The Vancouver area is home to a number of big bands – professional, educational and community based. As a service to the directors, musicians and the jazz audience, we offer this post as a directory. Please use the comments to let us know if we’ve missed any, or send us a note.
Professional Big Bands
| Band | Director |
|---|---|
| Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra | Daniel Hersog |
| Dal Richards Orchestra | Dal Richards |
| Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra | Fred Stride |
| Hard Rubber Orchestra | John Korsrud |
| Hugh Fraser’s Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI) | Hugh Fraser |
| Jaelem Bhate Jazz Orchestra | Jaelem Bhate |
| Jill Townsend Big Band | Jill Townsend |
| Orquesta Goma Dura | John Korsrud |
| Sister Jazz Orchestra | Christian Morrison |
| Space Elevator | Mike WT Allen |
| Swing Aggregation | Dave Guiney |
| Vancouver Legacy Jazz Orchestra | Michael Kim |
| WOW Jazz Orchestra | Jack Stafford |
Jill Townsend Big Band
Community Big Bands
| Band | Director | Location |
|---|---|---|
| An Accidental Jazz Band | Guenter Schulz | North Vancouver |
| Brass and Saxy Jazz Big Band | Laura Genovese | Vancouver |
| Bruce James Orchestra | Bruce James | Pitt Meadows |
| Brock House Big Band | Andrew S Clark | Vancouver |
| Carnegie Jazz Band | Brad Muirhead | Vancouver |
| Creek Big Band | Graham Ord | Sunshine Coast |
| Deep Cove Big Band | Mark D’Angelo | Deep Cove |
| FAT Jazz | Marcia & Chris Carmichael | Coquitlam |
| Forward Motion Jazz Orchestra | Daniel Séguin | Vancouver |
| Golden Ears Jazz Band | Rebekkah Bell | Maple Ridge |
| Happiest Big Band on Earth | Matt Grinke | Vancouver |
| Impressions Big Band | Jill Townsend | Vancouver |
| Inlet Jazz Band | Andrew Clark | Port Moody |
| Jazz Connexion | Christian Morrison | North Vancouver |
| Mighty Fraser Big Band | TBD | Surrey |
| Milleraires Big Band | Kris Covlin | West Vancouver |
| The Moonliters Big Band | Barry Eggen | Abbotsford |
| New Westminster & District Concert Band Society | Brent Taylor | New Westminster |
| Night Shift Jazz | Max Todd | Vancouver |
| Sanctuary All Stars | Bob Liley | Vancouver |
| South Van Big Band | Gordon Deyell | Vancouver |
| The Other Big Band | Doug Makela | Aldergrove |
| Urbana Big Band | Robin Shier | Vancouver |
| West Coast Big Band | Michael Kim | Vancouver |
| Vancouver Groove Orchestra | Phil Vanderveen / Darrell Penner | Vancouver |
Mighty Fraser Big Band
Educational Bands
All the local post-secondary music programs feature big band ensembles, including UBC, Capilano University, Douglas College, and Vancouver Community College.
Other educational venues include the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music Jazz Big Band and the Greater Vancouver Youth Music Academy. There are also a number of high school big bands.
Directors:
FAT (Friends and Teachers) Jazz: Marcia & Chris Carmichael
Inlet Jazz: Andrew Clark
Golden Ears Jazz: Rebekkah Bell
Changes made! Thanks for the information, Bruce.
Added Space Elevator, directed by Mike WT Allen, to the list of pro bands.
Swing Aggregation (pro) and Brock House Big Band (community) added.
Hello everyone
My name is Marietta and I have a 19 year old daughter that are into singing Jazz.
She’s currently going to Douglas College.
She’s hoping to find a Jazz band that can give her vocal talent a try.
She’s such an old soul.
I’m originally from Philippines and we have Karoeke at home.
My daughter is half Filipino half black.
She also make beats and write lyrics for someone else’s beat.
Can someone please connect with me, and see this opportunity?
Hey we never know what the future brings.
Thank you
Marietta
There are several good opportunities for aspiring singers. She should check out the following to meet other singers and musicians:
Monthly vocal jazz jam at Pat’s Pub – the next one is this Monday, Dec. 5th http://www.patspub.ca/events/sessions-patricia-monday-jazz-jam-31/
Vocal jazz jam at the Cottage Bistro – third Thursday of every month http://www.cottage-bistro.com/
The BC Swing Camp, held every August, is a very supportive environment where singers can connect with other musicians and learn from excellent teachers http://www.bcswingcamp.ca/
Hope that helps.
Could the hyperlink for South Van Big Band please be updated to http://www.southvanbigband.com? Thanks.
Done, thanks for the update.
Hello – is there a Vancouver community Jazz Band, that goes to rallies and other community events, please? thx Roger
We have a “Save the Peace Valley – Stop Site C” event in Vanier park by the planetarium on July 8, 2017 at 1pm, that would appreciate music. thank you.
Hi Roger,
You’ll find that most of the community bands would be willing to play for your event. You can contact them directly on their sites. You can also leave a note on the Facebook group Jazz Big Bands of Metro Vancouver (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567926203527309/).
P.S. I removed your telephone number as it’s usually not a good idea to post your private number (or email address) on a public site.
Link added to Brock House entry, and director changed to Andrew S Clark. Thanks to Brenda Clark for the updates.
Hi,
The Kim-Melgar Jazz Orchestra no longer exists, but I am now running a big band named “West Coast Big Band”. Please add this band in the “community big band” section!
Thanks so much.
Done, Michael. Thanks for the update.
Let us know if your band has a website where our readers can contact you or get more information.
For Mighty Fraser Big Band and Jazz Connexion, please change director name to “Christian Morrison”.
Also, Jazz Connexion link should be: http://www.northshorebands.com/jazz.html
Thanks for keeping this up to date!
Done Christian. Thanks for the update.
Sanctuary All Stars, Bob Liley, Vancouver. Community
Thank for the update, Phil. Sanctuary All Stars have been added to the list.
Does the band have a website or other contact information?
2 year reply haha
He does most of the announcements here http://boblileyjazzquintet.blogspot.com/
Added the WOW Jazz Orchestra. Apparently WOW is now playing every Tuesday night at the West Point Grey Legion. The band features some of Vancouver’s best jazz musicians, including Derry Byrne on trumpet, Sharman King and Rod Murray on trombones, Steve Hilliam and Chris Startup on saxophones, Craig Scott on drums, Dave Guiney on bass and Oliver Gannon on guitar. http://jenispicks.com/events/event/west-point-grey-legion-wow-jazz-orchestra/
Brass & Saxy Jazz big band needs to be put on this list, the director is Laura Genovese
Thanks for the info on the B & S J band. I’ve added it to the list, and linked to its Facebook group. Please let us know where the band is based.
Added the Happiest Big Band on Earth
Added Sister Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver’s first all woman big band.
Hi,
Just a quick note that the 45th Avenue Jazz Band no longer exists. However, the Jaelem Bhate Jazz Orchestra has been had at work since December 2018, and includes players like Michael Kim, Dan Hersog, Brent Mah, Duran Ritz, etc. I’d appreciate it if the band could be added to the professional listings. Website available here: https://jaelembhate.ca/jazz, and some recordings here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL15jgbn0tQOKwatcdI1FdsVBCvcCoRyG2
Thanks!
Thanks for the update, Jaelem. Page has been updated.
Please note that FAT Jazz has a website now: fatjazz.ca
Could you kindly update please?
It’s been updated. Thanks for letting us know.