Living vicariously through the opening weekend with you

While jazzfest is upon us next weekend, alas I'm headed to Kelowna with family and will miss the first couple days of shows.

Let's take a stroll through what I would attend next Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 if I was available – maybe you'll attend some of these and I’ll live it vicariously through you. I've picked certain stages to linger at, rather than hopping from place to place, because that's more my style; your mileage may vary.

Friday, June 23

4:00 PM - Ocean Artworks, See You Now ft. Tony Wilson, Gordy Li, Feven Kidane, Russell Sholberg, & Kai Basanta (FREE)

Oddly enough, this band just played Guilt & Co. on Monday as the Tony Wilson Quintet. I wasn't there and have no specifics on what they'll play; late-60s Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, and Sun Ra are the references in their festival bio. I‘d also happily hear more of Tony after the recent Peggy Lee Band show.

8:00 PM - Frankie's, East-West Trumpet Summit ft. Thomas Marriott, Ray Vega, & Roy McCurdy w/ John Lee & Tilden Webb ($30)

A living legend in drummer Roy McCurdy, 86: my immediate reference points for him are 1) backing up the famous Paul Bley solo and 2) the 2019 Reel to Real Swingin' in Seattle Cannonball Adderley album. Marriott and Vega have two albums out with this swinging concept, East-West Trumpet Summit (more like this, quintet) and Return of the East-West Trumpet Summit (organ quartet).

11:00 PM - Frankie's After Dark, Jason Winikoff Crescent Quartet w/ Saul Berson, Dean Thiessen, & Conrad Good ($10)

It's the Crescent quartet as in New Orleans, the Crescent City: last month on May 12, Jason presented it at Tyrant Studios (with Brad Turner and Noah Gotfrit in place of Dean and Conrad). An outstanding thing about the drummer-percussionist is how he mixes deep engagement in several traditions – including Hot Fours and Fives, as well as his Postcards from Zambia project – with the skill to juggle several active bands.

Saturday, June 24

12:30 PM - Georgia Street Stage, Jesse James Bonanza ft. Jesse Cahill, James Danderfer, Atley King, Tilden Webb, Conrad Good, & Myles Bigelow (FREE)

I didn't hear this group at the Tangent on May 18, where they played as a quartet. They add Atley and Myles (plus Conrad in on bass) to the lineup for jazzfest: a solid dose of local excellence to begin the afternoon at the downtown stage. Proportional helpings of grease and Latin jazz.

2:15 PM - Georgia Street Stage, Mali Obomsawin Quartet w/ Evan Woodle, Magdalena Abrego, & Allison Burik (FREE)

Of all the out-of-town opening weekend presentations, I'm most choked to miss bassist Mali Obomsawin's afternoon set. She brings a quartet with different musicians – except Allison Burik, who I plan to follow around a bit later in the festival – from her 2022 sextet album Sweet Tooth. Collectively oriented modern jazz that transports me.

4:00 PM - Ocean Artworks, Will Clements (FREE)

The cooler Will debuts his upcoming album COMPASS, which in full disclosure I have been helping him produce. It's his second mainstream vocal jazz record and features quite a local cast: Alvin Brendan on guitar and Miles Black on piano, Jodi Proznick on bass, and Todd Stewart on drums. Will did in-depth mentorship with Jodi on the songwriting (he has five solo writes and one co-write on the record). His choice cover songs are Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" and the standard "On a Clear Day".

8:30 PM - Ocean Artworks, Nightcrawlers ($10)

Speaking of grease, I'm back for more of it from Jesse Cahill. His Nightcrawlers dropped another Cellar album this year and have been a favourite of mine since my dad used to take me to hear them at... the Cellar! Down in the Bottom is still my favourite album of theirs, with The Big Band Sound.

10:30 PM - Ocean Artworks, Late Night Open Jams ft. Tony Wilson / Mali Obomsawin / Konrad Agnas (FREE)

Bringing it full-circle, it's Tony with Mali. I'm curious to experience the late night Granville Island jam, and this one is the most 'unique' (i.e. you wouldn't hear it year-round locally) if you're looking to pick one. Swedish drummer Konrad Agnas is also on for Viviane Houle's Unsung Songs late-night Innovation Series show on June 30th.