of Longing & Belonging – Rhythm ‘n’ Roots ChoirMay 25, 2018 7:30 pm
Home, and the feeling of belonging come to us in different forms. Certain people, landscapes, buildings, and forms of communication make us feel at home. Sometimes we must carry home with us in a song or story. Rhythm ‘n’ Roots Choir, under the direction of Karla Mundy, and with special guest Moira Smiley will share beautiful songs of longing, belonging and a sense of home from many corners of the earth including Sweden, South Africa, Bosnia, Turkey, Corsica, Haiti, Canada, and the US. Along with Moira, Rhythm ‘n’ Roots will be joined by very special guest musicians Jennifer Scott (vocals), Rene Worst (bass) and Liam MacDonald (percussion). Tickets $25/20  Jazz @ The Pat – Jack Ray Organ Band Free eventMay 26, 2018 3:00 pm
One of last year’s pleasant surprises, Aussie import Jack Ray returns to heat things up at The Pat. “Brad Shigeta (trombone) played in Jack McDuff’s band when he lived in New York,” Jack says, “so it’s going to be bluesy, greasy boogaloo affair.” Jack Ray – guitar/vocals Joe Poole – drums Victor Noriego – organ Brad Shigeta – trombone Ben Henriques – saxophone  Frankie’s Jazz Club – Cory Weeds Quintet featuring Terrell Stafford and Harold MabernMay 26, 2018 8:00 pm
A giant of contemporary jazz, Terell Stafford is an incredibly gifted and versatile player who combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. An unforgettable performer who turns every performance into an informal master class, Harold Mabern regales audiences with his first-hand account of jazz history. His music is marked by unmistakable purpose and harmonic authority and he employs a powerful technique and deep insight into a wide range of repertoire from the Great American Songbook to his own soulful originals. Cory Weeds is an expressive player with a sound firmly rooted in the jazz tradition. Cover $30  WISE Hall -Fiesta MéxiColombianaMay 26, 2018 8:00 pm
Caravan World Rhythms and Las Estrellas de Vancouver present Fiesta MéxiColombiana!! An exciting concert featuring three very distinct groups playing the music of Mexico and Colombia… Mariachi, Son Jarocho, Huasteco, Vallenato and Cumbia. Son del Monton – from Guanajuato, Mexico four musicians with diverse musical backgrounds – Son Jarocho, Huasteco, Jazz, Classical, reggae, rock, Son Cubano, Flamenco and more. Mariachi Las Estrellas de Vancouver – Canada’s only all-female Mariachi band formed with the goal to explore in-depth the music of Mexico, one so rich and diverse in its musical traditions Breaking Boundaries –high energy, danceable, super fun group directed by Colombian musician/accordionist, John Gonzalez DJ Marc Fournier, the tropical selector, has brought people on the dance floor for many years Tickets $20/25  Jazz Vespers at St. Andrews Wesley – Nancy Newman Trio By DonationMay 27, 2018 4:00 pm
Nancy Newman’s evocative voice, deep interpretive skills, and passion for improvisation shine as she sings across the borders of jazz, popular and original music. With Nancy are accomplished musicians Dan Reynolds on piano and Conrad Good on bass.  Jazz at Tangent Cafe – Ben Lockwood Quartet By DonationMay 27, 2018 6:00 pm
Hard bop fuelled saxophonist Ben Lockwood plays standards and playful originals with a swinging band of Vancouver’s finest players. With Nick Peck – organ, Dave Sikula – guitar, and Joe Poole – drums  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.  Guilt & Co – Don Stewart Quartet Pay-what-you-canMay 29, 2018 9:30 pm
Don Stewart has been singing all his life… professionally since the age of nine. Don lends his seductive and smooth musical stylings to Jazz and Pop standards, R&B, British Invasion and Gospel tunes, and effortlessly sweeps through the full gamut of the Great American Songbook, from depression-era Jazz Standards through to Motown, Contemporary Soul and beyond. With Ron Johnston – piano, Cameron Hood -bass, Buff Allen – drums |
"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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