Building on the success of previous jam sessions, we are presenting more local talent in a similar setting this week. Join us this week at the Salmon Arm Jazz Club to hear the area’s finest jazz musicians engage in this age-old tradition. The evening will be hosted by our house band, with performers to be announced as showtime approaches.

The jam session—or "Blowin’ Session" as it is referred to in Johnny Griffin’s 1957 Blue Note album by that name—is an essential part of the jazz tradition. Throughout the history of jazz, players have engaged in these informal musical events to blow off steam, sharpen their improvisational skills, and prove themselves amongst their peers. Late night jam sessions amongst musicians like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Bud Powell at the Harlem jazz club Minton’s Playhouse are often cited as playing a critical role in the development of Bebop. The average jam may not be as monumental as these historic sessions, but the tradition of the “Blowin’ Session” is indispensable in the development of all jazz practitioners.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

This week, the Jazz Club has lined up something different for our fans — an artistic evening of vocal jazz and poetry. Vocalist Darlene Shatford and her trio will perform two sets of vocal jazz standards and Rob Ziegler will read his original poetry with tasteful background music.

Darlene will be performing inspiring vocal renditions of standards in the torch song tradition. She hails from the Prince George area, where she has been singing jazz for about 30 years. Initially, she sang with two of her five sisters in Three’s a Crowd, an acapella trio, and then with the Something Else Jazz Band, featuring Terry Kosowick, Eric Tompkins, Bruce Baycroft, and Barry McKinnon. She has also worked with well-known Vancouver pianist Chris Siggerson.

Darlene has performed at ArtSpace, The Loghouse Restaurant, and Cafe Voltaire, among other places in and around Prince George. Along with Curtis Abriel, she was the local performer at the 2019 Coldsnap Winter Music Festival.

For this performance, Darlene is accompanied by Terry Kosowick on piano. Local audiences will recognize Terry for his excellent skills as a jazz trumpet player but may not be aware that he equally capable as a pianist, composer and arranger. Terry was schooled in the Capilano University music program, and has performed in various bands in Vancouver, Prince George, and Salmon Arm. He has been engaged in writing, arranging, and playing music for some 45 years.

On bass, the great Jake McIntyre-Paul will be hitting the stage again after returning to Salmon Arm following another year at Cap U in their music program. Does Jake need an introduction? We think not — welcome home, Jake!

Darlene is excited to perform in Salmon Arm and is grateful to Terry Kosowick for putting the gig together and for arranging the charts for piano and bass, her favourite combo. She loves standards and hopes the audience can sit back and enjoy her simple yet heart-felt stylings.

The poetry reading segment of the evening features Rob Ziegler, who will be reading from his collection of original poems. Rob has been writing for 30 years. His works include poetry, short stories, plays, and his first novel: The Telling Method. He was a mime and clown who performed for 12 years in maritime schools and theatres, and it was there he first read poetry with a jazz accompaniment.

He has chosen to read two long poems with entirely different flavors. The opening piece in the first half, Luther’s Legacy, is a memorial to his emotionally absent father after he passed on in 2015. In it, the poet attempts to resolve in death what had remained unresolved in life.

The second piece is an energetic and humorous review of a New Year’s Eve dance held at the Prince George legion when a dynamic R&B band from the deep south took our snowbound community on a musical train ride out of the icy north and down to the land of jambalaya and midnight shadows.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30pm.

This week, the Jazz Club brings you the John Lee Trio from Vancouver. Equally skilled on bass, guitar, drums, piano and organ, John performs on piano at this show, bringing Kosma Busheikin on bass, and Graham Villette on drums along for the journey. The sound of the trio bridges the gap between the past and the future of modern jazz — a collective true to the "straight ahead" sound with a contemporary improvisational approach on the repertoire of The Great American Songbook or compositions by jazz legends from the early 20th century.

Raised in Nanaimo BC, multi-instrumentalist John Lee continues to be one of the highest acclaimed jazz artists nationwide. After showing great interest in music at a young age, Lee developed into a virtuoso by his late teens. He moved to Boston in 2010 to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston where he was mentored by Ralph Peterson Jr and Dave Santoro. Lee then relocated back to his west coast motherland in 2016 and began his professional career.

Lee's experience as a sideman goes far beyond his years. Raised as a local of Vancouver Island, his early performing experiences were with Canadian artists such as Order of Canada recipient Phil Dwyer and internationally acclaimed Jazz trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. At age 19, Lee made his performance debut in the US with pianist Cyrus Chestnut at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola (Jazz at Lincoln Center) in New York City. Lee spent much of the early 2010's on the bandstand supporting visiting artists in Victoria BC where he performed with American pianists Larry Fuller, George Colligan and Misha Piatigorsky. Starting an association with internationally recognized Jazz saxophonist and impresario Cory Weeds in recent years, Lee was provided many opportunities to share the stage with the who's who of the Jazz world. Since 2017, Lee has performed with many world class visiting artists in Vancouver BC including Terell Stafford, Roy McCurdy, Ralph Moore, Grant Stewart, Jeremy Pelt, Eric Alexander, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Bernstein, Benny Benack III, Alexander Claffy, Mike LeDonne, Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Michael Weiss, Dick Oatts, Jim Rotondi, Nicole Glover and Joe Magnarelli.

With the support of the Cellar Music Group, Lee recorded his first album “The Artist” in 2021 under the Cellar Live record label featuring legendary Jazz drummer Carl Allen. His new recording “Second Wind” was released last summer.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30pm.

PLEASE NOTE: this show takes place on the 3rd Thursday of the month, a departure from the regular 2nd and 4th Thursday schedule.

Jake McIntyre-Paul returns to the Salmon Arm Jazz Club, this Thursday, May 15. Jake has a special evening planned inspired by the music of trumpeters Kenny Wheeler and Tom Harrell, featuring Liam Nadurak on trumpet, Jordan Dick on guitar, and Dan Smith on guitar in a unique drummer-less ensemble.

"We're going to play a mix of music from composers like Kenny Wheeler and Tom Harrell," says Jake, "maybe some originals from Liam, and standards." And of course, the musicians will create the arrangements in real time through the collective imagination of improvisation.

For a hint, Jake suggests listening to Kenny Wheeler's composition, The Jig Saw, off the album It Takes Two! The ensemble for that album included Wheeler on trumpet, John Abercrombie and John Parricelli on guitars, and Anders Jormin on bass. The compositions are equal parts lyric, haunting, joyful and sublime. It's a great listen!

Jake is well known to Shuswap audiences for his genre-spanning abilities on bass and guitar. An alumnus of the School District 83 music programs, Jake went on to study at the Capilano University Jazz studies program in 2018 before returning to Salmon Arm in 2020. After four years playing professionally, he returned to the Capilano University Jazz studies program in 2024 to once again study full time with some of Canada's finest musicians including Bill Coon, Brad Turner, and Andre Lechance. He has also been studying big band performance with the legendary Jill Townsend.

The Salmon Arm Jazz Club is excited to welcome Jake home for this special performance.

This performance takes place Thursday, May 15 (the 3rd Thursday of the month, a departure from the regular 2nd and 4th Thursday schedule) at the Nexus at First Community on Okanagan Avenue in Salmon Arm. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show at 7:00 pm, admission is by donation, with coffee, tea and treats available at intermission.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30pm.

Musicians familiar to Salmon Arm jazz fans have regrouped for this week’s show. “Group du Jour” features Jake Verburg (guitar), Colin Spence (piano), Dan Smith (bass) and Brian Pratt-Johnson (vocals and drums).

Band members brought a diverse range of tunes to the table in planning this performance. Standards are barely present in the mix this time around, as the players have decided on more modern material ranging from challenging arrangements of pop tunes to instrumentals that flirt with smooth jazz stylings.

This is the first performance by this group, despite their long presence as individuals on the local scene. Brian and Colin talked about trying something different that would give them a chance to have some fun with a few practice sessions, eventually leading up to a show. It’s all about the journey of trying new material and new group dynamics.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

Yes - finally! Sandy Cameron and his ShuHorns are coming back to Song Sparrow Hall in Salmon Arm for another hot night of live big band swing dance music. The event, hosted by the Salmon Arm Jazz Club, takes place Thursday, April 17, 2025, with support from Song Sparrow Hall, City Dance Studio, and Acorn Music.

Those familiar with the local music scene already know Sandy's incredible range on saxophone, clarinet, and flute, and his penchant for assembling a top-tier who’s-who of local talent to blow the rafters off. With noted band leader and trumpeter, Nicholas Dyson as musical director, the ShuHorns bring Sandy's love for big band swing to life. The group features Sandy Cameron (tenor sax), Chris Startup (alto sax), Mike Scharf (baritone sax), Nicholas Dyson (trumpet), Liam Nadurak (trumpet), Bob Rogers (trombone), Jordan Dick (guitar), Darko Cuk (bass), Jim Johnston (piano), and Gareth Seys (drums).

The show will feature a night of musical arrangements from the greats of big band swing music including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, and more. Acoustically designed for a high-end performance experience by co-owners, Craig Newnes and Clea Roddick, Song Sparrow Hall will showcase the ShuHorns at their very best.

“Performing at the Song Sparrow Hall is a real treat for us," says Sandy Cameron. "It's a concerty show for those who just want to listen, with a dance floor centre stage for lots of movement for those who want to dance." Having the talents of band leader and trumpeter, Nicholas Dyson, guiding the band really allows the musicians to elevate their performance, notes Cameron.

This year, the Salmon Arm Jazz Club is including an opportunity for folks to learn a little swing dance and fox trot to help strut their stuff to the big band. Doors open at 6:00 pm with a pre-show swing dance lesson open to all ticket holders with Jens Goerner and Heather Stranks from City Dance Studio.

Jens and Heather are well known for their work coaching the dance teams at the annual Dancing with the Shuswap Stars Hospice fundraiser. They will provide a crash course for beginners and a refresher for those with some experience. Expect a little east coast jive and foxtrot ready to swing when the band kicks things off at 7:00 pm.

For those wanting to take their dancing to the next level, be sure to watch for details at in the News section on the home page of our website regarding additional pre-event swing-dance workshops to be hosted in late March and early April.

The Salmon Arm Jazz Club wants everyone to attend, so a three-tier ticket option allows you to Choose your Price to best fit your situation: $30 student/lower income (because everyone needs to dance!); $40 General Admission (cover costs and make it swing!); $50 Supporter (kick the band into double-time by subsidizing a student/lower income ticket). Admission covers pre-show and half-time dance lessons and all the swing music you can handle! Cash bar and snacks by donation. This event sold out in 2023, so get your tickets early, either online at the Songsparrow Hall ticket portal, or old-school in-person at Acorn Music (cash only).

The ShuHorns Swing Dance takes place Thursday, April 17 at Song Sparrow Hall (180 Lakeshore Dr NW, Salmon Arm). 6:00 PM Doors and Pre-Show Swing Dance Lesson (all ticket holders welcome). Show 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (plus mini-dance lesson at intermission).

Dust off your dance shoes, brush up on your swing dance moves, and come on out to listen, to dance, and to celebrate live music!

This week Jordan Dick is back in the spotlight to headline in a trio outing with long-time collaborator, Gareth Seys, on drums, and gifted Kamloops bass player and pianist, Alexander Ward.

Jordan is the quiet catalyst for much of the region's recent outpouring of creative music. One of the humblest guitar virtuosos to grace the Salmon Arm Jazz Club, his disarming humour and quiet confidence belie a formidable talent for some of the most beautiful, creative, and exciting contemporary music the club has witnessed over the years.

Gareth Seys is another pillar of the Shuswap improvisational music scene. After returning to the Shuswap following trombone studies in the Capilano University Jazz Studies program, and stints with early versions of Five Alarm Funk, he found new role behind the drum kit for trio, quartet, and big band sessions.

Alexander Ward is a multi-instrumentalist who last played the Salmon Arm Jazz Club for a mesmerizing show with Kamloops Garden Path Quartet. He's back on bass for this outing but with the promise of several tunes on piano, to which he brings similar depth.

"Expect an exploration of standards, bebop, post-bop, and cool jazz," says Jordan.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

This week, Mission pianist Keith Gray teams up with a roster of talented local players for an evening of classic swing music steeped in the roots of early jazz and drawing inspiration from the legendary Jelly Roll Morton.

Keith will be joined by his old friend and Salmon Arm bassist Dan Smith, along with Sandy Cameron on saxophone, Liam Nadurak on trumpet, Bob Rogers on trombone, Jake Verburg on guitar, and Brian Pratt-Johnson on drums, coming together in a tribute to traditional New Orleans jazz. Expect infectious rhythms, swinging melodies, and a night of classic jazz that will have you tapping your feet!

Keith's playing captures the essence of traditional New Orleans stride and ragtime, bringing the lively spirit of Dixieland to every performance. Harkening from the golden age of jazz, Gray's style is influenced by pianists ranging from James P. Johnson and Earl Hines, Teddy Wilson and Errol Garner, through to Ray Charles and Red Garland.

Born in Mission B.C, Gray has been playing piano since he was 9 years old. From early on, he loved the music of Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and Jerry Lee Lewis. Being proficient at boogie-woogie style piano, Keith went on to further study Jazz at Capilano University where he fell in love with a variety of piano styles.  After he acquired his Diploma in Instrumental Jazz, he continued his schooling to work as a high-school music teacher. Keith now teaches Academics and Music in an alternate education facility in Mission B.C.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

The Salmon Arm Jazz Club is pleased to present an Okanagan-based quartet led by saxophonist Craig Thomson on Thursday, March 13. Local jazz fans may recall Craig from his shows in previous seasons, where he performed the music of saxophone greats Hank Mobley, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon and Joe Henderson.

Craig is a prolific performer, composer, recording artist and educator. He has a reputation as an outstanding saxophonist who delights audiences with his robust, muscular tenor sound, which is fresh and exciting while remaining anchored in the jazz tradition. Whether in the field of jazz performance or education, Craig Thomson’s name is synonymous with warmth, excellence, style and sophistication.

Craig is the Artistic Director for the B.C. Interior Jazz Festival, an annual three-day educational event that brings together over 1000 students from around Canada and the United States, connecting them with the expertise of North America's finest music professionals. 

His 2012 solo debut CD of all-original compositions, entitled Bright Beginnings, garnered much acclaim. And in 2013, Craig was honoured as the Okanagan Musician of the Year. He is a Yamaha Canada Artist Educator and presents regular educator workshops for the annual BC Music Educator’s Association conferences, and student and educator workshops and clinics.

Joining Craig for this show will be Sean Bray (guitar), Dan Smith (bass) and Will Friesen (drums).

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

This week’s show features The Dark Switch trio, which brings together local jazz artists Blair Shier (guitar), Dan Smith (bass) and Liam Nadurak (trumpet), as well as a couple of notable friends.

The group began with weekly sessions between Blair and Dan with the intention of revisiting classic jazz repertoire. Their approach to arrangements and interplay is heavily inspired by Bill Evans and Jim Hall's duo record 'Undercurrent' from 1962. The show will feature standards with an emphasis on the sadder side of the canon.

In addition to 10 strings and a dream, trumpeter Liam 'baby' Nadurak stumbled into enough rehearsals that he was invited to join, because he's amazing. Further additions include local trombone legend Bob Rogers and rising local vocalist Megan Abel.

Blair Shier studied jazz guitar at Mohawk college in Hamilton Ontario under the tutelage of Geoff Young and Bob Shields. Dan Smith started studying upright bass with Darren Radke during his fourth year studying guitar at Capilano University. Liam Nadurak emerged out of the jazz ether somewhere between Dauphin and Kenora, where the great plains begin.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

The Jazz Implication is coming back for another show at the Nexus! This group of rising young musical talents is led by Liam Nadurak (trumpet), and includes Jordan Dick and Dan Smith (guitars), Darrin Herting (bass), and Will Friesen (drums).

The quartet is known for pushing their interpretations of standards and originals into exciting new ground. A growing sense of adventure and camaraderie between the musicians is allowing for experimentation, blurring the lines of the traditional approach to trading solos. At times it becomes unclear where the soloist starts and the ensemble ends, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

Thanks to the generous donations of Jazz Club patrons, the group recorded some of Liam’s original compositions at Holy Cow Studios, a professional studio in Kamloops. The tracks have now been mastered and are available for you to check out on a variety of platforms here.

The group is inspired by the tradition of jazz but reinterpreted in the modern context. Each member brings their own authentic experience with music to the table to create a unique sound. Expect to hear a mix of some of their favourite traditional jazz standards mixed with original compositions that have never been performed publicly before.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

This week’s performance brings the Kamloops-based Garden Path Quartet to the Nexus stage. The group includes Alex Ward (bass), Aaron MacInnis (guitar), Stefan Thordarson (violin) and Jared Rinaldi Wilman (drums).

Alex Ward is a multi-instrumentalist and music teacher, highly skilled on keyboards of all kinds, as well as bass, trumpet, saxophone, and flute. As a pianist, he joined trumpeter Liam Nadurak’s group The Jazz Implication during their recent Jazz Club recording project.

Music comes naturally to Stefan Thordarson who, as a third-generation fiddler, grew up in a home filled with inspiring sound. His musical journey as a violinist began early and he was performing gypsy-jazz and Texas-fiddle tunes professionally before he reached his teens. To great acclaim in the Vancouver media, he recorded his first CD at age 12. In addition to violin, he has been pursuing electronic instruments in his recent compositions.

Aaron MacInnis translated his formal university training in music into a love for jazz guitar. Moving to Kamloops in 2017, he divides his time between his passions as a top notch brewmaster and an equally skilled musician.

Jared is very active the Kamloops music scene, where he plays in a variety of local bands, including performing with Western Canada Theatre. Salmon Arm jazz fans will recognize Jared from his previous performances on the Nexus stage with guitarist Kris Ruston and others.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm

The first show of the New Year features jazz vocalist Karen Wiseman, hailing from Vernon. Karen is celebrated for her rich tonal variations and expressive phrasing. With a deep love for classic standards, she takes joy in discovering and sharing hidden gems within the jazz tradition.

Drawing inspiration from vocal legends like Peggy Lee and Julie London, Karen blends a repertoire that includes swing classics, soulful ballads, Latin jazz, and reimagined Broadway and pop tunes. Her performances are characterized by their elegance, subtlety, and sophisticated arrangements, offering a delightful and diverse musical experience.

Karen has collaborated with some of Canada's finest jazz artists, including Sean Bray, Bill Coon, Mike Rud, and Michael Creber. For this performance, she is supported by four of the Okanagan’s finest players, including Chris Startup (sax), Neville Bowman (piano), Gil Kafka (bass) and Will Friesen (drums).

Visit Karen’s website for further background and samples of her performances.

ADMISSION: By donation.
CONCESSION: Coffee, tea and treats are also available by donation.
DOORS: Open at 6:30 pm