In fall of 2021 Monik went to Sweden to study with composer Ann-Sofi Söderqvist and now the Victoria Jazz Orchestra is gearing up for a concert on November 19 at Hermann’s Upstairs to perform Music from Sweden. The first half of the concert will feature Söderqvist’s work and the second half will feature Monik’s work, along with some Canadian favourites by Hugh Fraser and Ian McDougall.
Joining the Orchestra for this show is vocalist Jennifer Scott, a far-reaching talent who has collaborated with the likes of Tommy Banks, Kenny Wheeler, and Clark Terry. Jennifer “brings a striking emotional intelligence to everything she sings, no matter the context. As much a song stylist as an improviser, she puts her stamp on material through her supple sense of swing and deft, slippery phrasing” (Seattle Times). In 2018 she joined the Victoria Jazz Orchestra at the Nanaimo Jazz Fest for a performance with the Mingus Dynasty Band and excerpts can be heard here
Rainy Night House | The Victoria Jazz Orchestra (bandcamp.com)
Tickets are available here Music from Sweden
Also joining the Victoria Jazz Orchestra on November 19 are section leaders
Derrick Milton on lead trumpet
Doug Awai on lead alto
Jeff Agopsowicz on lead trombone
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra will be performing a special concert on November 19, 2022 at 8pm at Hermann’s Upstairs in Victoria, BC. This show will feature Music from Sweden, newly written by Monik Nordine and also featuring the work of Ann-Sofi Söderquist, leader of the Ann-Sofi Söderquist Jazz Orchestra in Stockholm, Sweden. In the fall of 2021 Nordine and Söderquist met in Stockholm for a four-month mentorship and this concert will reflect their exchange
Composer, arranger and trumpet player Ann-Sofie Söderquist was born 1956 in Stockholm, Sweden where she now teaches composition, orchestration and ensemble leadership skills at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and has been a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Music since 2014. Ann-Sofi has composed many pieces for big band, but her broader palette includes symphonic music, choral works, theatre music, and chamber music. In addition to the Ann-Sofi Söderquist Jazz Orchestra her music has been featured by several orchestras across Europe
Ann-Sofi Söderquist Jazz Orchestra live at Fasching Jazz Club
Our special guest for this event is vocalist Jennifer Scott from Vancouver and The Victoria Jazz Orchestra is thrilled to be presenting this repertoire and hope you will join them in November at Hermann’s Upstairs
Tickets are now available!
Tickets https://hermannsupstairs.com/reservations&event_id=557418
Contact the VJO on Facebook
Visit our youtube channel Victoria Jazz Orchestra
Hear us on Bancamp https://thevictoriajazzorchestra.bandcamp.com/releases
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra was formed in May, 2013 and performed regularly at Hermann’s Jazz Club for a number of years. In 2017 the orchestra was featured at the Victoria International Jazz Festival and in 2018 at the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival along with The Mingus Dynasty Band and Dave Kikosky. You can hear the VJO with Dave Kikosky on Bandcamp https://thevictoriajazzorchestra.bandcamp.com/releases.
The VJO is directed by Monik Nordine and has featured prominent composers such as Chelsea McBride, John Korsrud, Ian McDougall, Alan Matheson, Andrew Homzy and Greg Bush and soloists such as P.J. Perry, Mike Allen, Tony Genge and Mike Herriot. The repertoire relies heavily on Canadian jazz composers as well as repertoire from the 20th century big band canon.
The VJO has a fluctuating personnel comprised of Victoria’s finest jazz musicians. Some of these musicians are drummer Dave Emery, bassist Bruce Meikle, guitarist Rob Cheramy and pianist Tom Vickery. The brass section is often Miguel Valdes, Bryn Badel, Mike Broadley, Dave Michaux, Marianne Ing, Alfons Fear, David Enns, Jeff Agopsowicz, Jon Candell, and Karen Hough. In the reed section you will often hear Chris Watt, Andrew Greenwood, Doug Awai, and Amanda Paterson.
Purchase a face mask to help the VJO
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra is still alive and we are raising funds by selling face masks. We are hoping to record our first studio album in 2022 and will need to raise $25K to make it happen. The face masks are designed locally and are high quality design with 2options for design and cost $15 each (plus postage if applicable) We look forward to performing for you soon, and in the meantime stay safe and wear a mask!
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Email victoriajazzorchestra@gmail.com for your musical face mask
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Donation
Help us in our fundraising effort by giving a small donation
C$20.00
Past Events –
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra with Maria Manna perform
“A Christmas Carol”
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
https://thevictoriajazzorchestra.bandcamp.com/releases
Tickets for March 16 “Valdy Goes Big Band” are available by calling the Conservatory at (250) 386-5311
and online by following this link: Valdy Goes Big Band
Video interview with Valdy and a blue guitar
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
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Monik Nordine and the VJO
featuring Jennifer Scott
at the
Nanaimo International Jazz Festival
(photo by Chris Watt)
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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Driftwood article Apr. 11, 2018
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
On April 14, 2018 The Victoria Jazz Orchestra will be paying a musical tribute to Ross Taggart. Ross was born and raised in Victoria, BC and was known as a jazz saxophonist and pianist and was active at a high level from the time he was a teenager on Canada’s West Coast. A consummate mainstream jazz player who was equally formidable on both of his instruments, Taggart accompanied such legendary players as Benny Golson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and Fraser MacPherson. He taught at Capilano University and was married to pianist Sharon Minemoto.
Taggart became hooked on jazz at 14, and once said that hearing an Oscar Peterson album prompted him to trade all his rock records for jazz albums. He began playing clarinet at age nine or 10 and switched to saxophone at 14, and had played piano from a very young age. His musical heroes included Bill Evans, Dexter Gordon, Duke Ellington and fellow Vancouver saxophonist Campbell Ryga.
After losing his battle with kidney cancer in 2013, two of Ross’ closest friends, bandleader and composer Jill Townsend and her husband, guitarist Bill Coon took it upon themselves to pay a musical homage to Ross by orchestrating a number of his compositions for a large jazz ensemble. The product of their endeavor became the album “Legacy” featuring many of Vancouver’s finest jazz musicians, and of course Ross Taggart’s wonderful compositions. The Victoria Jazz Orchestra will be joined by Jill Townsend and Bill Coon on April 14 at Hermann’s Jazz Club to perform this music here in Victoria.
A prolific composer and arranger, Jill Townsend is the leader of the critically acclaimed Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra. The Canadian National Jazz Awards twice nominated the Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra for Large Ensemble of the Year. Their recent recording Legacy, featuring the music of Ross Taggart (Cellar Live 2015) presents new arrangements by Jill Townsend and Bill Coon and was voted #1 in CBC’s “Top Ten Outstanding CD’s of the Year”. Jill characterizes her writing style as both lyrical and personal. She has composed and arranged music to feature several guest artists appearing with her large ensemble including Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ian McDougall, Jiggs Whigham, Campbell Ryga and Brad Turner.
Juno nominated guitarist/ composer /arranger Bill Coon is one of Canada’s most highly respected and sought after musicians. He has been performing professionally for over twenty-five years and has worked with numerous jazz artists including Jimmy Heath, Louis Stewart, Chuck Israels, Eddie Daniels, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Campbell Ryga, Brad Turner, PJ Perry, Fred Stride, Denzal Sinclaire, Karin Plato and Dee Daniels. His quartet performed at the Orpheum, opening for Dave Brubeck during the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. He is a member of the Jill Townsend Big Band, Wow Jazz Orchestra and the Brazilian Choro group Gostosinho. Bill released the critically acclaimed CD, Speakeasy with his quartet featuring Juno award winners Ross Taggart and Dave Robbins and more recently teamed up with legendary guitarist Oliver Gannon on a Cellar Live release entitled Two Much Guitar.
This is an event not to miss.
The VJO plays Oliver Nelson with special guest Tony Genge
Joined by Tony Genge on the Hammond organ, the Victoria Jazz Orchestra will be performing the music of Oliver Nelson, including selections from Nelson’s reworking of “Peter and the Wolf” by Prokofiev. This is one of the truly classic, large-scale jazz compositions ever recorded: Oliver Nelson’s interpretation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, as recorded by organist Jimmy Smith for Verve Records in 1966.
Tickets are available here: Eventbrite
Nelson arranged this work for jazz orchestra and added much of his own blues- and rock-oriented music, primarily to provide a solo sections for Jimmy Smith. This version is different in many ways from the original one: this is without narration and it makes use of the jazz orchestra, not the symphony orchestra. Also, the original themes are used but they are now somehow different because of the orchestration. There is new music, too, intended to give this version duration and to give Jimmy Smith a suitable environment in which to improvise. And this version is not politically suggestive one way or the other.
VJO plays Coltrane’s Africa Brass with special guest Ryan Oliver
On Tuesday, September 26, tenor saxophonist Ryan Oliver will be joining the Victoria Jazz Orchestra for a workshop and concert at Hermann’s Jazz Club. On the menu will be the music of John Coltrane’s “Africa Brass” album and other saxophone feature numbers such as Joe Henderson’s music for big band.
Africa/Brass is the eighth studio album by John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Impulse! Records. The sixth release for the fledgling label and Coltrane’s first for Impulse!, it features Coltrane’s working quartet augmented by a larger ensemble to bring the total number of participating musicians to 21. Its big band sound, with the unusual instrumentation of French hornsand euphonium, presented music very different from anything that had been associated with Coltrane to date. Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner wrote the arrangements.
For tickets: VJO tickets/Africa Brass
https://www.facebook.com/victoriajazzorchestra/
Fundraising Campaign
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra is hoping to perform the Peter and the Wolf Suite orchestrated by Oliver Neson on November 11 at Hermann’s Jazz Club. We need to raise $4000 in order to purchase music, rent extra instruments such as a xylophone, a set of timpani, and orchestra bells, pay for the venue and pay the musicians’ wages. Our fund raising campaign will run through Sepember at which point we will need to start making choices about the show. We are grateful for donations of any amount, as your donations will ultimately decide whether or not we can put on this concert. Thank you all for your support!
https://www.gofundme.com/vjo-performs-oliver-nelson
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra performing Monik Nordine’s “Because of You” at the Victoria International Jazz Festival at Centennial Square on June 30, 2017
A Centennial Celebration of Jazz with the VJO and guest Alan Matheson
Advance tickets are available through Eventbrite here
On April 18, 2017, Vancouver-based cornetist, pianist and musicologist will be joining The Victoria Jazz Orchestra at Hermann’s Jazz Club for a workshop at 6pm and a concert at 8pm featuring a celebration of 100 years of jazz on record.
The Original Dixieland Jazz Band made the first commercial jazz recording in 1917 with their rendition of “Livery Stable Blues”. The Victoria Jazz Orchestra will trace the origins of jazz from New Orleans at the turn of the 20th Century to the present day in this commemorative show. We will hear from Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong through Count Basie and Charles Mingus to Victoria, BC in 2017. Eminent musicologist and performer Alan Matheson will present a workshop at 6pm and a concert at 8pm with The Victoria Jazz Orchestra in celebration of 100 years of Jazz on record.
Reserved seating for groups of 6+ can be made by emailing info@hermannsjazz.com.
Alan Matheson is a Vancouver-based pianist, trumpeter, composer and arranger. He teaches at the music departments of the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Community College where he is an instructor in jazz piano and trumpet and at the Vancouver Symphony School of Music where he lectures in jazz history. He is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and studied with Vincent Cichowicz. Alan has also studied with Stephen Chatman, Barbara Butler, Joe Newman and Clark Terry.
Alan also leads his own big band, nonet, septet and trio and has written arrangements for jazz legends Clark Terry and Bud Shank. As well, Alan has conducted big band tributes to Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman and Louis Armstrong. He has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Louis Bellson and Phil Woods. Alan’s compositions have been performed by Julia Nolan (saxophone), Sal Ferreras (percussion) David Palmer (pipe organ) and Martin Hackelman (horn). His arrangements for big band have been performed by the Tulane University Jazz Ensemble and the Northwestern University Jazz Ensemble. Alan’s first CD “Intrada” was released in 2004 and his newest CDs “Duetti” and “Summer Evening” (recorded in Finland with bassist Wade Mikkola) were released in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Most recently, Alan’s septet was featured along with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra at the 2016 Vancouver International Jazz Festival where they premiered Alan’s newest composition “Chaconne” for baroque and jazz chamber ensembles.
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra with special guest John Korsrud
On February 28, 2017, Vancouver-based composer John Korsrud will be joining The Victoria Jazz Orchestra at Hermann’s Jazz Club for a workshop at 6pm and a concert featuring his music at 8pm. Reserve seating for groups of 6+ is available by emailing info@hermannsjazz.com.
Tickets are available here: Tickets
Join our FaceBook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1801617170089151/
The Original Dixieland Jazz Band made the first commercial jazz recording in 1917 with their rendition of “Livery Stable Blues”. The Victoria Jazz Orchestra will trace the origins of jazz from New Orleans at the turn of the 20th Century to the present day in this commemorative show. We will hear from Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong through Count Basie and Charles Mingus to Victoria, BC in 2017. Eminent musicologist and performer Alan Matheson will present a workshop at 6pm and a concert at 8pm with the Victoria Jazz Orchestra in celebration of 100 years of Jazz on record.
Reserved seating for groups of 6+ can be made by emailing info@hermannsjazz.com.
Tickets are available here: VJO with Alan Matheson
Join our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/146086832542438/
Alan Matheson is a Vancouver-based pianist, trumpeter, composer and arranger. He teaches at the music departments of the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Community College where he is an instructor in jazz piano and trumpet and at the Vancouver Symphony School of Music where he lectures in jazz history. He is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and studied with Vincent Cichowicz. Alan has also studied with Stephen Chatman, Barbara Butler, Joe Newman and Clark Terry.
Alan also leads his own big band, nonet, septet and trio and has written arrangements for jazz legends Clark Terry and Bud Shank. As well, Alan has conducted big band tributes to Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman and Louis Armstrong. He has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Louis Bellson and Phil Woods. Alan’s compositions have been performed by Julia Nolan (saxophone), Sal Ferreras (percussion) David Palmer (pipe organ) and Martin Hackelman (horn). His arrangements for big band have been performed by the Tulane University Jazz Ensemble and the Northwestern University Jazz Ensemble. Alan’s first CD “Intrada” was released in 2004 and his newest CDs “Duetti” and “Summer Evening” (recorded in Finland with bassist Wade Mikkola) were released in 2013 and 2015 respectively. Most recently, Alan’s septet was featured along with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra at the 2016 Vancouver International Jazz Festival where they premiered Alan’s newest composition “Chaconne” for baroque and jazz chamber ensembles.
Past events:
VJO plays the Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite on November 21 at Hermann’s Jazz Club
In 1964 Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn wrote their own version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite in the jazz idiom for the Ellington Orchestra, which was subsequently recorded on the album “Three Suites”. Their version retains some of the original themes that Tchaikovsky wrote but with the pulse of swing underlying it. “Sugar Plum Fairy” becomes “Sugar Rum Cherry”, the “Arabian Dance” becomes “Arabesque Cookie” and the “Russian Dance” becomes “Volga Vouty”. What makes this version so captivating is the reliance on the original themes and how the texture of the big band version adapts these themes and swings them. Ellington and Strayhorn were orchestrators of the highest calibre and this suite has their mark, it is masterful and charming.
On November 21 at Hermann’s Jazz Club in Victoria the Victoria Jazz Orchestra will be performing the Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite along with other seasonal favourites from the Rob McConnell library.
Tickets are $20 available only at the door and reservations are recommended. Email info@hermannsjazz.com
We will be raising funds for the Single Parent Resource Center so please come out and support one of our local charities and ring in the festive season. Single Parent Resource Center
VJO plays the Music of Miles Black and Mike Allen on May 31
The Victoria Jazz Orchestra returns to Hermann’s Jazz Club on May 31 for a special performance featuring the music of Mike Allen and Miles Black. Tickets are available at the door and are $20 general admission, students PWYC.
Monik Nordine 