2010 festival

Thursday was day 3 of this year’s workshop and festival.  Our lunch time concert featured some innovative arrangements featuring the music of Rob Kohler with the Infinitus String Trio.  Len Aruliah and Jared also joined in for this concert.

Our Thursday night Jam at Petra’s was wonderful. We enjoyed a warm summer evening here on the westcoast, and large number of our workshop students participated in the performance.  Over 100 people attended throughout the evening and heard some great live jazz from our workshop students.

At noon today (Friday July 9th) we feature Alan Matheson with our workshop faculty. He has worked with a variety of local groups including the Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Opera orchestra and Fred Stride’s Big Band, and is the leader of his own big band, nonet and septet.

Mr. Matheson studied with Vincent Cichowicz and has performed with such renowned artists as Clark Terry, Phil Woods and Louis Bellson. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by Martin Hackleman, Julia Nolan and Clark Terry. He has also been featured on C.B.C. Radio, and at the Montréal, Paris and Tartu (Estonia) Jazz Festivals. Mr. Matheson has also recorded a CD titled Intrada. Matheson has taught at the Otava, Finland Jazz Camp (2008).

On Friday evening the Len Aruliah Quartet performs at the All Saints Anglican Church. Admission is $10 at the door.

Day 2 of the workshop and festival was another busy day of music making. Today the faculty band was featured in a concert at the Kin House.  Len featured a few of his new compositions with the faculty band.

Tomorrow’s noon hour concert will feature saxophonist Rob Kohler with some original arrangements and compositions. This year we are fortunate to have the string trio Infinitus in residence with us.  They will be performing tomorrow with Rob and faculty.

Tomorrow evening (Thursday) is the open jazz jam session at Petra’s Kafe in Tsawwassen. Come out and enjoy some live jazz, and of course – bring your horn!

Today was the first day of our 2010 Festival, the seventh annual South Delta Jazz Festival and Workshop.  More than 30 students have now registered for this year’s event, and we are underway with a full day of workshop, and two festival performances.

Our lunch time event featured our faculty performing together. This year we welcome back Len Aruliah, Rob Kohler, Stan Taylor, Brad Muirhead, Jared Burrows and Stephen Robb as workshop faculty. All took part in today’s concert.

This evening our senior students took part in a concert at Diefenbaker Park in Tsawwassen featuring the Bossa Boys. Again a good crowd of about 75 enjoyed the first really nice evening of summer that we have had to take in some nice tunes from our workshop participants.