Jazz

Benny Benack III, left, and Alexander Claffy, U.S.-based Jazz musicians, are joining multiple Nanaimo student groups on stage at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on June 2 for the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society’s annual Jazz Affair show. (Photo by Marcus Morosan)

Renowned artists unite with Nanaimo students for night of jazz music

Alexander Claffy and Benny Benack III headlining Jazz Affair

 

Dirk Heydemann, the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival Association artistic director, accepts B.C. Touring Council’s inaugural Festival of the Year award from Julie Fowler, a founding member of BC Music Festival Collective, during Pacific Contact 2023 in New Westminster on Saturday, April 15. (Photo by Tom Landa)

Nanaimo International Jazz Festival wins provincial ‘Festival of the Year’ award

B.C. Touring Council presented the award during Pacific Contact conference April 15

 

Pianist Geoffrey Keezer and vocalist Gillian Margot will play St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Monday, Feb. 27, as the first stop in their West Coast tour. (Photo by John Abbott)

New York jazz duo will play Nanaimo concert with jazz students

Pianist Geoffrey Keezer and vocalist Gillian Margot play St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Feb. 27

 

Jasmine Colette and A.W. Cardinal in their home studio with their four coveted Maple Blues Awards for 2023. (Photo courtesy Blue Moon Marquee)

Blue Moon Marquee feeling upbeat after Maple Blues Awards sweep

Duo now stationed in the Cowichan Valley gaining fans in droves

Jasmine Colette and A.W. Cardinal in their home studio with their four coveted Maple Blues Awards for 2023. (Photo courtesy Blue Moon Marquee)
As part of the BBC Trio, Cameron Wilson will play the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo on Jan. 22 to highlight the versatility of the violin. (Submitted photo)

Nanaimo concert series highlights violin as a jazz instrument

Cameron Wilson, Bill Coon and Brent Gubbels play the VICC on Jan. 22

As part of the BBC Trio, Cameron Wilson will play the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo on Jan. 22 to highlight the versatility of the violin. (Submitted photo)
Code Quartet, including Jim Doxas, left, Christine Jensen, Adrian Vedady and Lex French, will be touring Vancouver Island and have a show at Nanaimo’s Simonholt on Nov. 8. (Richmond Lam photo)

Nanaimo jazz saxophonist Christine Jensen coming to town with her quartet

Code Quartet plays Simonholt on Nov. 8

Code Quartet, including Jim Doxas, left, Christine Jensen, Adrian Vedady and Lex French, will be touring Vancouver Island and have a show at Nanaimo’s Simonholt on Nov. 8. (Richmond Lam photo)
Lauren Racz, top left, Sarah Stevenson, Sandro Jost and Thea Guitard performed with the British Columbia Music Educators Honour Jazz Band and the Honour Vocal Jazz Choir at the British Columbia Music Educators’ Association Conference in Richmond on Oct. 21. (Submitted photo)

Nanaimo jazz students make provincewide honours bands

Wellington Jazz Academy students join the Honour Jazz Band and Honour Vocal Jazz Choir

Lauren Racz, top left, Sarah Stevenson, Sandro Jost and Thea Guitard performed with the British Columbia Music Educators Honour Jazz Band and the Honour Vocal Jazz Choir at the British Columbia Music Educators’ Association Conference in Richmond on Oct. 21. (Submitted photo)
Greg Bush, left, Dean Boland, Derrick Milton, David Bamford and Paul Nuez rehearsing at the Christ Community Church on Bowen Rd. on Sept. 6 in preparation for the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival’s presentation of ‘Disney Digs D’Jazz.’ (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Jazz Festival in Nanaimo will include jams, parade, Disney classics and more

Three-day celebration happening Sept. 16-18 at multiples venues

Greg Bush, left, Dean Boland, Derrick Milton, David Bamford and Paul Nuez rehearsing at the Christ Community Church on Bowen Rd. on Sept. 6 in preparation for the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival’s presentation of ‘Disney Digs D’Jazz.’ (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
Matt Aasen, left, Simon Paterson, Al Murray (seated), Patrick Courtin, Andrew Cullen and Nico Rhodes (not pictured) make up the Mahogany Swing Band that will play the Unitarian Hall in Nanaimo on July 23. (Submitted photo)

Nanaimo swing band to host dance lesson and jazz performance

The Mahogany Band and Harbour City Swing partner for July 23 event

Matt Aasen, left, Simon Paterson, Al Murray (seated), Patrick Courtin, Andrew Cullen and Nico Rhodes (not pictured) make up the Mahogany Swing Band that will play the Unitarian Hall in Nanaimo on July 23. (Submitted photo)
Mats Gustafsson, middle, will play alongside Johan Berthling, left, and Andreas Werlin as Fire for a special performance at the Queen’s on June 30. (Submitted photo)

Award-winning jazz artist bringing ‘super group’ to Nanaimo

Mats Gustafsson plays with his group Fire at the Queen’s on June 30

Mats Gustafsson, middle, will play alongside Johan Berthling, left, and Andreas Werlin as Fire for a special performance at the Queen’s on June 30. (Submitted photo)
Tina Jones, centre, as seen performing in Qualicum Beach for a painting art show “race” in 2019, will appear at the Simonholt Restaurant in Nanaimo on June 26. (Black Press file photo)

Tina Jones Quintet to perform jazz numbers in Nanaimo

Group takes the stage June 26 at Simonholt Restaurant

Tina Jones, centre, as seen performing in Qualicum Beach for a painting art show “race” in 2019, will appear at the Simonholt Restaurant in Nanaimo on June 26. (Black Press file photo)
Dee Daniels and Denzal Sinclaire will perform at Jazz Affair this Friday, May 27, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (Photos submitted)

Jazz Affair will happen live at Nanaimo’s conference centre

Concert to benefit Nanaimo-Ladysmith music students happening May 27

Dee Daniels and Denzal Sinclaire will perform at Jazz Affair this Friday, May 27, at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (Photos submitted)
Saxophonist Ryan Oliver will play Nanaimos Simonholt Restaurant on May 22 to release his latest album, Ryan Oliver With Strings. (Photo by Ron Hadley)

Jazz musician adds strings to celebrate release of new album

A string quartet joins Ryan Oliver and his own quartet at Simonholt on May 22

Saxophonist Ryan Oliver will play Nanaimos Simonholt Restaurant on May 22 to release his latest album, Ryan Oliver With Strings. (Photo by Ron Hadley)
Qualicum Beach’s Phil Dwyer plays final performance for the Nanaimo International Jazz concert series ‘Live at the Shaw’ on April 30. (photo submitted)

Phil Dwyer closes out jazz series on International Jazz Day

April 30 show a finale for Nanaimo International Jazz Festival’s ‘Live at the Shaw’ series

Qualicum Beach’s Phil Dwyer plays final performance for the Nanaimo International Jazz concert series ‘Live at the Shaw’ on April 30. (photo submitted)
Jazz saxophonist Phil Dwyer will cap a month of jazz performances at the Shaw Auditorium throughout April for Nanaimo International Jazz Festival’s Live at the Shaw. (File photo) Jazz saxophonist Phil Dwyer will cap a month of jazz performances at the Shaw Auditorium throughout April for Nanaimo International Jazz Festival’s Live at the Shaw. (File photo)

More than a month of live jazz concerts planned in Nanaimo

Series of concerts at Shaw Auditorium starts Saturday, March 26

Jazz saxophonist Phil Dwyer will cap a month of jazz performances at the Shaw Auditorium throughout April for Nanaimo International Jazz Festival’s Live at the Shaw. (File photo) Jazz saxophonist Phil Dwyer will cap a month of jazz performances at the Shaw Auditorium throughout April for Nanaimo International Jazz Festival’s Live at the Shaw. (File photo)
Clarence (Big) Miller is seen during a performance at the Yardbird Suite, a jazz club in Edmonton, in an undated handout photo. The biggest thing about Big Miller may have been the legacy he left in his adopted home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-The Yardbird Suite Society, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

‘I’m an Albertan’: Jazz legend Big Miller left swinging legacy in his adopted home

Clarence (Big) Horatius Miller was born in 1922 and grew up in Kansas

Clarence (Big) Miller is seen during a performance at the Yardbird Suite, a jazz club in Edmonton, in an undated handout photo. The biggest thing about Big Miller may have been the legacy he left in his adopted home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-The Yardbird Suite Society, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Ashley Wey, Hermann’s Jazz Club’s booking manager and longtime performer at the Victoria venue. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria’s Hermann’s Jazz Club makes first and only pandemic plea amid struggles

Recent capacity restrictions have been the hardest yet on Island music institution

Ashley Wey, Hermann’s Jazz Club’s booking manager and longtime performer at the Victoria venue. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Kwalikum Secondary School graduate Johannes Wallmann will release his ninth album, 'Elegy for an Undiscovered Species' on June 25, 2021. (Submitted photo)

Vancouver Island jazz musician Johannes Wallmann set to release 9th album

Trumpet star Ingrid Jensen of Nanaimo featured

Kwalikum Secondary School graduate Johannes Wallmann will release his ninth album, 'Elegy for an Undiscovered Species' on June 25, 2021. (Submitted photo)
International Jazz

The Nanaimo International Jazz Festival goes virtual this year!

Enjoy the 20-day-long show for free – you don’t want to miss out on this year’s performances!

  • Mar 8, 2021
International Jazz
COVID-19: ‘The Ballad of Bonnie Henry’ recorded and released

COVID-19: ‘The Ballad of Bonnie Henry’ recorded and released

LISTEN: Quick turnaround for song penned by B.C. Order of Canada musician Phil Dwyer

COVID-19: ‘The Ballad of Bonnie Henry’ recorded and released