Jeni’s Picks for the week ahead Dear Picks People…  Link here to a holiday guide of performing arts events in Vancouver. Please check my website for additions/updates during the week. And remember to also check with venues for schedule changes. They happen! Vancity Theatre – Marriage Story December 3, 2019 3:00 pm The greatest divorce drama since Kramer vs Kramer, Noah Baumbach’s very funny, very painful movie attempts to do justice to both parties – actress Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) and theatre director Charlie (Adam Driver). They mean to keep things amicable. But there is custody to sort out and she is living in LA now… And then there are the lawyers (Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta…). Things get nasty. With career best work from everyone involved, this is clearly one from the heart. Tickets $11 **On multiple other dates at different times** The Heatley – Adventures in Steel Guitar #18 By Donation December 3, 2019 8:00 pm The 18th instalment of Adventures in Steel Guitar  pays tribute to the innovative steel guitar daredevil Speedy West. Speedy is most famous for his incredible instrumental recordings with fellow guitar shredder Jimmy Bryant but he was also an important session musician who played on recordings by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ernest Tubb, Lorretta Lynn and Merle Travis, to name a few. He is also regarded as one of the first, if not THE first steel guitar player to attach pedals to his steel, forever changing what the instrument could do. Expect a lot of the Jimmy Bryant/Speedy West instrumental classics as well as some vocal tunes featuring Marin Patenaude, James Green, Kathleen Nesbit and Paul Pigat. Scott Smith – steel guitar Paul Pigat – guitar Jeremy Holmes – bass Liam MacDonald -drums Gold Saucer – Plastic Orchid Factory/Amanda Sum/ Zen Escalator PWYC December 3, 2019 9:00 pm Weekly performance series curated by Barbara Adler, Cole Schmidt & James Meger. Tuesdays at the Gold Saucer Studio.  This week… — Plastic Orchid Factory — (Dance) — Amanda Sum — (Songs) — Zen Escalator — (Analogue Electronics) Doors at 9:00 PM, Performance at 9:30 PM, $5 – $10 or PWYC at the door, cash only.   Tangent Cafe – Black Top Blues Band By Donation December 4, 2019 8:00 pm Greasy blues tunes by Ronnie Earl, Magic Sam and Junior Kimbrough among others! Sam King – Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica John Paton – Tenor Saxophone Gavin Youngash – Guitar James Meger – Electric Bass Jesus Caballero – Drums Frankie’s Jazz Club – Jaelem Bhate Jazz Orchestra December 4, 2019 8:00 pm Young and versatile, rising star Jaelem Bhate was recently named as one of CBC Music’s 30 under 30 hot classical musicians. 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, Jackson Bell, Adam Kyle Trumpets: Michael Kim, Dan Hersog, Thad Mai, Ashley Ashrafian Trombones: Cam Henderson, Kevin Jackson, Sean Lavigne, Louis Lam Rhythm: Andrew MacDonald, Ricardo Halabi, Angus Lam, Duran Ritz Cover $15 Vancouver Art Gallery – Yule Duel December 5, 2019 5:30 pm Yule Duel is BC’s largest free, family friendly, outdoor choral event. At Yule Duel dozens of choirs sing for a crowd of thousands in a street-carolling competition, as they compete for a multitude of awards. All proceeds from this fund-raising event support May’s Place Hospice in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. North Plaza of the Art Gallery Partial list of choirs competing here   Bix Bistro – Sparky Spurr & Monica Lee December 5, 2019 6:00 pm Bix Bistro ( formerly X-Cite and before that El Barrio) introduces live music on Thursday nights This week hear two of East Vancouver’s best. MONICA LEE’s voice has been compared to Carly Simon and Carole King. She is a gifted instrumentalist and talented lyricist who many will recognize from her years at the Libra Room. SPARKY SPURR is a plucky composer of quirky roots country tunes, and a gifted comedic story-teller. Just what you need after a long day and before you face the commute home. Tickets $10 online, at Highlife or Red Cat or pay at the door Jazz at Tangent Cafe – David Lavoie Quartet By Donation December 5, 2019 8:30 pm David Lavoie Quartet  featuring Nick Peck on keys, Jeff Gammon on bass, Miles Wong on drums and David on trumpet. They will be playing original jazz compositions from Davids upcoming album “Juno” Libra Room – Ella Ozz & The Wizards of Swing By Donation December 6, 2019 7:00 pm Get out to the Libra Room before it closes next month!! Wizards of Swing play a mix of gypsy swing plus Ella Ozz sings Edith Piaf classics & other tunes. Rio Theatre – Coco Love Alcorn’s “Rebirth” Release Concert December 6, 2019 8:00 pm Coco Love Alcorn legendary soul-folk singer-songwriter (The Coast, Halifax)  celebrates the release of her latest album Rebirth. This new album features a collection of songs that will captivate audiences and showcase her dynamic vocals. With soulful melodies, heartbeat grooves, and lyrics that come from a personal place yet speak to the listener on a universal level, Rebirth is her bravest and most vulnerable album to date. Tickets $20 advance/$25 at the door Tyrant Studios – Steffanie Davis “My Old Flame” December 6, 2019 9:30 pm This will be vocalist Steffanie’s third solo jazz show.  A collection of jazz standards mixed in with some story telling.  Accompanied by  Sean Bayntun on the piano. Tickets  $15 advance or $20 at the door Brentwood Church – Don Stewart sings Nat King Cole December 7, 2019 2:00 pm Don has been presenting his favourite songs from the repertoire of Nat King Cole for many years. He will be backed by Ron Johnston on piano, Buff Allen on drums, Mark Bender on bass, Nick Apivor on vibes and percussion, and Michael Toth on guitar Tickets $15 advance/$20 at the door Jazz at The Pat – Tony Wilson & Scott Smith play Buddy and Lenny Free event December 7, 2019 3:00 pm Tony Wilson and Scott Smith will perform the Lenny Breau/Buddy Emmons album “Minors Aloud” in its entirety. Released in 1978, “Minors Aloud” was a very unique album that featured bebop standards like Charlie Parker’s “Scrapple From the Apple”, soul jazz numbers like Les McCann’s “Compared to What” and even an arrangement of a Bach piece. The band will also play a few Breau and Emmons tunes from other albums as well as some of Tony’s originals. Tony Wilson – guitar Scott Smith – pedal steel Russell Sholberg – bass Liam MacDonald – drums Red Lion – Johnston/Hood & friends By Donation December 7, 2019 7:00 pm Ron on piano and Cameron on bass bring eclectic jazz to West Vancouver every Friday (and Saturday). Often with well-known guests from the local music community dropping by to sit in. Sometimes vocalists.. sometimes not. Western Front – Tony Wilson’s Burn Down the Cornfield December 7, 2019 7:00 pm Coastal jazz and Blues presents the cd release of This Way Thru the Forest. West Coast guitarist/composer Tony Wilson brings his stratospheric imagination and serpentine playing to this new project that blends a lean jazz trio with strings. Patsy Klein-vocals// Meredith Bates & Josh Zubot-violin// John Kastilic-viola//Peggy Lee-cello//Tony Wilson-guitar//James Meger-bass// Dylan van der Schyff-drums Tickets $26.94 Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens – Tale of Pipa December 7, 2019 7:30 pm Tale of Pipa: A special encounter between two ancient music civilizations The project will mark the first ever collaboration between the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble (VCME) and the Vashaan Ensemble which specializes in Persian music, and will feature renowned pipa performer Ling Yang and legendary singer Lili Lau. Tickets $15/S10 Jazz at Tangent Cafe – Winston2 By Donation December 8, 2019 6:00 pm A long anticipated meeting of two f Vancouver’s foremost musicians who happen to share a name. Bassist Wynston Minkler and pianist Winston Matsushita join forces and explore the power of united Winston2.  They will be playing original tunes and classic piano trio romps. With Joe Poole on drums. Water Street Cafe – Hip Pocket with special guest Oliver Gannon December 8, 2019 7:00 pm Adam Rohrlick: tenor saxophone Oliver Gannon: electric guitar Paul Rushka: acoustic bass Cover charge: $5 per set. Two sets 7pm & 8:45pm. 8East -Wilson/ Samworth/ van der Schyff/ Loewen + Wilson/ Wherrett Duo PWYC December 8, 2019 9:00 pm Set 1 Tony Wilson Guitar Tom Wherrett Guitar Set 2 Tony Wilson Guitar Ron Samworth Guitar Dylan van der Schyff Drums Kenton Loewen Drums Doors at 8 Music at 9 $20- $10 PWYC The Annex -Jocelyn Morlock & Jordan Nobles: 50th Birthday Celebration December 9, 2019 7:00 pm A fun-filled, action-packed Celebration of Jocelyn Morlock & Jordan Nobles 50th Birthday in this special concert co-presented with Redshift Music Society and featuring their 16—speaker array alongside, or more accurately soaring above an all-star cast of performers, including Mark McGregor, Flute; Vern Griffiths and Michael Jarrett on Percussion; Jane Hayes, Piano; Joan Blackman, Violin; Olivia Blander, Cello; David Brown, Bass; Roger Cole, Oboe; AK Coope, Clarinet; and Ellen Marple on Trombone. Tickets $25 --

"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