Duos to quintets, IronFest III offers up fresh jazz juxtapositions, November 3 to 5 at IronWorks
One-off combo nights span local and international names, from Josh Zubot and François Houle to Jay Clayton and Kate Gentile

François Houle

Josh Zubot
IronFest III takes place at Ironworks from November 3 to 5, presented by Coastal Jazz, in association with the DTES Heart of the City Festival and Music on Main
FRESH, IMAGINATIVE COLLABS and juxtapositions: they’re the lifeblood of the best new jazz. They’re also the driving forces of a trio of programs at IronFest this week, where local and international join forces to see what happens at the atmospheric IronWorks space.
Highlights include the first night’s appearance by violinist-composer Josh Zubot’s string quintet, bringing together sibling violinist/violist Jesse Zubot along with Meredith Bates on violin, Peggy Lee on cello, and James Meger on bass. They fill out a fun double bill with experimental SICKBOSS, guitarist Cole Schmidt’s project with cellist Le, JP Carter on trumpet/FX, James Meger on bass/FX, Dan Gaucher on drums/FX, and Josh Zubot back on violin/FX.
We’re also, well, jazzed about the mashups on the second night: think Vancouver trumpet sensation Feven Kidane combining forces with veteran guitarist Tony Wilson; or Turkish-born, U.S.-based violinist Eylem Basaldi (of Snarky Puppy and Banda Magda) teaming up with Vancouver guitarist Gordon Grdina and bass master Torsten Müller. Rounding out the program is a dream team of clarinet innovator François Houle, U.K. pianist Alexander Hawkins, and buzzed-about American drum improviser Kate Gentile.
You can read about the third program, which includes American jazz-singing legend Jay Clayton, here, in the series coproduced by Coastal Jazz & Blues, the Modulus Festival, and the Downtown Heart of the City Festival.
Related Articles
In Vancouver Recital Society concert, the talented 24-year-old plays alongside New York City–based collaborative pianist Sahun Sam Hong
Concert conducted by Paula DeWit features a special collection of Baroque instruments and 16 vocalists
In his latest work, the orchestra’s in-house composer plays on the lofty landscapes of his childhood and his adopted West Coast hometown
Conductor Jacques Lacombe and director Mo Zhou are at the helm of Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, which features a double cast
Ahead of the Early Music Vancouver presentation, Alexander Weimann leads a chat with accomplished violinist Robert Mealy, the group’s codirector
Concert takes audiences on a journey through the sound of a generation, from The Supremes to Stevie Wonder
Alfredo Santa Ana, Dálava, Eve Egoyan, and Chloe Kim will grace the stage, offering up everything from classical influences to improvisations
Soprano Melody Courage, tenor Asitha Tennekoon, and baritone Tyler Duncan to join the choirs alongside the West Coast Symphony
J.S. Bach’s Long Walk in the Snow features guest musicians Suzie LeBlanc, Leslie Dala, David Harding, and Lori Gemmell
Works by Dvořák, Martinů, and Korngold are on the program for the Vancouver Playhouse matinee
The concert is an evening of music all about living things
Encompassing jazz, tango, chamber, and avant-garde influences, the group’s sound is a treat for the ears
Armenian pianist and composer draws on folklore and storytelling in interdisciplinary project
The multidisciplinary work centres on words related to nature that the 2007 Oxford Junior Dictionary left out in favour of tech terms
Mongolian traditions, Czech strings, Baroque beauties, and more on the music calendar
Caravan World Rhythms presents the 10-piece band at the Massey Theatre
Interdisciplinary artist melds software with sound performance in experimental workshop and presentation
American string players to perform compositions by Bartók and Shostakovich, plus Samuel Barber’s film-famous adagio
The three-piece squeezes something jagged yet soulful from its sparse guitar-drum-vocal setup
The veteran musician, hitting Festival du Bois, revisits the breadth of his career with Le Grand Orchestre
French Romantic masterpiece stars soprano Emily Pogorelc as Manon and tenor Frédéric Antoun as Chevalier des Grieux