Melody Diachun & Friends “Up Jumped Swing: Springtime Jazz in Bloom” - Jazz at The Griff

Join Jazz at the Griff, presented by Trail & District Arts Council, for an uplifting evening with Melody Diachun & Friends as they perform “Up Jumped Swing: Springtime Jazz in Bloom” on Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 pm. Enjoy the jazz club vibe of The Griff as you savour a glass of wine in a setting that is up close and personal with the band.

Experience the vibrant sounds of spring through fresh interpretations of perennial songs that embody renewal and celebration. Melody Diachun, honoured as Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards, brings her engaging presence to the music, infusing every lyric with optimism and personal relevance.

Don’t miss this evening, sure to lift your spirits and awaken your senses like the promise of spring! Melody will be joined by Kiyoshi Elkuf on tenor saxophone, Mike Rud on guitar, Doug Stephenson on acoustic bass, and Tony Ferraro on drums.

Celebrated Canadian vocalist MELODY DIACHUN is known for her innovative and soulful expression, and has been nominated for a JUNO for "Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year"in 2008 and a National Jazz Award nomination for Vocalist of the Year. Praise for Melody’s singing comes from renowned jazz pianist and author Kenny Werner, who said, "She has perfect phrasing! It's scary," and from Joseph Blake at the Times Colonist, who hailed her as "a jazz singer of the first order."

Melody's musical journey began in Montreal and took her through Nova Scotia, New York City, Banff, and Vancouver before finding its poetic home in Nelson, British Columbia. Her impact on the British Columbia music scene is not only as a performer but also as a respected faculty member at Selkirk College, where she was an instructor for ten years, and now is the School Chair of the School of the Arts.

Kiyoshi Elkuf started playing the saxophone at age 11, and after high school he gained valuable experience performing with local/international jazz legend Donny Clark. After completing his Bachelors in Jazz Studies Degree in 2006 and numerous jazz shows across Canada, Kiyoshi has adapted to family life in the Kootenays where he continues to perform regularly in a variety of settings from classical to reggae, electronic to straight ahead jazz.

Mike Rud is a Juno award-winning jazz guitarist and songwriter. As an instrumentalist, Mike has played alongside some of the greatest jazz musicians of the era like Peter Bernstein, Kenny Wheeler, Herb Ellis and Joey DeFrancesco. As a songwriter and arranger, Mike won the 2014 Juno Award for his album “Notes on Montreal”, a critically acclaimed musical portrait of the city.

Doug Stephenson has been an integral member of Western Canada's music community for over thirty years. The Calgary native is a bassist, guitarist, composer, producer, and mixing engineer. He has performed with artists such as Charlie Rouse, Les McCann, Bob Murphy, Jay Thomas, John Stowell, Tommy Banks, P.J. Perry, Altered Laws, Campbell Ryga, and Blues legend Big Miller.

From Trail, our own Tony Ferraro is a diverse, musical drummer who is at home in many different genres. After being named Percussionist of the Year at Toronto’s Humber College, he studied with some of the most accomplished drummers in the world, including Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, and Horacio Hernandez. Forever a self-proclaimed student of the drum set, Tony is an exciting player, always bringing his passion and intensity to the music he is performing.

2 x 45 minute sets plus intermission.

Single tickets are $25. Individual Ticket Under 30 years old (with ID): $12.

Or buy a 6-show series pass for Jazz at the Griff for only $120. Limited availability. Get your pass now!

Patron Members get a 20% discount on full price tickets.

Individual tickets at tickets.trail-arts.com, by phone at 250-368-9669, and in person at the Bailey Box Office at 1501 Cedar Ave., Trail. Series passes available only by calling or in person at the Box Office.

The Jazz at the Griff series is made possible thanks to funding from McEwan Law, BC Arts Council, BC Touring Council, the Government of Canada, and Tourism South Kootenay. We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Upcoming shows in the Jazz at The Griff series include:

Sat. Apr. 12: Blue Moon Marquee - JUNO Award Winners Blue Moon Marquee are influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves. Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass plays upright bass and a foot drum kit, singing in honey-dipped tones. A.W. Cardinal’s distinctive and soulful vocals accompany his guitar for the swinging energy of jazz-tinged blues.

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