June 14 - 30, 2023
Let's Hear It For Yaletown
Every Wed-Fri, Enjoy FREE live outdoor jazz music and dancing. Come join us!
let's hear it for yaletown
Happening every Wednesday to Friday
Come enjoy summer with FREE Live Jazz music! Let's Hear It For Yaletown with talented local jazz bands and swing dancing performances.
Want to learn how to swing dance? Join us for free daily classes to heat up your feet.
Scroll down to see more details.
FREE for all ages, so bring your family and friends to groove to the music and have fun
Popular swing dance classes return this year - jazz away with your partner or an instructor. Don't be shy 😉
Jazz genres include New Orleans Hot Jazz, Hot Club Django Jazz, and Swing Era Hot Jazz.
Curated by Vancity Hot Jazz Society, a BC registered not-for-profit society dedicated to promoting live hot jazz music in dance-friendly spaces in Vancouver.
WHERE?
At Bill Curtis Square; behind Yaletown-Roundhouse Station
Week 1: New Orleans Hot Jazz
Week 1: New Orleans Hot Jazz
June 14
Noah Gotfrit QuartetDouble bassist Noah Gotfrit will lead a quartet of local jazz luminaries to swing out for ya’ll. The music will focus on traditional swing-era dance repertoire from Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Illinois Jaquet and also feature some of Noah’s originals.
June 15
Harmeet Kaur Virdee QuartetThe Harmeet Kaur Virdee Quartet brings students from Capilano University to Yaletown’s streets!
Jazz double bassist Harmeet Kaur Virdee will be joined by Ruthie Ha (tenor sax), Karl DeJong (drums) and Davin Bernie (piano).
The Gin Mill Ramblers play a lively mix of NOLA-style hot jazz and dirty blues with a dash of Django-esque swing. Featuring Michael Coury (vocals, banjo, cornet), Mike Braverman (reeds, guitar), Jo Grames (guitar), and Wynston Minckler (bass)
Week 2: Hot Club Django Jazz
June 21
Aaron Loewen's Django Jazz All-StarsAaron Loewen’s hot jazz closely follows the tradition of Django Reinhardt's 1930s Parisienne swing and features an extensive repertoire of classics. Featuring Aaron Loewen (guitar), Clara Rose (violin), Joe Abbott (clarinet) and Wynston Minckler (bass).
June 22
Clara Rose and FriendsJazz violinist Clara Rose leads this delightful Manouche jazz band, playing the music of Django Reinhardt and other classic swing hits.
Featuring Aaron Loewen on guitar, and Wynston Minckler on upright bass.
June 23
Ella Ozz and the Wizards of SwingOur fabulous singer Ella Ozz will get you swinging and dancing as she’s backed by the hot guitar licks of Don Kellett and Steve Szabo, Jacques “Jaco” on bass, and Seann Smithson on drums. We’ll be playing many swing favourites from the Django repertoire.
Week 3: Swing Era Hot Jazz
June 28
Casey Thomas-Burns Swing BandTrombonist/vocalist Casey Thomas-Burns will be bringing her Swing Quartet to the Yaletown BIA on June 28th! Featuring Casey Thomas-Burns on trombone and vocals, Dean Thiessen on piano, Riley Postila on bass, Clement Pytel on drums.
June 29
Joe Abbott’s Swing TeamJoe Abbott is a Vancouver-based clarinetist, singer and songwriter with a background in jazz, blues and American roots music.
He'll be bringing his Swing Team to Yaletown on June 29th.
Brad Shigeta has been playing jazz trombone for 40 years. He’s toured the world with The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, and Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra among others and performed at every major jazz festival in the world.
Week 1: New Orleans Hot Jazz
Tim Sars leads his band with a warm, deep and lyrical baritone saxophone tone. He embraces the sound of trad jazz, New Orleans street beat and fun-loving originals with his friends Jocelyn Waugh on trumpet, Wynston Mickler on bass and Nick James on drums.
June 15
Jason Winikoff Hot 4The Jason Winikoff Hot 4 specializes in Black American dance music of the ’20s to the ’40s with a focus on early New Orleans jazz. Jason will be joined by some of Vancouver's best including Joe Abbott on reeds, Don Ogilvie on guitar, and Noah Gotfrit on bass.
June 16
Bonnie Northgraves QuintetBonnie is a trumpet player, vocalist, pianist, and composer based in Vancouver, CA. Her singing is smokey, rich, and explorative, and her trumpet plays a call to the early jazz styles of New Orleans while being lyrically intriguing evolved, and playful.
Week 2: Hot Club Django Jazz
June 21
Djangoesque with Don OgilvieDjangoesque plays swing music inspired by the great Django Reinhardt, and have delighted swing dancers and listeners alike for 14 years. The musicians are Don Ogilvie (guitar/leader), Michael Dunn (guitar), Jack Stafford (reeds) and Casey Tolhurst (bass).
Van Django is a Vancouver based string swing jazz quartet whose music is rooted in the gypsy jazz of 1930’s Paris. Cameron Wilson, violin; Budge Schachte, guitar; Finn Manniche, guitar; Brent Gubbels, bass. Subbing for Budge Schachte: Don Ogilvie, guitar.
The Lawless Firm plays American Songbook standards from the ’30s and ’40s with a gypsy jazz feel. Tempos are ideal for dancing! Featuring Michael Dunn and Don Ogilvie (guitars), Edgar Bridwell (jazz violin), Joe Bourchier (bass) and chanteuse Eleanore Dunn.
Week 3: Swing Era Hot Jazz
June 28
Rumrunners Jazz Band ft. Tom ArntzenThe Rumrunners Jazz Band ft. Tom Arntzen is a riot of swing music. Featuring Tom Arntzen on piano & vocals, Geoff Claridge on clarinet, Jocelyn Waugh on trumpet, and Noah Gotfrit on bass.
June 29
Brad Shigeta's Swingtime BandBrad Shigeta has been playing jazz trombone for 40 years. He’s toured the world with The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, and Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra among others and performed at every major jazz festival in the world.
June 30
Josh Roberts QuintetInspired by the early masters of electric jazz guitar, Josh Roberts leads a quintet that brings a fresh take to the driving, dynamic swing of the 1930s and ’40s.
Week 2: Hot Club Django Jazz
Week 3: Swing Era Hot Jazz
Double bassist Noah Gotfrit will lead a quartet of local jazz luminaries to swing out for ya’ll. The music will focus on traditional swing-era dance repertoire from Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Illinois Jaquet and also feature some of Noah’s originals.
The Harmeet Kaur Virdee Quartet brings students from Capilano University to Yaletown’s streets! Jazz double bassist Harmeet Kaur Virdee will be joined by Ruthie Ha (tenor sax), Karl DeJong (drums) and Davin Bernie (piano).
The Gin Mill Ramblers play a lively mix of NOLA-style hot jazz and dirty blues with a dash of Django-esque swing. Featuring Michael Coury (vocals, banjo, cornet), Mike Braverman (reeds, guitar), Jo Grames (guitar), and Wynston Minckler (bass)
Tim Sars leads his band with a warm, deep and lyrical baritone saxophone tone. He embraces the sound of trad jazz, New Orleans street beat and fun-loving originals with his friends Jocelyn Waugh on trumpet, Wynston Mickler on bass and Nick James on drums.
The Jason Winikoff Hot 4 specializes in Black American dance music of the ’20s to the ’40s with a focus on early New Orleans jazz. Jason will be joined by some of Vancouver's best including Joe Abbott on reeds, Don Ogilvie on guitar, and Noah Gotfrit on bass.
Bonnie is a trumpet player, vocalist, pianist, and composer based in Vancouver, CA. Her singing is smokey, rich, and explorative, and her trumpet plays a call to the early jazz styles of New Orleans while being lyrically intriguing evolved, and playful.
Aaron Loewen’s hot jazz closely follows the tradition of Django Reinhardt's 1930s Parisienne swing and features an extensive repertoire of classics. Featuring Aaron Loewen (guitar), Clara Rose (violin), Joe Abbott (clarinet) and Wynston Minckler (bass).
Jazz violinist Clara Rose leads this delightful Manouche jazz band, playing the music of Django Reinhardt and other classic swing hits.
Featuring Aaron Loewen on guitar and Wynston Minckler on upright bass.
Our fabulous singer Ella Ozz will get you swinging and dancing as she’s backed by the hot guitar licks of Don Kellett and Steve Szabo, Jacques “Jaco” on bass, and Seann Smithson on drums. We’ll be playing many swing favourites from the Django repertoire.
Djangoesque plays swing music inspired by the great Django Reinhardt, and have delighted swing dancers and listeners alike for 14 years. The musicians are Don Ogilvie (guitar/leader), Michael Dunn (guitar), Jack Stafford (reeds) and Casey Tolhurst (bass).
Van Django is a Vancouver-based string swing jazz quartet whose music is rooted in the gypsy jazz of 1930s Paris. Cameron Wilson, violin; Budge Schachte, guitar; Finn Manniche, guitar; Brent Gubbels, bass. Subbing for Budge Schachte: Don Ogilvie, guitar.
The Lawless Firm plays American Songbook standards from the ’30s and ’40s with a gypsy jazz feel. Tempos are ideal for dancing! Featuring Michael Dunn and Don Ogilvie (guitars), Edgar Bridwell (jazz violin), Joe Bourchier (bass) and chanteuse Eleanore Dunn.
Trombonist/vocalist Casey Thomas-Burns will be bringing her Swing Quartet to the Yaletown BIA on June 28th! Featuring Casey Thomas-Burns on trombone and vocals, Dean Thiessen on piano, Riley Postila on bass, Clement Pytel on drums.
Joe Abbott is a Vancouver-based clarinetist, singer and songwriter with a background in jazz, blues and American roots music.
He'll be bringing his Swing Team to Yaletown on June 29th.
Brad Shigeta has been playing jazz trombone for 40 years. He’s toured the world with The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, and Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra among others and performed at every major jazz festival in the world.
The Rumrunners Jazz Band ft. Tom Arntzen is a riot of swing music. Featuring Tom Arntzen on piano & vocals, Geoff Claridge on clarinet, Jocelyn Waugh on trumpet, and Noah Gotfrit on bass.
Brad Shigeta has been playing jazz trombone for 40 years. He’s toured the world with The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Orchestra, and Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra among others and performed at every major jazz festival in the world.
Inspired by the early masters of electric jazz guitar, Josh Roberts leads a quintet that brings a fresh take to the driving, dynamic swing of the 1930s and ’40s.
