History of the Jazz Is Society of Alberta
The Jazz Is Society of Alberta exists to present jazz music forms to the public with an emphasis on collaborations among Calgary, Alberta, Canadian, and International jazz performers.

2004 - 2005

October 8 & 9, 2004, Resident Artists Ensemble of Jazz Is Society, RAEJIS, Beat Niq

This fourth Jazz Is Society retrospective from former guest performers and ensemble members, (John De Waal, John Hyde, John Reid, Bob Day and Sheldon Zandboer) included music from Del Dako, Brian Dickinson, David Friesen, Misako Kano, Kirk MacDonald, Ian McDougall, Phil Nimmons, Campbell Ryga, Bernie Senensky, Ross Taggart, Don Thompson and Brad Turner, and was well received. Offering a broad range of vivid and challenging works, the concert excited an audience of all ages, with many post-secondary music students in attendance.

November 19 & 20, 2004, Denny Christianson, Trumpet, Beat Niq

Denny Christianson, Director of Music at Humber College, and former leader of the well known Denny Christianson Big Band, treated the audience to an evening of great jazz, performing a combination of originals and new interpretations of the late 60s tunes of Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis.

February 4 & 5, 2005, John MacMurchy, Saxophone, Beat Niq

John MacMurchy is making a name for himself as a multi-faceted composer, arranger and reed-man. He is well-versed in the classical and early twentieth century repertoire but jazz is his first and lasting passion. He has been referred to as the Coleman Hawkins of Canada for his precision and devotion to the swing influence in contemporary music and he delighted the standing room only audience for two nights at the Beat Niq.

March 12, 2005, Gospel Jazz, Central United Church

This energetic and exciting concert featured a professional gospel-jazz music presentation in one of Calgary's most historic concert venues. Gospel Jazz Four with the JoyRiders featured Marie Bridge-Digney (vocals), Guy Plecash (piano and vocals), and John Reid (saxophones, flute, percussion). Repertoire included gospel favourites (I'm So Glad, Keep Walkin' On, Amazing Grace, Wade in the Water, Spirit in the Sky, Stormy Monday Blues, Bridge Over Troubled Water), originals (Resurrection Boogie, Lesser Light Lunar Blues), and secular tunes that have been "gospelatized," that is, transformed to a sacred message (Where Would I Be Without You, Swingin' Shepherd Blues).

May 6 & 7, Bernie Senensky, Piano, Beat Niq
Bernie Senensky Poster

A native of Winnipeg and now residing in Toronto, pianist Bernie Senensky has earned the reputation of being one of Canada's premiere jazz artists. His playing and his music has been featured internationally in many great jazz festivals, and he is recognized and respected as one of the foremost jazz accompanists in the world. Bernie played to a sold-out crowd for two nights - the buzz in the audience was electric.

June 17 & 18, 2005, Jazz on the Lake, RAEJIS, Heritage Park, S.S. Moyie
Jazz On The Lake 2005 Poster

RAEJIS played music drawn from the standard jazz repertoire and Great American Songbook at Heritage Park dockside beginning at 7:30 p.m. while patrons enjoyed the cash bar and hors d’oeuvres on board the boat while she was still docked. The band then headed on board at 8:30 p.m. and the S.S. Moyie sternwheeler set sail for a jazz cruise around Glenmore Lake for a one hour trip before returning to the quay at approximately 9:30 p.m. to conclude the event.

2003 - 2004
September 14, 2003, Gospel Jazz, Central United Church

This third Gospel Jazz concert was presented in conjunction with the C Jazz Festival, which put the event into a Sunday afternoon time slot. This proved to be logistically difficult in light of the two church services that were taking place morning and evening at the church, but proved to be a successful event nonetheless.

October 16 & 17, 2003, Oregon bassist, David Friesen, Beat Niq

David Friesen is a very experienced and creative musician, the second American musician that the society has presented in collaboration with the Resident Artists Ensemble of the Jazz Is Society. The all-original music that he brought along for the ensemble to play (in quartet) was very challenging and fulfilling. This was unquestionably on of the artistic highlights of the society's five-year history.

November 28 & 29, 2003, Victoria Trombonist, Ian McDougall, Beat Niq

Ian brought with him original music and his sextet arrangements of standard songs and jazz standards to play with the ensemble. Calgary's trombone community came out in force to hear this very special event.

February 13 & 14, 2004, Toronto Pianist, Brian Dickinson, Beat Niq

Challenging modal music was the order of the day for Brian Dickinson's wonderful participation with the ensemble for this well-received set of concerts.

April 23 & 24, 2004, Winnipeg Saxophonist, Janice Finlay, Beat Niq

Janice brought an elegant woman's touch to the proceedings with her excellent and straight-ahead originals and arrangements for the quintet.

June 26 & 27, July 2 &3, 2004, Jazz on the Lake, Dixie Knights, Heritage Park, S.S. Moyie

Although this fourth annual Jazz on the Lake was successful, it did not garner as many ticket sales as we expected. The annual collaboration with the jazz festival did not seem to generate as much interest as it had in the past. Also, the July dates of the festival's second seemed to prove lethargic somewhat in that coincided with the July long weekend.

2002 - 2003
Bernie Senensky Beat Niq, October 10, 11 and 12, 2002

Toronto pianist and composer performed with a quartet of Calgary musicians.

Campbell Ryga Beat Niq, November 21, 22 and 23, 2002

Vancouver saxophonist played with a quartet of Calgary musicians.

Kirk MacDonald Beat Niq, February 28 and March 1, 2003

Juno-winning Toronto saxophonist played with a quartet of Calgary musicians.

Brad Turner Beat Niq, April 11 and 12, 2003

Juno-winner Vancouver trumpet player played with a quartet of Calgary musicians.

Jazz On The Lake (Jazz Festival/Heritage Park) June 20, 21, 22, 2003

This was the third season that Jazz on the Lake was presented by the society in conjunction with Jazz Festival and keeps alive a jazz festival tradition that was rekindled by the society in 2001. Expanded to three nights (two public and one private) with the Dixie Knights, both public evenings sold out (the third/private night was bought by the Kiwanis Club) and a good time was had by all.

2001 - 2002

Bobby Cairns Beat Niq, September 7 and 8, 2001

Ross Taggart Beat Niq, October 12 and 13, 2001

Gary Bartz and Peter Leitch 400 Club, November 3, 2001

Bob Tildesley Beat Niq, December 7 and 8, 2001

Phil Nimmons Beat Niq, February 8 and 9, 2002

Bob Erlendson Octet Egr? Hall, February 28, 2002

Charlie Austin (Edmonton, piano), March 21, 22, 23, 2002

Gospel Jazz April 19 and 20

Misako Kano (New York) May 9, 10, 11

2000 - 2001

Jessica Williams (San Francisco pianist) solo, September 15, 2000, Eckhardt-Gramatt? Hall, Rosza Centre, University of Calgary

This was a first co-sponsorship with the Jazz Focus record label, a fine solo piano concert from Miss Williams. Approximate attendance: 150.

Brad Turner (Vancouver trumpet player and composer) in quintet, Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club, November 24 and 25, 2000.

When asked following his appearance here in our first season who he might recommend to come as a guest with the Jazz Is Society, pianist, trombonist and composer Hugh Fraser highly recommended trumpet player Brad Turner. It was an awesome suggestion. Brad brought along his excellent music for the resident artists to play and included some very difficult charts. He is a fine writer and a fantastic trumpet player. Playing with Brad was a tremendous experience for the ensemble. Approximate attendance: 220.

Del Dako (Toronto alto and baritone saxophonist), in quintet, Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club, February 9 and 10, 2001.

Del Dako called to enquire if he might do a gig here following a back-country ski trip that he had planned since he was going to be out here anyway. We jumped at the opportunity as Del has had a fine career in jazz in the Toronto area, among other things winning polls for best baritone saxophonist in Canada in Jazz Report magazine. This show captured the media's fancy as feature articles appeared in both daily newspapers and A Channel covered the show as well. The program of music played with Del and the ensemble was largely classic jazz standards. Del observed that what the society is doing here in Calgary is unique in the country and very laudable. Approximate attendance: 230.

Don Thompson (Toronto pianist and composer), in quintet, Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club, May 25 and 26, 2001

We are very grateful to the Banff Centre Jazz Workshop for its sponsorship of this show in allowing Don to play in Calgary while he was in the area at their expense. The opportunity for the ensemble to work with this genius of modern jazz was a phenomenal experience. It was a program of all Don Thompson originals and it was very difficult music. The ensemble responded by rehearsing copiously in advance of Don's arrival. Don was VERY pleased by the state of preparedness of the ensemble and by the society's arrangements for him. Approximate attendance: 215.

Gospel Jazz (Gospel and jazz music celebration by musicians of Central United Church), Central United Church, June 9, 2001

This was a first co-sponsorship with Central United Church and was a very successful outing musically, spiritually, and also in terms of audience turnout. Approximate attendance: 500.

Jazz on the Lake (Dixie Knights) S.S. Moyie, Heritage Park, June 29, 2001

This was a first co-sponsorship with Jazz Festival Calgary. This show revived a popular jazz festival tradition with dixieland jazz on Glenmore Lake. It was so well-received that it sold-out three weeks ahead of the show. Encore! Attendance: 102.

1999 - 2000

Caravan and special guests, (seven musicians) October 29, 1999.

The first event was with this local Latin Jazz band plus special guests at Quincy's. Approximate attendance: 135.

Ron Paley (Winnipeg pianist and composer) in quintet, January 28 & 29, 2000.

Ron Paley is kind-of like Winnipeg's version of Tommy Banks and he was the society's first out-of-town special guest and the society's first presentation at its (now) home venue of Beat Niq. Repertoire included Paley's challenging original compositions scaled-down from his big band charts, as well as compositions by locals. Approximate

Hugh Fraser (Victoria pianist, trombonist, and, composer), in quintet, May 19 & 20, 2000.

In our first co-sponsorship venture with Banff Jazz Works, guest faculty member Hugh Fraser played in Calgary (at Beat Niq) on his way to the workshop in Banff. Repertoire included Hugh's originals, originals by local musicians, jazz standards, and standards. Approximate attendance: 200.