Jazz at Pyatt Hall keeps musical traditions alive, from hard bop to effortless swing
Cory Weeds, Jennifer Scott, Rene Worst, and Phil Dwyer among the luminaries performing at the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival series
When it comes to classic, “capital J” jazz, preservation doesn’t have to mean frozen in time—it can mean kept vital to be enjoyed for years to come. With a stellar lineup in a beautiful acoustic environment, the Jazz at Pyatt Hall series is a perfect fit for fans who love to hang on every note and savour every solo.
The spirit of honouring jazz’s traditions—and historic individual contributions along the way—is brought home right off the hop in local impresario and sax heavyweight Cory Weeds’ opening night celebration of Harold Land. From the 1950s till his death in 2001, Land played an underrated but indispensable role in the story of hard-bop and post-bop through his work with fellow heavy cats like Bobby Hutcherson, Wes Montgomery, and Max Roach. Part lamplighter, part torch-bearer, Weeds and his all-star quartet do their part to keep the flames burning bright for forebears like Land.
For fans of sublime vocal jazz, there’s a lot to love here. National treasures Jennifer Scott and Rene Worst are canny song stylists who’ve been shaping and reshaping classic tunes together for decades. There are also vocalists on the rise, like soulful, smooth-grooving powerhouse Katherine Penfold, and Andrea Superstein, whose savvy mix of nu-jazz, electronica, Latin grooves, and pop confections make her one of the most versatile voices in Canadian jazz today.
A few long-running combos will shine a light on their special guests, as the Bill Coon 4tet welcomes saxophonist Campbell Ryga, bassist Ben Dwyer’s trio calls on his pops, Phil Dwyer—who just happens to be a renowned, award-winning jazz polymath—and the Dave Sikula Quartet features ace trumpeter Brad Turner. The very same Brad Turner takes to the piano to lead his own longstanding trio through potent grooves and combustible improv. Whip-smart arrangements of classic standards and inventive original tunes keep coming with sets from burnished-toned saxophonist Mike Allen and triple-threat supergroup Triology, each speaking the essential language of jazz in distinct accents.
Elegant melodicism, effortless swing, and spirited small-group interplay—these are some fantastic traditions to keep alive!
For more details and to reserve a streaming ticket, go here.
This post was sponsored by Coastal Jazz & Blues Society.