Dear friends,

We’d highly recommend you grab a pen or open your planners, because we’re about to share something extraordinary.

You may have heard about our beloved Tuesday Night Jazz series — and if you’ve been meaning to join us one day, don’t miss the announcement at the end of this newsletter, as this Tuesday features a very special Havana Jazz evening.

And now, something new: this May, we’re launching our Sunday Jazz Matinee series — a welcoming, relaxed way to enjoy live music together, with a style that we hope will appeal to everyone in our community, from young families to seniors.

With all this, we truly hope our chances of seeing you on Sundays — whether for worship, jazz matinees, or both — have just doubled!

We are thrilled to announce the Sunday Jazz Matinee Series celebrating the timeless art of New Orleans–inspired traditional jazz and more. Featuring some of the West Coast’s most beloved traditional jazz musicians, including Toni Blodgett, Al Pease, Daniel Lapp, Kelby MacNayr, Louise Rose, Joey Smith, and others.

Dancers welcome!

May 3: CanUs featuring special guest Daniel Lapp

May 10: Special Mother’s Day concert featuring Dr. Tony Genge, Kelby MacNayr, and more

May 17: The Great American Songbook Trio featuring Louise Rose

May 24: Adventures in the Djangosphere featuring virtuoso violinist Richard Moody

May 31: The Brad Shigeta All-Stars, led by renowned Vancouver-based trombonist, vocalist, and former member of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington Orchestras

Join us for the inaugural Sunday Jazz Matinee Series at James Bay United Church!

Featuring the legendary pianist, vocalist, and band leader Toni Blodgett, with her traditional jazz group CanUS and special guest Daniel Lapp.

Toni Blodgett has been playing piano and singing the classic hits of traditional jazz for over 40 years, and she is one of the most well-loved and respected musicians for generations on the West Coast.

Special guest trumpeter Daniel Lapp is Victoria and Canadian jazz royalty. A magical improviser, equally at home in the world of Louis Armstrong on the trumpet and in the world of Stéphane Grappelli on the violin.

Tuesday Night Jazz at the Church proudly presents the Pablo Cardenas Quartet in “Portraits of Havana”!

Pianist, composer, and band leader, Pablo Cardenas is a true maestro of music. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Cardenas studied classical piano from a young age right through university and honoured his love of classical music from around the world, as well as Cuba’s extraordinary tradition of blending classical, folk, and other influences from around the Americas and beyond. A virtuoso pianist, Cardenas has been performing for over a decade with musical collaborators bassist Peter Dowse and drummer Kelby MacNayr, and in this very special concert, Cardenas reunites with legendary Cuban percussionist and his former next-door neighbour from Matanzas, the incredible Israel Barriel!