I’ll be live on Zoom tomorrow (Saturday, November 30) at 1pm PST, any and all are welcome to join me
Monik Nordine is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6311967474
Meeting ID: 631 196 7474
Tickets to our Nov. 16 Fundraiser are now available!
click here to buy tickets to our Fundraiser for the Single Parent’s Resource Centre:
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra along with our special guests Maria Manna and Andrew Homzy are hoping that you will join us on November 16 to help children and families in need here in Victoria.
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra with Maria Manna perform
“A Christmas Carol”
Conducted by Andrew Homzy
A fundraiser for the Single Parent Resource Centre
Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 7:30pm
Alix Goolden Hall (907 Pandora Ave.)
Tickets $40 available at Alix Goolden Hall Tickets
For ticket information call (250) 386-5311
For event information https://www.facebook.com/victoriajazzorchestra/
Presented by Monik Nordine
This November you can get jazzy in a festive way with the Victoria Jazz Orchestra. Monik Nordine is putting on a concert at Alix Goolden featuring the Orchestra with guests Maria Manna on vocals, and conductor Andrew Homzy, the Artistic Director of the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival. The event is being held to raise funds and awareness for the Single Parent Resource Center, located here in Victoria.
A staggering 50% of children living in single parent homes are living in poverty and child poverty rates in BC remain above the national average. The Single Parent Resource Centre provides free clothing, food, counseling and Christmas gifts for families in need. By helping the folks at the Single Parent Resource Centre you will be directly and positively impacting the lives of children.
https://www.singleparentvictoria.ca
The Monik Nordine Quartet with Astrid Lyre
The Monik Nordine Quartet is joined by Nanaimo-based guitarist Astrid Lyre for an evening of original music. Joining Monik and Astrid will be Bruce Meikle on bass and David Emery on drums. The quartet features the music of composers such as Oscar Peterson, Sonny Greenwich, Hugh Fraser and other more. Monik has set out to highlight Canadian works with this group and the stylistic influences lean heavily on Miles Davis and Sonny Stitt.
Tickets are $10 and are available online HERE and at the door.
Check us out on FB! FB Events
Join The Victoria Jazz Orchestra on November 16 at Alix Goolden Hall
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra with Maria Manna perform
“A Christmas Carol”
Conducted by Andrew Homzy
Also joined by the Cathedral School Choir
A fundraiser for the Single Parent Resource Centre
Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 7:30pm
Alix Goolden Hall (907 Pandora Ave.)
Tickets $40 available at Alix Goolden Hall Tickets
For ticket information call (250) 386-5311
For event information https://www.facebook.com/victoriajazzorchestra/
Presented by Monik Nordine
This November you can get jazzy in a festive way with the Victoria Jazz Orchestra. Monik Nordine is putting on a concert at Alix Goolden featuring the Orchestra with guests Maria Manna on vocals, and the Cathedral School Choir. Conducting them all will be Andrew Homzy, the Artistic Director of the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival. The event is being held to raise funds and awareness for the Single Parent Resource Center, located here in Victoria.
A staggering 50% of children living in single parent homes are living in poverty and child poverty rates in BC remain above the national average. The Single Parent Resource Centre provides free clothing, food, counseling and Christmas gifts for families in need. By helping the folks at the Single Parent Resource Centre you will be directly and positively impacting the lives of children.
https://www.singleparentvictoria.ca
Free Saturday music lessons on Zoom
Join me on Saturdays at 1pm PST for free group sessions on ear training, improv and saxophone. This is a place where we can meet and talk about music theory, ear training, intervals, improvisation, saxophone related issues and anything relevant to your musical progress.
To download Zoom on your computer or tablet, find it here
The meeting page is here
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6311967474
Hope to see you on Zoom!
Donation
Help us in our fundraising effort by giving a small donation
C$20.00
Join the fun with our UJAM Summer Jam Camp from July 22-26!
https://www.u-jam.ca/summer-jazz-camp
Course materials for my classes are available here:
How To Train Your Ear
Our ears are the most important tools we have as musicians. Without the ability to hear chords and intervals we are stabbing in the dark and can’t possibly know what we are playing or how it relates to the other notes we hear. “How to train your ear and avoid Hiccups” with Monik is a 5-day class designed to help students begin to recognize intervals and basic chords by ear and also learn a few improv solos by ear in a spirit of fun and games.
How To Train Your Ear course pack
“Pfrancin’”
“Soft Winds”
“There Will Never Be Another You”
“Mambo Influenciado” w. Irving Acao on tenor sax
Is It Is, Or Is It Ain’t, A Blues?
Is it, or isn’t it? We will go over basic theory including modes, key signatures and the circle of fifths and then using this information we will try and figure out what are the defining features of a blues. We will talk about “riff” blues, call and response, downstep, major and minor blues using examples that we may know or recognize.
Woodwind Fundamentals (saxophones and clarinets)
Every morning we will meet at 9am to go over instrumental technique and the fundamentals of playing a single reed instrument. Yay reeds!
Checklist for Low Notes on Saxophone
1) make sure the reed seals to the mouthpiece like a suction cup
2) check to make sure the resistance is the same on each edge of the reed by playing
3) make sure the reed is not too resistant overall ie. not too hard
4) slur down the c scale to low c and sustain. how does it feel? comfortable?
subtext to all this, prefaced by, make sure the saxophone is not leaking down low!
potential problems:
1) volume of air incorrect
2) incorrect pressure on bottom of reed
3) incorrect amount of the mouthpiece in your mouth
4) reed malfunction!
“Barracuda”
Copper Owl Pass 2019
We are now offering a pass to attend all four events at The Copper Owl from June 27 to June 30, 2019 with this pass for the reduced price of $40, check it out:
THE LEFT COAST JAZZ FESTIVAL 2019
The Left Coast Jazz Festival is an exciting new jazz festival in Victoria, BC with a local, organic, gluten free focus to its programming. The aim of the festival is to support local artists (Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands) and to support venues who are presenting local artists on an ongoing basis. Victoria musicians Jon Miller and Monik Nordine are the festival organizers and are happy to be supporting many shows from June 26 to June 30, 2019 at The Copper Owl (1900 Douglas St., Victoria, BC), Victoria, BC), The Northern Quarter (1724 Douglas St., Victoria, BC) and in Duncan, BC in City Square (200 Craig St, Duncan, BC)
Miller and Nordine are both members of The Jon Miller Quartet and have also collaborated with The Victoria Jazz Orchestra and recorded together on the album Three Days In Winter
for tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/left-coast-jazz-fest-20250960323
sposored by:
The Great Canadian Songbook
The Monik Nordine Quartet
The Great Canadian Songbook
7:30pm, Friday, April 12 at The Shaw Auditorium in Nanaimo, BC
For tickets and information visit: nanaimojazzfest.ca
“… solid performance and writing chops.” – Downbeat Magazine
Juno nominated saxophonist Monik Nordine has a powerful, lyrical, and impressive command of the saxophone and has received several prestigious arts awards. She has recorded with John Korsrud’s Hard Rubber Orchestra and has also toured with Hugh Fraser’s band VEJI. Monik plays alto and soprano saxophone and occasionally sings with her ensembles.
“…facile in her execution and fluid in the spinning out of her melodic ideas.”
— Rick Helzer, Jazz Improv Magazine
“…soaring, dynamic solos…” — PQB News
Now leading “The Monik Nordine Quartet”, Monik and her group are featuring the compositions of Canadian jazz artists such as Oscar Peterson, Joni Mitchell, KD Lang, Sonny Greenwich, Jan Jarczyk, Kenny Wheeler, Hugh Fraser, Alan Matheson, Greg Bush and of course their own works in a project called “The Great Canadian Songbook”. The aim of this project is to document as many retrospective and current Canadian compositions as possible with the goal of creating a body of work that we can call our own.
Joining Monik for this special project are Brent Jarvis (piano), Rob Johnson (bass) and David Emery (drums). Each of these musicians maintains a busy performing and touring schedule in BC and elsewhere: Brent and Monik have recorded two albums together – “Departure Jazz” and “The Old-New Town”, David Emery plays drums with The Victoria Jazz Orchestra and Rob Johnson performs regularly with The Tom Vickery Trio at Hermann’s Jazz Club.
Connect on social media@ www.facebook.com/saxgirl.ca/
Tickets for Valdy Goes Big Band
Call the Conservatory at (250) 386-5311
Tickets are available online by following this link:
Monday Magazine Article
We have a wonderful article in this month’s edition of Monday Magazine. Very excited about the upcoming Valdy concert with the VJO, have a look at the article:
Store
via Store
Video Interview with Valdy
and a blue guitar
Check it out here:
Valdy Goes Big Band with The Victoria Jazz Orchestra
The Victoria Premier Has Been Announced of Valdy Goes Big Band
Canadian folk icon and Juno award-winning performer Valdy is teaming up with the Victoria Jazz Orchestra and will be performing a big band-infused cross-genre show within the innovative rarer folk-jazz genre. The concert will feature the beloved music of folk legend Valdy with treasured jazz standards March 16, 2019, at the Alix Goolden Hall in Victoria, BC, at 907 Pandora Ave. Tickets will be available in January and can be purchased at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at 900 Johnson Street, by phone at (250) 386-5311 and online through alixgooldenhall.com. Students and seniors’ tickets are $32, general admission is $37. The concert starts at 7:30 pm and the doors open at 7:00 pm.
The Victoria performance will feature Valdy’s hits from the 1970’s until the present day including the favourite hits “Peter and Lou,” “Easy Money,” “Daddy’s OK,” “Highway 63,” and jazz standard gems for big band. Multi-JUNO award winner Valdy is a recipient of the Order of Canada and has received seven JUNO award nominations. With fourteen albums to his credit and having achieved sales of nearly half a million copies (four of which are certified gold), he received SOCAN’s National Achievement Award in 2005 and currently maintains a busy touring schedule across Canada and abroad.
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver Island’s premier big band has been featured at the Victoria and Nanaimo International Jazz Festivals. Led by gifted talent Canadian saxophonist and composer Monik Nordine, the orchestra features lyrical Victoria area jazz soloists such as guitarist Rob Cheramy and tenor saxophonist Andrew Greenwood. Nordine formed the band in 2013 and many of the big band’s first performances were held at Victoria’s historic Hermann’s Jazz Club. The Victoria Jazz Orchestra has teamed up with soloists, composers, and conductors from BC and other parts of Canada including Chelsea McBride, John Korsrud, Jennifer Scott, Jill Townsend, and Bill Coon. Having been featured as a performer with VEJI, The Pat Coleman Quartet and The Jon Miller Quartet, bandleader Nordine has three captivating well-crafted original jazz albums to her name – not just to but over the moon, Departure and The Old-New Town.
Valdy Goes Big Band evolved on Salt Spring Island as a collaboration between the jazz and folk communities and was first presented by the Swing Shift Community Big Band on Salt Spring Island in June of 2018 under the direction of powerhouse trumpet player Derrick Milton. Renowned songwriter Valdy has always had a deep respect for the jazz tradition and has been a closet jazz player for most of his life and is keen to perform his music with the Victoria Jazz Orchestra. Joining the Victoria Jazz Orchestra for the first time, dazzling trumpet player Derrick Milton currently performs with The Foothills Brass and directs Salt Spring Island’s the Swing Shift Community Big Band.
Singer-songwriter Valdy meets the swinging sounds of big band with orchestrations of his original compositions as scored by saxophonist and VJO bandleader Monik Nordine, Capilano College jazz studies program founder Mike Reveley, bandleader and pianist Andrew Homzy, and trombonist/arranger Keith Ollerenshaw.
Mark it on your calendar! Join us for an evening of Valdy’s hits with Vancouver island’s most acclaimed big band. Don’t miss the fun with the Victoria Jazz Orchestra for this memorable Victoria big band concert premier featuring favourites performed by folk legend Valdy not-to-be-missed — see you there!
VJO: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1N0JReP6p3iUY8XFGQh8tg?view_as=subscriber
Valdy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZhfAuaOLJo http://valdy.com/
https://soundcloud.com/user-852863557-797025761
https://www.instagram.com/victoriajazzorchestra/?hl=en
The Monik Nordine Trio at the Colwood Anglican
On Sunday, October 14 from 7pm to 8pm the Monik Nordine Trio will be performing for the Jazz Vespers series at the Church of the Advent in Colwood. Admission is by donation and the doors open at 6pm.
510 Mount View Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia
https://www.facebook.com/saxgirl.ca/
The Monik Nordine Trio features Monik Nordine on alto saxophone and vocals as well as band mates Brent Jarvis on piano and Bruce Meikle on bass for a jazz trio of exceptional artistry. The group performs standards from the Great American Songbook as well as featuring original compositions by well known Canadian composers. The trio has a new album titled “The Old-New Town” and was featured in June at the Hermann’s Jazz Festival.
The Monik Nordine Trio at the Pacific Lounge
The Monik Nordine Trio with Brent Jarvis and Bruce Meikle will be performing at the Hotel Grand Pacific on September 22 and 29 from 8pm to 11pm – no cover charge!
We are pleased to be back at the lounge for 2 weeks in September to present music from our album “The Old-New Town” and new material. You can hear the album and purchase it here: https://moniknordine.bandcamp.com/
visit our event page: FB event page
Monik Nordine and the VJO featuring Jennifer Scott at the Nanaimo Jazz Festival
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra along with Jennifer Scott will be performing at Nanaimo’s Port Theater for the closing gala of the second annual Nanaimo International Jazz Festival.
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra was formed in May, 2013 by Monik Nordine and is Victoria’s premiere big band. Comprised of the city`s most prominent and accomplished jazz artists, The Victoria Jazz Orchestra performs often at Hermann’s Jazz Club and each show features new material as well as guest conductors and guest soloists. This September we are very pleased and excited to feature vocalist Jennifer Scott.
Jennifer Scott is a Vancouver-born vocalist and jazz pianist specializing in jazz, blues and world music. Jennifer is considered one of the most important jazz artists working in Canada and the United States today. From sold-out concerts in San Francisco to exclusive local club performances, Jennifer’s performance experiences have been varied. Jennifer has appeared at Jazz Festivals all across Canada and in several of the United States. She has also appeared with such jazz luminaries as: Tommy Banks, Don Thompson, Kenny Wheeler, Skywalk, and Hugh Fraser, to name a few.
Tickets for our September 23 show at the Port Theater in Nanaimo can be purchased online by following this link – tickets
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VJO Tribute to Ross Taggart
Victoria Jazz Orchestra
Tribute to Ross Taggart
with guest conductor Jill Townsend
and guitarist Bill Coon
Saturday, April 14, 2018
8pm to 11pm, doors open for dinner at 6pm
at Hermann’s Jazz Club (753 View Street, Victoria, BC)
Tickets $30 and $40 available at the door and through Eventbrite tickets
Reservations for seating by email: info@hermannsjazz.com
Monik and Brent at the Vista 18
If you are in Victoria on the weekend of March 30 – March 31 you might want to visit the Vista 18 Grill and Wine Bar. Monik will be performing with Brent Jarvis from 8pm to 11pm on Friday and Saturday night.
Monik Nordine 