Live Music at The Jazz Room
Featuring International jazz acts that play the world’s top clubs (the Saturday program features artistic direction from Mark Kelso). For the latest news and & promotions, click here.
Please note that only Grand River Jazz Society events are shown below.
PLEASE NOTE: This show will be repeated (7:30 set and 9:30 set will be the same music–at least somewhat!)
The Dave Hjin trio is back, Dave now 20 years old with a fresh lineup and a different sound from the last. There will still be standards to be heard, but now in the more folky context that the group has been toying with for a long time.
Guest vocalist Leah Holtom will be joining the trio to provide vocal accompaniment in a way reminiscent to American folk and country singers of a bygone, golden era.
Please consider coming out for a night of experimental yet familiar, beautiful music made by friends.
PLEASE NOTE: This show will be repeated (7:30 set and 9:30 set will be the same music–at least somewhat!)
The Dave Hjin trio is back, Dave now 20 years old with a fresh lineup and a different sound from the last. There will still be standards to be heard, but now in the more folky context that the group has been toying with for a long time.
Guest vocalist Leah Holtom will be joining the trio to provide vocal accompaniment in a way reminiscent to American folk and country singers of a bygone, golden era.
Please consider coming out for a night of experimental yet familiar, beautiful music made by friends.
Sarah Thawer is a JUNO-Award nominated drummer based in Toronto, Canada. She started playing drums at age 2 and her first stage performance was at age 5. She is currently touring, recording and performing with international artists playing a wide range of genres from Jazz and Fusion all the way to Indian, Latin, funk, R&B and Hip Hop.
Sarah is a self-taught drummer and later decided to study Jazz and world music at York University. She was the recipient of the Oscar Peterson Scholarship, the highest award given by the institution, in addition to graduating with the Summa Cum Laude distinction.
Sarah has shared the stage and played with various artists including: George Watsky, AR Rahman, Mark Lettieri, Sekou Bunch, Jane Bunnett, Thompson Egbo-Egbo, Gabriel Palatchi, Del Hartley, Charlotte Day Wilson, Osman Mir, Ruth B., Vijay Prakash, Benny Dayal, Jon Batiste at NPR’s Tiny Desk, Tegan and Sara on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Robert Sput Searight and Ghost Note to name a few.
They will be performing two distinct shows.
- Rob Christian: Flute, Sax, Keys
- Todd Pentney: Keys, Key Bass
- Connor “Chino” Chan: Guitar
- Sarah Thawer: Drums
Listen to:
Sarah Thawer and The Squad – Live at World of Jazz Festival
This performance is sponsored by DIVA INTERNATIONAL for the Women in Jazz Series
Sarah Thawer is a JUNO-Award nominated drummer based in Toronto, Canada. She started playing drums at age 2 and her first stage performance was at age 5. She is currently touring, recording and performing with international artists playing a wide range of genres from Jazz and Fusion all the way to Indian, Latin, funk, R&B and Hip Hop.
Sarah is a self-taught drummer and later decided to study Jazz and world music at York University. She was the recipient of the Oscar Peterson Scholarship, the highest award given by the institution, in addition to graduating with the Summa Cum Laude distinction.
Sarah has shared the stage and played with various artists including: George Watsky, AR Rahman, Mark Lettieri, Sekou Bunch, Jane Bunnett, Thompson Egbo-Egbo, Gabriel Palatchi, Del Hartley, Charlotte Day Wilson, Osman Mir, Ruth B., Vijay Prakash, Benny Dayal, Jon Batiste at NPR’s Tiny Desk, Tegan and Sara on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Robert Sput Searight and Ghost Note to name a few.
They will be performing two distinct shows.
- Rob Christian: Flute, Sax, Keys
- Todd Pentney: Keys, Key Bass
- Connor “Chino” Chan: Guitar
- Sarah Thawer: Drums
Listen to:
Sarah Thawer and The Squad – Live at World of Jazz Festival
This performance is sponsored by DIVA INTERNATIONAL for the Women in Jazz Series
Photo credit: Tia Loryssa Abbott
The New Vibes Jazz Quartet began as a trio in the spring of 1999 with Andy Macpherson (vibes, drums), Dan Brennan (bass), and Tom Wilson (piano) and evolved quickly into a quartet with the addition of Gary Tomlin on drums. Andy leads New Vibes that now features Dan (bass), John Zadro (piano), Jay Boehmer (drums) and usually Jerzy Kaplanek (violin) who augments the group when they can play as a quintet. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, New Vibes will be in a quartet format at the Jazz Room. Not a gig goes by when Andy and Dan don’t remember Tom (2019) and Gary (2018) and they play with gratitude for their special presence in their music and lives.
The group interprets jazz standards with a polished sound and fluid improvisation. Their two percussionists provide an extensive range of rhythmic expression. The group has often collaborated with other musicians including the Breigthaupt Brothers (N.Y.C. and L.A.), the Penderecki String Quartet, Joni NehRita, Derek Hines, and many others.
NVJQ now also features a number of original compositions by members of the group as they begin to prepare for a new recording in the future.
They will be playing two unique shows for the audience.
John Zadro, piano
Greg Prior, bass
Jay Boehmer, drums
Andy Macpherson, vibes and percussion
Check Out:
MP3 audio of West Tracks Runnin’ (by John Zadro) Sound recording: Jeremy Bernard,February, 2020
Photo credit: Tia Loryssa Abbott
The New Vibes Jazz Quartet began as a trio in the spring of 1999 with Andy Macpherson (vibes, drums), Dan Brennan (bass), and Tom Wilson (piano) and evolved quickly into a quartet with the addition of Gary Tomlin on drums. Andy leads New Vibes that now features Dan (bass), John Zadro (piano), Jay Boehmer (drums) and usually Jerzy Kaplanek (violin) who augments the group when they can play as a quintet. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, New Vibes will be in a quartet format at the Jazz Room. Not a gig goes by when Andy and Dan don’t remember Tom (2019) and Gary (2018) and they play with gratitude for their special presence in their music and lives.
The group interprets jazz standards with a polished sound and fluid improvisation. Their two percussionists provide an extensive range of rhythmic expression. The group has often collaborated with other musicians including the Breigthaupt Brothers (N.Y.C. and L.A.), the Penderecki String Quartet, Joni NehRita, Derek Hines, and many others.
NVJQ now also features a number of original compositions by members of the group as they begin to prepare for a new recording in the future.
They will be playing two unique shows for the audience.
John Zadro, piano
Greg Prior, bass
Jay Boehmer, drums
Andy Macpherson, vibes and percussion
Check Out:
MP3 audio of West Tracks Runnin’ (by John Zadro) Sound recording: Jeremy Bernard,February, 2020
This gig at the Jazz Room will be the trio’s first since the release of their new CD, “Time Well Spent” “The Trio will be playing tunes from their brand new Cornerstone Records release which is a mix of original tunes, standards, with a bit of Paul Simon for good luck”.
Originally from Qualicum Beach, B.C., bassist Pat Collins moved to Toronto in 1988 and has become one of the more active bassists on the Canadian Jazz Scene. Pat has performed with such legendary musicians as Oscar Peterson, Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Cobb and Lee Konitz. He has also performed with legendary Canadian musicians as Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell, Ed Bickert, Peter Appleyard and Don Thompson.
In January, 2005, Pat released his first CD as a leader, on Cornerstone Records, entitled “In the Moment” featuring some of Canada’s premier jazz musicians, Mike Murley, Reg Schwager and Barry Elmes. The CD has received rave reviews, including “In the Moment is a CD that’s very easy to like”, (Richard Bourcier, JazzReview.com), and “This is a classy contribution to the jazz canon”, (Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star). The Pat Collins Quartet was nominated for a 2005 National Jazz Award as “Acoustic Group of the Year”, “Album of the Year” in 2006, and Pat was nominated as “Acoustic Bassist of the Year” in 2005 and 2006.
In May 2020, Pat released his second CD as a leader. It’s a trio recording featuring two of Canada’s premier jazz musicians, Tom Szczesniak on accordion, and Reg Schwager on guitar. The album is entitled, “Time Well Spent” and features compositions by all members of the trio, as well as tunes by Paul Simon and Michel Legrand.
Both sets will feature different material.
Pat Collins-bass
Reg Schwager-guitar
Tom Szczesniak – accordion
Check out:
This gig at the Jazz Room will be the trio’s first since the release of their new CD, “Time Well Spent” “The Trio will be playing tunes from their brand new Cornerstone Records release which is a mix of original tunes, standards, with a bit of Paul Simon for good luck”.
Originally from Qualicum Beach, B.C., bassist Pat Collins moved to Toronto in 1988 and has become one of the more active bassists on the Canadian Jazz Scene. Pat has performed with such legendary musicians as Oscar Peterson, Joe Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Cobb and Lee Konitz. He has also performed with legendary Canadian musicians as Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell, Ed Bickert, Peter Appleyard and Don Thompson.
In January, 2005, Pat released his first CD as a leader, on Cornerstone Records, entitled “In the Moment” featuring some of Canada’s premier jazz musicians, Mike Murley, Reg Schwager and Barry Elmes. The CD has received rave reviews, including “In the Moment is a CD that’s very easy to like”, (Richard Bourcier, JazzReview.com), and “This is a classy contribution to the jazz canon”, (Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star). The Pat Collins Quartet was nominated for a 2005 National Jazz Award as “Acoustic Group of the Year”, “Album of the Year” in 2006, and Pat was nominated as “Acoustic Bassist of the Year” in 2005 and 2006.
In May 2020, Pat released his second CD as a leader. It’s a trio recording featuring two of Canada’s premier jazz musicians, Tom Szczesniak on accordion, and Reg Schwager on guitar. The album is entitled, “Time Well Spent” and features compositions by all members of the trio, as well as tunes by Paul Simon and Michel Legrand.
Both sets will feature different material.
Pat Collins-bass
Reg Schwager-guitar
Tom Szczesniak – accordion
Check out:
Matthew completed a Ph.D in musicology in 2019. Matthew has extensive performance and research experience in the study of Jazz and popular music and has completed his dissertation entitled “The Music of Sting”. He has had the opportunity to interview prominent artists such as Sting, Branford Marsalis, Rob Mathes, Laila Biali, and Jason Rebello throughout his academic career. Matthew has performed with notable musicians such as: Barry Elmes, Lenny Boyd, Artie Roth, Lorne Lofsky, Ian Bell, Shane Cook and Benjamin Dakota Rogers and can be heard in collaboration with other artists. He has recorded with Trombonist Ron Westray on Jimi Jazz and Magisteria, with Chris Rait on Waiting, I Want to Look at the Moon and Verbatim and his own release, 6th Line.
Matthew has performed live at several festivals in Ontario including: the Orillia Jazz Festival, the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, the Orangeville Jazz and Blues Festival and The Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music. Matthew has taught at York University as a graduate student and more recently as a contract faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier University. He continues to teach private lessons and with private music programs in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Matthew’s style is heavily influenced by Jazz Guitarists Ed Bickert, Lenny Breau and Joe Pass, as well as popular artists such as Sting, and Paul Simon. Come listen to Matthew’s improvised interpretations of Jazz standards.
Both shows will have unique programs.
The trio is:
- Matthew Rait: Guitar
- Pat Collins: Bass
- Barry Elmes: Drums
Matthew completed a Ph.D in musicology in 2019. Matthew has extensive performance and research experience in the study of Jazz and popular music and has completed his dissertation entitled “The Music of Sting”. He has had the opportunity to interview prominent artists such as Sting, Branford Marsalis, Rob Mathes, Laila Biali, and Jason Rebello throughout his academic career. Matthew has performed with notable musicians such as: Barry Elmes, Lenny Boyd, Artie Roth, Lorne Lofsky, Ian Bell, Shane Cook and Benjamin Dakota Rogers and can be heard in collaboration with other artists. He has recorded with Trombonist Ron Westray on Jimi Jazz and Magisteria, with Chris Rait on Waiting, I Want to Look at the Moon and Verbatim and his own release, 6th Line.
Matthew has performed live at several festivals in Ontario including: the Orillia Jazz Festival, the Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, the Orangeville Jazz and Blues Festival and The Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music. Matthew has taught at York University as a graduate student and more recently as a contract faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier University. He continues to teach private lessons and with private music programs in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Matthew’s style is heavily influenced by Jazz Guitarists Ed Bickert, Lenny Breau and Joe Pass, as well as popular artists such as Sting, and Paul Simon. Come listen to Matthew’s improvised interpretations of Jazz standards.
Both shows will have unique programs.
The trio is:
- Matthew Rait: Guitar
- Pat Collins: Bass
- Barry Elmes: Drums