Extra special jazz night

Photo: vernonjazz.com

Capilano University, located in North Vancouver, offers a premiere 4-year bachelor of music and jazz studies degree, as well as a two-year diploma program, and is recognized nationwide as one of Canada’s top jazz training institutions. Focusing on jazz performance and composition, the degree program sets extremely high standards of musicianship and draws from amongst the strongest music students in Western Canada.

Capilano Jazz Studies’ graduates have an excellent record of national and international success as performers, composers, and teachers. In fact, seven of the Capilano University jazz alumni and two of their faculty members were in the running for the 2017 Juno Awards. As it turned out, alumna Bria Skonberg won Vocal Jazz Album of the Year for Bria and instructor Brad Turner’s band Metalwood won Jazz Album of the Year: Group for their album Twenty.

 “A” Band is the top level instrumental ensemble of Capilano’s Jazz Studies degree program and Nitecap is the front running jazz choir. Lead by faculty member Réjean Marois, these groups have performed with Jane Bunnett, Regina Carter, Bob Mintzer, Dave McMurdo, Kevin Turcotte, Brad Turner, Fred Stride, Hugh Fraser, Phil Dwyer, and many others. They also frequently collaborate with jazz singers, including Dee Daniels, Denzal Sinclair, and Nnenna Freelon to name just a few.

Marois has published original works for jazz band, choir, jazz choir, and concert band. For over 15 years, he has been in demand throughout North America as a clinician, adjudicator, conductor, music advisor, and arranger.

Accompanying “A” Band and Nitecap will be renowned Capilano University Jazz Studies Instructors Brad Turner (trumpet), Steve Kaldestad (sax), Jared Burrows (guitar), and Dennis Esson (trombone).

Turner's phenomenal talents as a trumpeter, pianist, drummer, and composer make him one of Canada’s most sought after and highly esteemed musicians. Turner's groups have opened for McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes, Wayne Shorter, Clark Terry, Diana Krall and Tony Bennett. 

Since moving to Vancouver in 2008, Kaldestad has become one of the most in demand saxophonists on the scene, performing as a sideman with the Dan Brubeck Quartet, Jesse Cahill’s Nightcrawlers, Jodi Proznick’s quartet, and Jill Townsend's big band.

Burrows is a dynamic force on the Vancouver scene as a performer, composer and community organizer. He works in a huge variety of ensembles in jazz, new music, and world music settings and leads the Jared Burrows Quartet and Sextet and the Vancouver Improvisers Orchestra.

Esson has recorded numerous CBC sessions as a featured soloist. He is also the lead trombonist with groups such as the Vancouver Ensemble of Improvisation (VEJI), Orquesta Goma Dura, Jill Townsend Big Band, Hard Rubber Orchestra, and the Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra.

“A” Band and Nitecap will be onstage at the Vernon Jazz Club (3000-31 Street) on Tuesday, May 9th at 8 PM. Doors open at 7:15 PM. CASH ONLY BAR ON SITE. Tickets $20 online at www.vernonjazz.com and at our sponsor, Expressions of Time (2901-30 Ave), with a $5 rebate at the gig for VJS members. Members receive 10% off their food purchase anytime at Bourbon Street Bar & Grill (Prestige Inn).