Concert BReak Meets Vancouver International Jazz Festival: June 20 - 26

Since as far back as I can remember, jazz has had a way of drawing me in and making me feel music. This week 1800 musicians are coming in from all over the globe to play at Vancouver's award-winning International Jazz Festival—a jazz lover's paradise! The festival runs from June 20 - 29 and has a special Canada Day date on July 1. While the selection includes true legends from the jazz world, there are a few non-jazz acts in the mix as well. As always, free concerts are available at many venues around the city. Check Coastal Jazz & Blues for a complete listing.

This is a big week for Vancouver music, so please add shows in comments as you see fit!

Friday, June 20
♦ Shout Out Out Out Out @ Commodore (VIJF): This dance-punk group out of Edmonton may seem like an unlikely feature for a jazz fest, but VIJF is a Festivus for the Rest of Us.
♦ Herbie Hancock @ Orpheum (VIJF): One of those legends I was talking about, Herbie is known as an experimentalist who still managed to convey his music to pop audiences.
♦ Beady Belle @ Performance Works (VIJF): This Norwegian group is led by female vocalist Beate S. Lech and bassist Marius Reksjo.
♦ Blind Tiger, Tiger @ Hoko's: Edmonton based alt-pop. With My Robot Unicorn.
♦ Danny Echo @ Waldorf Hotel: Echo is a Burnaby-based musician who is a bit like Sam Roberts with folkier influence.vocals.

Saturday, June 21
♦ Pink Martini @ Orpheum (VIJF): A large gang of classic-jazz and Latin-inspired musicians from Portland. I have their album "Sympathique" kicking around somewhere.
♦ Charlie Haden's Quartet West @ The Centre of Performing Arts (VIJF): One of the best recognized jazz bassists and composer's of today, Haden played with Ornette Coleman for many years. If you'd like to see what a man can do with a stand-up bass, check this show out.
♦ Maceo Parker and Ryan Shaw @ Commodore (VIJF): "2% jazz and 98% funky stuff". That's the formula that singer and saxophonist Marceo Parker uses to calmly blow away his crowds. Maceo is best known as the prominent sax player for Mr. James Brown.
♦ Benoit Delbecq @ The Western Front (VIJF): Pianist/keyboardists Bejoit Delbecq is a jazz/electronic experimentalist from Paris.
♦ Benzene @ The Ironworks (VIJF): This Vancouver-based foursome is lead by bassist Tommy Babin.
♦ Bauer / Robertson / Koch / Muller / van der Schyff @ The Ironworks (VIJF): A technical and improvisational wonder-group.
♦ Kellylee Evans @ Performance Works (VIJF): This Canadian allows her vocals to tumble out with smooth and natural musicality.
♦ Stars @ Malkin Bowl: Juno nominated Stars seems to be becoming an indie-Canadian juggernaut. Indie label Arts and Crafts has a very keen eye for good musicians (Fiest, Broken Social Scene, Apostle of Hustle, etc) and it seems they were smart to have bagged Stars!
♦ Taxes @ The Sweatshop: Don't believe Sean, he didn't actually leave the city. He was just rehearsing for this show with Defektors and White Owl.

Sunday, June 22
♦ Alpha YaYa Diallo @ Commodore (VIJF): Is it just me or does the name alone allude to joy? Originally from Guinea, Alpha YaYa Diallo is now one of Vancouver's most renowned world musicians.
♦ Blake Tartare @ Roundhouse (VIJF): This Vancouver-bred sax player and composer is now based out of NY.
♦ Improv Power Play: Canada vs. Sweden @ The Ironworks (VIJF): Go team Canada!
♦ Hilario Duran Trio @ Performance Works (VIJF): This Canadian-based pianist, composer, producer and arranger hasn't forgot his Cuban blood, which flows from each of his works.
♦ John Doheny and the Professors of Pleasure @ The Ironworks (VIJF): John Dohenly spent a lot of his early career here in Vancouver, and is now based in New Orleans.
♦ Kenny Colman and the Wizards of Jazz @ Performance Works (VIJF): Do you like to be crooned by the sounds of Old Blue Eyes and Tony Bennett? Check out Kenny Coleman, who was a good friend of Sinatra and worked with him in his prime.
♦ the Unsupervised @ Victoria Square (VIJF - Free!): A local contemporary-improv group led by guitarist Jeff Younger.
♦ Hey Rosetta! @ Media Club: St.John-based indie 6-piece known for great live shows.
♦ Shelley Campbell @ Cafe Monmartre: Local folk singer-songwriter.
♦ Katie Stelmanis @ Astoria: This Ontario-based solo-project relies heavily on syths, keyboards and loops to create the effect of a group.

Monday, June 23
♦ The Dave Brubeck Quartet @ Orpheum (VIJF): If you've listened to CBC radio, chances are you've snapped your fingers to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five". Pianists, saxophonists, drummers, bassists, and jazz lovers all over Vancouver should know that this is going to be an AMAZING show featuring a quartet that is now 57 years old!
♦ Divine Brown @ Commodore (VIJF): Check out Divine Brown's recent album "The Love Chronicles" to gather an idea of her R&B vocal style.
♦ Jesse Matheson @ Railway: Vancouver-based Jesse Matheson's songwriting is often pretty humorous.

Tuesday, June 24
♦ John Scofield Trio @ The Centre of Performing Arts (VIJF): I've been a long-time fan of Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood. Scofield has performed and recorded with some serious names in jazz and is presently touring with his own group.
♦ Susan Tedeschi and Jim Byrnes @ Commodore (VIJF): Grammy-nominated, NY-based Sasan Tedeschi shares the bill with one of Vancouver's best blues musicians: Jim Byrnes. I've seen Brynes play, and I've actually played with Marcus Mosely (...in highschool) and my guess is this is going to be a good time for blues/gospel lovers.
♦ Phil Dwyer's Food for Thought Trio @ The Ironworks (VIJF): Another saxophonist in the Jazz Fest, BC-based Dwyer sets himself apart by also being a cook and advocate of local agriculture.
♦ Dandi Wind @ Fabric: Vancouver's electro-dance maker Dandi Wind joins forces with Paul and Erik Devro.

Wednesday, June 25
♦ Brad Mehldau Trio @ The Centre for Performing Arts (VIJF): A jazz-pianist who often experiments with an array of unusual tempos and meters.
♦ Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 @ Commodore (VIJF): Nigeria's Seun Kuti is the son of influential world musician, activist and politician Fela Kuti. Egypt 80 was once led by Fela Kuti and has now passed to Seun's capable hands.
♦ Inhabitants @ The Ironworks (VIJF): Another local feature of the Vancouver Jazz Fest, Inhabitants is an experimental, instrumental jazz-fusion quartet. Wordy.
♦ RZA @ Richard's: Can't forget the hip-hop fans.

Thats that! Be sure to come back and tell me what shows you went to and what you thought! More to come next week.

Photo courtesy of David Niddrie on Flickr.