this issue - yardbird · pdf filethis issue... march 23, ... we have lost track of neil gunn...

This Issue...March 23, 2017 marks the 60th anniversary of the opening of the first Yardbird Suite in Edmonton. As Canada’s longest running all-volunteer jazz venue, the Edmonton Jazz Society is celebrating this auspicious event with five weekends of special music starting on March 3, 2017.

See inside for details.

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60th anniveRsary

2 MARCH 2017 - 60TH ANNIVERSARY

FOUNDERS

KEN CHANEY

ZEN MAGUS

The founders of the Yardbird Suite in 1957 were Neil Gunn (the only non-musician), Terry Hawkeye (the instigator), Ron Repka, Ken Chaney, Zen Magus, Ray Magus, and Garry Nelson. All (excepting Neil) were members of the Ron Repka Big Band. Garry Nelson played both trumpet and bass.

Garry was among the cooler and more-practical members of that original group of Yardbird Suite visionaries. He and his lovely wife Marilyn were among the most-dedicated of all the Suite’s volunteer originators.

ROMAN (RAY) MAGUS

Tommy Banks Remembers Garry Nelson

GARRY NELSON

www. yardbirdsuite.com 3

RON REPKA

TERRY HAWKEYE

Garry and Marilyn moved to Calgary to pursue successful non-musical careers. Garry passed away on November 10th 2016, and will be sadly missed by all those who remember the Suite’s exciting early days. We have lost track of Neil Gunn despite considerable efforts in tracking him down. In Garry’s passing we may have lost the last of the Suite’s originators. We owe Garry profound thanks for his important part in the Suite’s beginnings.

Tommy Banks Remembers Garry Nelson

Since “Yardbird Suite” is one of Charlie Parker’s most famous

tunes, it is more than appropriate to have one weekend featuring

Bird’s music. Between 1947 and 1952, Parker recorded on several

occasions with a small classical string ensemble and a jazz rhythm

section. Although considered somewhat controversial when

they were first released, they are now considered landmarks for

orchestral jazz productions and rank among the best in Charlie

Parker’s discography. This event features P.J. Perry on alto saxophone

and Tommy Banks on piano. Toronto bassist Neil Swainson will be

joining the group for this special occasion.

WHEN...FRIDAY & sAtuRDAY • mARch 3 & 4MEMBERS $32GUESTS $36DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM

Jennifer Bustin (Concertmaster), Allyson Lyne, Marie Krejcar, Marie Forestier, John Calverley, Shannon Johnson - violinsMiriam Ferguson, Sarah Wilbur-Woodman - violasSilvia Buttiglione - celloBeth Levia - oboeMary Fearon - hornKeri Zwicker - harp P.J. Perry - alto saxophoneBobby Cairns - guitarChris Andrew - pianoNeil Swainson - bassJamie Cooper - drums

Conductor: Tommy Banks

pjperry.comtommybanks.info


YARDBIRD SUITE 60TH ANNIVERSARY

P.J. Perry & Strings play “Charlie Parker with Strings”


P.J. Perry & Strings play “Charlie Parker with Strings”




The pianists for Friday, March 10, are:Tom Van SetersStefan KijekAndrew GloverCharlie Austin

The pianists for Saturday, March 11, are:Chris AndrewGlen HallsDoug OrganGeorge Blondheim

John Taylor - bassJamie Cooper - drums


Tommy Banks presents Piano CityEdmonton has a plethora of great pianists of all generations. Of

course, Tommy Banks is the local giant and inspiration for our city’s

many great jazz keyboard performers. Tommy will serve as the host

for these two special nights. Four pianists will perform each night

backed by bassist John Taylor and drummer Jamie Cooper.


Five of Canada’s greatest saxophone players under the direction of Montreal’s Remi

Bolduc convene for what will surely be two nights of the most exciting woodwind

jazz ever presented on the Yardbird Suite stage. The other members of the group

include Edmonton’s own P.J. Perry, Kirk MacDonald and Kelly Jefferson from Toronto

and current New Brunswick resident Phil Dwyer. Paul Johnston from Edmonton will

be the bassist and Dave Laing from Montreal will be the drummer.

To make this weekend even more special, it will be recorded for future release.

Besides being an excellent bassist, Paul Johnston will be pulling double duty as

the recording engineer for this event. Paul is recognized as perhaps the best jazz

recording engineer in Canada.

This will be a weekend not to be missed since it would probably be very difficult, if

not impossible, to assemble a finer array of Canadian saxophonists than this group.


Remi Bolduc - saxophoneP.J. Perry - saxophoneKirk MacDonald - saxophoneKelly Jefferson - saxophonePhil Dwyer - saxophonePaul Johnston - bassDave Laing - drums

emibolduc.compjperry.comkirkmacdonald.comkellyjefferson.netphildwyer.com


Jazz Zenith Saxophone Summit


Besides the many great pianists and saxophonists being featured during

the Piano City weekend and the Jazz Zenith weekend, Edmonton has

produced many other fine jazz musicians. The Anniversary Weekend

will feature different groups of jazz musicians each night. The actual

anniversary night will feature mainly the most established local jazz

musicians with the longest standing at the Yardbird Suite. On Friday,

March 24, we will feature musicians who have been on the Edmonton

jazz scene for a number of years. On Saturday, March 25, it will be time

for some of our rising stars along with some of Edmonton’s other all-star

jazz musicians to take the stage.

WHEN...thuRsDAY, FRIDAY & sAtuRDAY • mARch 23, 24, 25MEMBERS $30GUESTS $34DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM

VOLUNTEER PASSES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED ON THURSDAY, MARCH 23RD


60th Anniversary Weekend


thE stANDARD-sEttERsTHURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

Tommy Banks - piano

Bob Kitt - piano

Dave Babcock - saxophone

Kent Sangster - saxophone

Robin Taylor - saxophone

Bob Tildesley - trumpet

Al Jacobson - trombone

Bobby Cairns - guitar

Mike Lent - bass

Sandro Dominelli - drums

Tommy Doran - drums

thE KEEPERs OF thE FLAmEFRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

Chandelle Rimmer – vocalist

P.J. Perry - saxophone

Jerrold Dubyk - saxophone

Jeremiah McDade - saxophone

Joel Gray - trumpet

Audrey Ochoa - trombone

Chris Andrew - piano

Jim Head - guitar

Rubim de Toledo - bass

Jamie Cooper - drums

thE YOuNG LIONsSATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017

Mallory Chipman - vocals

Doug Berner - trumpet

Don Berner - saxophone

Jim Brenan - saxophone

Craig Brenan - trombone

Dan Davis - saxophone

Tyson Kerr - piano

Brett Hansen - guitar

Josh McHan - bass

Thom Bennett - drums

(Personnel is subject to change for each night.)


The Littlebirds Big Band has been the premier educational program of

the Edmonton Jazz Society for more than twenty-five years. They have

produced many musicians who have gone on to professional performing

and teaching careers. Four of the five of the band directors will be on

hand for this weekend - founding director Gordon Towell now teaching

at Loyola University in New Orleans, Dean McNeill now at the University

of Saskatchewan, Craig Brenan of MacEwan University, and current band

director Joel Gray. Former director Jerrold Dubyk of Strathcona High School

is unable to attend.

The directors will present music with the current Littlebirds Big Band and

the Littlebirds Combo in a program to support the ongoing efforts of this

special long-term project.


Littlebirds Weekend

WHEN...FRIDAY & sAtuRDAY • mARch 31 & APRIL 1MEMBERS $28GUESTS $32DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM

BIG BAND Nick Lang, Jacob Do, Michael Smith, Caitlyn Gan, Rafael Tian - saxophones Daniel Lund-Rachinski, Matthew Sullivan, Ema Iorga, Joel Fenske - trumpetsMichael Nunes, Michael Lunty, Sean Bumstead, Hannah Gray - trombonesKeaton Smith - guitarSahill Chugh - piano Madison Warawa - bass Eamon Van den Berg - drums

COMBO Nick Lang - alto saxophone, guitar Jacob So - tenor saxophonePeter Filice - trombone Sahil Chugh - piano Sean Croal - bass Eamon Van den Berg - drums


MARCH 7 JEREMIAH MCDADE QUARTET

MARCH 14DOUG ORGAN QUARTET

MARCH 21RHONDA WITHNELL

MARCH 28RUBIM DE TOLEDO QUARTET

TUESDAYNIGHT

SESSIONS

March 2017

TICKETS - MEMBERS & GUESTS(including Silver & Gold Memberships): $5

DOORS 7:30 PM - SHOW 8 PM

On Tuesday nights - Edmonton’s best jazz players and up-and-coming musicians arrive to play together. The evening begins with a one hour set from the featured band - followed by a jam session. Our Tuesday Sessions are a weekly event for local jazz musicians to play together and network - and provide an opportunity to mentor the younger musicians wanting to gain experience as they grow their own careers. Join us for our Tuesday Sessions - a terrific opportunity to hear some live jazz in a relaxed concert environment. Buy Tuesday Session season pass for $100. Valid for all Tuesday Sessions for one year from the date of purchase. Not valid for any other night.


www.yardbirdsuite.com

Yardbird Suite Jazz is a registered trademark of the Edmonton Jazz Society (1973).

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY11 TOMMY BANKS WAYEDMONTON AB T6E 2M2

780.432.0428

CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL PRODUCT SALES AGREEMENT #40047729

Edmonton Jazz Society’sBoard of Directors

2016 • 2017Francis Remedios • President

Dominique Roy • Vice PresidentStuart Crosley • Treasurer

David MacFarlane • SecretaryAdrian Albert • Vice President Programming

Board MembersMonique Bielech • Craig Brenan

Pam Josey • Jasiek Poznanski • Sergio Rodriguez Dave Babcock • Reg Wilkes

Yardbird SuitePROGRAMMING • Adrian Albert, Nico Arnáez,

Dave Babcock, Tommy Banks, Dan Davis, Joel Gray, Julie King, P.J. Perry, Jasiek Poznanski

PRODUCTION • Lisi SommerTUESDAY NIGHT SESSIONS • Dan Davis

LITTLEBIRDS DIRECTOR • Joel GrayJAZZ FOR KIDS DIRECTOR: Sandro Dominelli

& Brandy Dominelli FINANCE • Suzanne Morter

SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS • Reg Wilkes • Sergio RodriguezTRANSPORTATION • Alan SpenceHouSe MANAGeR & VoLuNTeeR

COORDINATOR • Pam Josey

our Volunteer House ManagersSue Cameron • Jan Doll • Julie Janczyn Pam Josey • Gail Kelly • Tracy KolenchukLen Penner • Marilyn Rude • Collette Slevinsky Rhonda Smith • Karen Voller

Yardbird Suite NewsletterThe Yardbird Newsletter is published fourtimes per year by the Edmonton Jazz Society.

EDITOR • Adrian Albert • Jasiek Poznanski

GRAPHIC DESIGN • Kim Deley, Critical Path Marketing Communications

DISTRIBUTION • Monique Bielech, Bill Harper

PRINTING • IoN Print Solutions Inc.

TicketsTickets for Yardbird Suite shows are available at Tix on the Square and at the door on the night of the performance.

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EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY11 TOMMY BANKS WAY(Corner of 102 St & 86 Ave)EDMONTON AB T6E 2M2

PM40047729

ALL shOws bEGIN At 8Pm (DOORs OPEN At 7Pm)

march 3 & 4P.J. Perry & Strings play “Charlie Parker With Strings”MEMBERS $32, GUESTS $36

march 10 & 11Tommy Banks presents Piano CityMEMBERS $28, GUESTS $32

march 17 & 18Jazz Zenith Saxophone SummitMEMBERS $32, GUESTS $36

march 2360th Anniversary WeekendThe Standard SettersMEMBERS $30, GUESTS $34

march 2460th Anniversary WeekendThe Keepers of the FlameMEMBERS $30, GUESTS $34

march 2560th Anniversary WeekendThe Young LionsMEMBERS $30, GUESTS $34

march 31 & April 160th Anniversary WeekendLittlebirds WeekendMEMBERS $28, GUESTS $32

At a Glance...

Visit www. yardbirdsuite.com

MARCH 3 - April 1, 2017

this issue - yardbird · pdf filethis issue... march 23, ... we have lost track of neil gunn...

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