2010 Olympics - Ice Age Composition

I'm pleased to announce that I've been commissioned by the Hard Rubber Orchestra to compose a new piece of music for the remounting "Ice Age" the world's first new music ice show to be performed as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Click Ice Age to view the video from the premiere performance in 2000.

Vancouver International Folk Festival - July 17-19 2009

Performances with Shari Ulrich. I've recorded piano and bass tracks for her upcoming CD as well contributing a string arrangement.

Robson Street - July 1 Canada Day

Vancouver's top rated band plays an afternoon outdoor concert on Robson Street.

Jim Byrnes and the Sojourners - June 27/28 & Jul 5

Performance with Jim Byrnes and the Sojourners at the Calgary Parkland Solstice Festival and July 5 with the Jim Byrnes Band at the Yale Hotel, closing night Vancouver Jazz Festival.

Jazz Festivals - June 20-26

Performance with VEJI (Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation)

July 20 - Hermann's in Victoria
July 23 - Medicine Hat Jazz Festival
July 25 - Calgary Jazz Festival
July 26 - Regina Jazz Festival

Hard Rubber Orchestra for the NACO eXpressions festival - Kitchener & Ottawa - May 1/2

Featuring pieces by John Korsrud, Brad Turner, and me! Listen to a live recording of "Steps" , the 4th movement of my HRO commissioned Suite, "Nirvana" that we will play back east and features Chris Gestrin on piano.

Universal Gospel Choir at The Stanley - Apr 18

Performance at the Stanley Theatre with the Universal Gospel Choir featuring Shari Ulrich and benefiting Cancer research.

Hard Rubber Orchestra - Apr 5

Performance with Hard Rubber Orchestra featuring the music of Louis Andriessen.

Ed, Edd, and Eddy's Big Picture Show - Apr 1

Preview of "Ed, Edd, and Eddy's Big Picture Show" an animated feature based on the top rated cartoon series, with music composed by the great Pat Caird and performed by Vancouver's top musicians...including me!

Canadian Guild Of Film Composers Scoring Seminar - Mar 25

Attended a scoring seminar by the Canadian Guild Of Film Composers featuring Sean Callery who composes the music for hit T.V. shows such as "24" and "Bones".

Soulstreams Last Performance at The Republic - Mar 23

Unfortunately, this was the last regular monday night performance by Soulstream at The Republic after approximately 2 years and an astounding 10 years of Mon/Tues performances previously at Bar None. Randall Stoll's Soulstream is probably Vancouver's best band and this is definitely the end of an era. Hope to see you SS fans down the road hopefully at some new venue possibly and at special events, including Canada Day on Robson Street.

Guild Of Canadian Film Composers - Mar 22/23

Attended Guild Of Canadian Film Composers sponsored recording sessions at CBC as part of Brass and Woodwind seminars hosted by orchestrator Jeff Toyne. 18 symphonic level brass and woodwind players were hired by the CGFC to record 20 short pieces written and orchestrated by Guild members and conducted by Hal Beckett.

Click here to play the final mix of my piece which is partly based on Amazing Grace. I call it "Amazing Graze".

Hard Rubber Orchestra - Mar 14

Performance with Hard Rubber Orchestra at the Scotia Dance Centre.

John Lee Saunders in Kelowna - Feb 28

Performance with Louisiana native John Lee Saunders at the Rotary Centre in Kelowna.

Jim Byrnes and The Sojourners in Kelowna - Jan 31

Performance with Jim Byrnes and The Sojourners at the Rotary Centre in Kelowna.

Jill Townsend Big Band for Jazz Vespers - Jan 18

Performance with the Jill Townsend Big Band for Jazz Vespers at St. Andrews Wesleyan featuring the brilliant compositions and arrangements by Jill and guitarist Bill Coon.

Vanabaso Performance - Jan 16

A very exciting Afro/Funk dance band led by the iconoclastic bassist, Sam Shoichet.

Brass and Woodwind Orchestration Seminar - Jan 10-11, 2009

Attended a seminar on Brass and Woodwind orchestration sponsored by the Canadian Guild Of Film Composers with Bob Elhai, one of the top Hollywood composers and orchestrators. His orchestration works include "The Nanny Diaries" and the amazing score for "Stardust".

Hypatia at Hermann's in Victoria - Dec 20, 2008

Performing at Hermann's with Hypatia, an all female big band led by trumpeter Lorae Farrell featuring guests Hugh Fraser and Jim Byrnes.

North Vancouver Sinfonia - Dec 20

Performance by the North Vancouver Sinfonia features several of my orchestrations of Christmas music as recorded by The Carpenters and performed by Monique and Michael Creber and under the baton of Conductor Clyde Mitchell.

V.S.O. "Classical Mystery Tour" - Dec 3

Performance with the V.S.O. "Classical Mystery Tour" featuring the music of the Beatles.

Hal Foxton Beckett's - Nov 15

I provided copying and other music prep work for the award winning composer Hal Foxton Beckett's work commissioned by the Kamloops Symphony, "B.C. Reflections", commemorating the 150th anniversary of the province's entry into confederation.

Hugh Fraser's Purple Haze - Oct 24

Hugh Fraser's Purple Haze at Hermann's in Victoria featured the music of Jimi Hendrix and Gil Evans.

Arnie Chycoski - Oct 11

Attended a memorial service for Arnie Chycoski, probably the greatest lead trumpet player who ever lived. I had the honour of working with Arnie back in the day.

White Rock Blues Festival - Sep 6

The White Rock Blues Festival with Johnny Ferriera's Swing Machine.

Dal Richards Orchestra - Aug 21-23

Performed at the PNE with the Dal Richards Orchestra.

Jim Byrnes Band in Gastown - Aug 17 & at Yale Hotel - Aug 21

I performed with the Jim Byrnes Band on Aug 17 In the afternoon at Maple Tree Square in Gastown.

Nanaimo Blues Festival - Aug 15

I was at the Nanaimo Blues Festival with Johnny Ferreira's Swing Machine.

Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra - Aug 12

Performed "Duke, Dee, and Me" with the Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra featuring Dee Daniels at Christ Church Cathedral for Festival Vancouver.

Vancouver Art Gallery - Aug 6 1:00 pm

It was 'Caliente!' with John Korsrud's Orquestra Goma Dura at the Vancouver Art Gallery as part of Festival Vancouver.

Brickhouse - Aug 3

Performed with Brickhouse at the Yale.

Bowen Island Dock Dance - Aug 2

I performed at the Bowen Island Dock Dance with Johnny Ferreira's Swing Machine.

PaperBoys - Kemmerer, Wyoming Jul 26

Performed with the PaperBoys at the Oyster Ridge Music Festival in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

Powder Blues - Coquitlam Jul 19 & Calgary Jul 20

I did a concert with the Powder Blues at Blue Mtn. Park in Coquitlam and then flew next day to Calgary to play at the Deerfoot Casino.

Jim Byrnes - New Westminster Quay - Jul 18 7:00 pm

I performed outside on the New Westminster Quay with Jim Byrnes.

Jazz Cellar - Jul 11 & 12

At the Jazz Cellar I was part of a special large ensemble put together by Hugh Fraser to perform music written by Gil Evans for Jimi Hendrix. Should be interesting!

Paperboys - Jul 10

I was with the Paperboys at the Harrison Arts Festival.

Luis Giraldo's CD Release - Jul 6

A special CD release for Luis Giraldo's newest recording, "It's Always You", featured many of my arrangements. We had a horn section and a string section.

Soulstream - Robson Street - Jul 1 Canada Day

Performed on Robson Street for Canada Day with Soulstream.

Vancouver International Jazz Festival - Jun 29

Performed at the David Lam Park with Orquestra Goma Dura for the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Jazz Festival - Jun 23

I performed at the Jazz Festival with Sacred Linoleum (a.k.a. Soulstream without singers) which opened for Divine Brown with whom I also did several tracks on her latest recording.

Dal Richards Orchestra - Jun 21

Jazz Festival Concert at Maple Tree Square with the Dal Richards Orchestra.

Don Rickles - RiverRock Casino - Jun 20 & 21

I was honored to be insulted by the great Don Rickles at the RiverRock Casino Theatre as member of the pit orchestra.

Tom Jones at Jackie Cohen's Benefit - Jun 2

I played with Soulstream at Jackie Cohen's benefit and had the pleasure of backing up Sir Tom Jones himself!

Mayor Sam Sullivan - May 28

I had the pleasure of playing at a rally for Mayor Sam Sullivan. Sam is a good friend to musicians and it'll be a shame to see him go.

Calgary Stampede Recording Session w/Dave Pearce - May 26

I played at recording session for the pre-recorded music used at the Calgary Stampede. It was thrilling to record with a large orchestral ensemble and the orchestrations were done by the brilliant arranger, Dave Pearce.

Senorita Sarita - May 19

I performed with Senorita Sarita at the Vancouver Children's Festival. I did the arranging for and played sax and flute on her CD, "Groovy Latin Tunes for Children."

Hard Rubber Orchestra - May 11

I performed with John Korsrud's "Hard Rubber Orchestra" at the VECC. We did some movements from my extended piece, "Nirvana".

The Quintessential Canadian Jazz Photo - May 4

I was honoured to take part in the “The Quintessential Canadian Jazz Photo”, featuring jazz musicians being photographed simultaneously in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

The concept was taken from the Art Kane photograph, “A Great Day In Harlem 1958”(shown in black and white) which captured many of the jazz luminaries of that era. The Vancouver jazz community was very well represented and the photos and the names of the participants from all three cities were published in issue #340 of Coda magazine.

The Mighty Tamlins and Leroy Sibbles of Heptones

On April 18th, I performed with Jamaican Reggae legends, "The Mighty Tamlins" and "Leroy Sibbles" of "Heptones" fame.

Bend Sinister

I provided string arrangements for Vancouver band, "Bend Sinister's" upcoming CD release.

Jim Byrnes & Sojourners

I performed at a "World Hope event with "Jim Byrnes" and the fabulous "Sojourners".

Soulstream moved it's Mon/Tues rites to the Republic Night Club

Big News! After more than 10 years performing every Monday and Tuesday at Bar None in Yaletown, Soulstream is moving it's Mon/Tues rites to the Republic Night Club, 958 Granville, in the heart of Vancouver's entertainment district.

Divine Brown CD

I did some saxophone tracks for the upcoming Divine Brown CD, due out later this year. Divine has an astounding voice and wowed everyone when she sat in with Soulstream at Bar None while in Vancouver recording at The Armoury.

Goma Dura

I performed as a featured artist as part of several ensembles for the BC High School Jazz Competition at the Bell Centre for the Performing Art's. Goma Dura (a Salsa offshoot of John Korsrud's Hard Rubber Orchestra) was a huge hit with the young musicians in attendance.

Fred Stride's Jazz Orchestra

I also did a concert with Fred Stride's Jazz Orchestra. Fred is the winner of the 2007 International Jazz Arranging Competition and we performed some of the amazing compositions from his latest CD, "Forward Motion".

Recent Recordings include work with:

Due out in 2008, I'm very excited to be working on arrangements for pianist/vocalist Luis Giraldo's newest recording.

Alex 'A Train' Boynton, bassist of Payolas fame on his recording 'Lifetime' due out in 2008.