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Expect a fun-filled evening featuring original arrangements and timeless classics performed by Vocal Jazz studio groups and combos directed by Wendell Clanton. Admission by donation

Victoria Jazz Orchestra Fundraiser for the Single Parents’ Resource Centre Get into the giving spirit this November.The Victoria Jazz Orchestraalong with guests Maria Manna and Andrew Homzy will be performing, “ A Christmas Carol,” a special jazz fundraiser for The Single Parents’ Resource Centre, a community non-profit charity in Victoria, BC. The fundraiser takes place Saturday, November 16, 2019, at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, located at 907 Pandora Ave., Victoria. Doors open at 7 pm with the show starting at 7:30 pm.Tickets are available online:https://moniknordine.ca/victoria-jazz-orchestra/and at the box office:https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/victoria-jazz-orchestra-fundraiser-for-the-single-parents-resource-centre-tickets-73507865003. By phone: (250) 386-5311. The island community is invited to join the orchestra with local jazz celebrity guests for an uplifting evening of swinging jazz entertainment. A staggering 50% of children living in single-parent homes are living in poverty and child poverty rates in BC currently remain above the national average. The Single Parent Resource Centre provides free clothing, food, counseling and Christmas gifts for families in need and this November The Victoria Jazz Orchestraalong with their guests are inviting the public to join them in supporting this much-needed and busy organization to combat child poverty in the city of Victoria. Helping the folks at the Single Parent Resource Centre will directly and positively impact the lives of children. The Victoria Jazz Orchestra is Vancouver Island’s only professional jazz big band. Formed in May 2013 by Monik Nordine, The Victoria Jazz Orchestra has been featured at The Victoria International Jazz Festival (2017), and The Nanaimo International Jazz Festival (2018). The Orchestra has performed with a list of notable guests including composers John Korsrud, Chelsea McBride, Jill Townsend, Bill Coon, Ian McDougall, Andrew Homzy, Greg Bush, and Alan Matheson. Featured in the lineup are top Victoria area improvisation jazz artists: lead trumpet player Bryn Badel; alto saxophonist Monik Nordine; tenor saxophonist Ryan Oliver; guitarist Rob Cheramy; and drummer Dave Emery. Enjoy a track of the orchestra performing live at the Port Theater for the 2018 Nanaimo Jazz Festival with New York pianist Dave Kikoski. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/user-852863557-797025761/because-of-you. The Victoria Jazz Orchestra will donate 50% of their concert proceeds to the Single Parent’s Resource Centre. “The Victoria Jazz Orchestra honours (the) heart of (the) music scene.”—Gulf Islands Driftwood Saxophonist/composer/bandleader Monik Nordine is the director of The Victoria Jazz Orchestra. She writes and performs with the orchestra, the Jon Miller Quartet, and many other local Victoria bandsand teaches at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. As a leader Nordine has released four recordings: Not Just to But Over the Moon, Departure, The Old New Town andBarracuda Christmas.Shehas shared the stage with many award-winning musicians including Ian McDougall, Guido Basso, Matt Catingub, David Foster, Campbell Ryga, PJ Perry, Michael Buble, Rob McConnell, Tommy Banks, Brad Turner, and Hugh Fraser and VEJI. Nordine has toured Canada widely performing in the Montreal, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, and Medicine Hat jazz festivals with The Monik Nordine Trio and with Canadian jazz greats Pat Coleman and Mike Allen. She has recorded with The Hard Rubber Orchestra on their JUNOnominated album, Cruel Yet Fairand onjazz guitarist Pat Coleman’s recording, Blue Comedy. “One of the most compelling voices on the West Coast…” —The Georgia Straight Jazz Society“…Facile in her execution and fluid in the spinning out of her melodic ideas.”—Jazz Improv “Cheerful ambiance.”—DownBeat The November 16thfundraiser concert features the orchestra’s wintery holiday theme, “A Christmas Carol.” The Orchestra will perform with Maria Manna, one of Victoria’s most celebrated songstresses with selections from the orchestra’s beautiful holiday program. Conducting the ensemble will be Andrew Homzy, the Artistic Director of the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival. Included in the program will be a new work by Andrew Homzy written just for this event that will be performed by Maria Manna with the festive swinging jazz orchestra.Don't miss the magic. Join us in helping support Victoria’s children over the holiday season and just in time for Christmas! -30- For interviews and further information: contact publicist Kerilie McDowall by email at keriliemcdowall@gmail.comor by telephone: 1.250.668.3589.

Straight out of Havana… A blazing ensemble of deeply soulful mambo and “a groove as intense as a runaway train.” – NPR Havana’s top musicians join forces with some of the most creative and spirited talents of New York’s Latin music scene to create Orquesta Akokán. This big band collective reinvigorates the sound of Cuban’s golden era mambo with a bold new energy reminiscent of Benny Moré, Pérez Prado, and banda gigante of the 1940's and 50's. In spring 2018, their self-titled first album released with Daptone Records. The album boasts all original songs recorded at the historic state-run Estudios Areito with Cuba's finest players, young and old, led by the inimitable and dynamic singer José "Pepito" Gómez, produced by Chulo Records' Jacob Plasse, with incendiary arrangements by Michael Eckroth. The ferocious and pedigreed wind and rhythm sections consist of musicians from storied groups including Irakere, NG La Banda, and Los Van Van. Robust, time-tested musical architectures of son cubano and mambo are honored and modernized through a synthesis of the rich compositional styles of Havana, New York, and beyond. Orquesta Akokán made their US debut in July 2018, which included a date at Lincoln Center, and continues their tour to Victoria, BC, to showcase the magnitude of their soulful, captivating music and myriad of rhythmic styles. Thursday, November 14 – 8:00pm ~ $65.00/$53.00 (tax and service charge included) Orquesta Akokán: https://www.orquestaakokan.com/ Ticket exclusively available through: Royal & McPherson Box Office (250-386-6121 or online at rmts.bc.ca).

Hermann’s re-opens with Summer Funk Series Tuesday, July 16, starting at 7:30 pm, the Phatfunks offer the first live performance at Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street, under the management of Arts On View. The Phatfunks a dynamic young band of emerging musicians, are kicking off a new, bi-weekly summer funk series every other Tuesday night at Hermann’s all-ages venue. The Phatfunks are a collective of funky musicians Victoria. The band can be seen in multiple forms, such as a 4 piece busking group in the summers performing downtown, or the full band, a 6 piece with 2 horns and rhythm section. They play funk, soul and R&B, with rock, jazz, and fusion influences. “We are delighted to take this essential step in our journey,” said interim executive director Nichola Walkden. “Hermann’s Jazz Club is the longest continuously-operating jazz club in Canada and we are thankful that the community’s generosity has kept Hermann’s alive, vibrant and growing.” Hermann’s was voted “Best Nightclub” by Times Colonist readers earlier this year. In addition to making improvements to the two clubs, Arts On View is working to open the upstairs venues for its vision of a non-profit owned performing and visual arts centre. The Arts On View Society (AOV) was founded to save Hermann’s Jazz Club and open up the whole, purpose-built, downtown building for live performances and rehearsals, performer and student workshops, visual arts displays, arts incubation and office space for smaller arts groups that can’t afford Victoria’s steep rents. Information: hermannsjazz.com artsonview.ca

Victoria’s pianist Ashley Wey celebrates the beauty of modern jazz with passion and improvisational joy, bringing the standards freshly back to life. With three critically acclaimed self-produced albums to her credit, the captivating Wey returned to Victoria with her latest ‘Live’: an album filled with inventive ideas and breathtaking artistry. Ashley is a charismatic singer/pianist who lights up the stage with her bright smile and magnificent sounds that open minds and reach hearts. J