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Jazz workshop day 4, the week continues… Today featured local Vancouver saxophonist David Branter in two performances and a masterclass with our saxophone students. Dave performed with the faculty band at lunch and gave us a small taste of what was to come this evening. Dave chose a mix of compositions including standards and original compositions by both himself and Jared Burrows.

Dave gave a saxophone masterclass this afternoon. His class was about jazz improvisation and use of Bebop scales. He took our students through a series of quick exercises that explored the use of myxolydian scales and a few patterns to help unlock the doors to modern bebop playing and help us aquire the technical facility to play such complicated patterns.

Dave teaches at Vancouver Community College and has a website of saxophone essentials that has some online lessons, complete with mp3 and video clips. I would encourage our musicians to check it out.

Tonight’s evening concert was a gas, easily one of the best performances of the fesitval so far with Dave and the band receiving a rousing standing ovataion at the end. Bravo!!

Tomorrow is the final day, with the student ensembles performing at Delta Hospital from 1 – 3pm, and the special evening concert with Steve Maddock and Lorne Kellett at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre. Tickets are going fast, only $10 – available at South Coast Casuals and at the door.

Day 3 of the workshop we welcomed our second guest performer of the week, John Doheny from New Orleans. John gave a rousing noon hour performance, followed by a guest lecture about the life and music of New Orleans. John teaches at Tulane University in New Orleans, and one of the courses he teaches there is about New Orleans and its rich tradition of jazz, from the street music Caribbean roots to its traditional brass bands and funeral marches, something we will probably never really see in this country, or even in other places in the US.

Tonight was the live jazz jam at Petras with our workshop students and extra guests. About 100 people came through this evening to see friends and hear our students performing. The weather came through for us, after being rainy and cool earlier this week today it warmed up and sun came out. It was a great evening, with lots of workshop musicians and other guests coming out to perform. Thanks to Petra for hosting us.

Tomorrow we have Dr. Dave Branter coming out to work with us. Dave is one of Vancouver’s top saxophonists, and we are looking forward to having him perform and work with our students.

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 McKee Seniors Recreation Centre. This evening some of our workshop students performed at Diefenbaker Park with the Bossa Boys in a free concert sponsored by Delta Parks and Rec.

Tomorrow’s noon hour concert will feature saxophonist John Doheny. Originaly from Seattle, John lived in Vancouver for a while in the 1970’s and again in the early 90’s. John has toured with a wide range of Jazz and pop groups including the Platters, the Drifters, and Doug and the Slugs. John now lives in New Orleans, where our resident workshop basist, Rob Kohler also lives and works.

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!