Friday June 7 at 8 pm, $5. Please join us for a live recording of the Sean Dowhaniuk Group, with two sets of original music both old and new. Chris Platt solo guitar set @ 8pm. Sean Dowhaniuk Group @ 9pm Sean Dowhaniuk guitar, Mike Rajna drums, Josh Smiley piano, Ethan Tilbury bass, plus guests.
Wednesday May 22 at 8 pm, pwyc/$5. Jazz with pianist Justin Golan and his band. Details coming.
Friday May 17 at 8 pm, $5/pwyc. Another night of new music, unpredictable, exciting, unexpected. Jazz guitarist Sean Dowhaniuk is assembling an adventurous group of jazz musicians to explore contemporary jazz-based compositions and some free improvisation. (Photo left, by H. Roscoe. is from Improvising Jazz Orchestra on March 1 at Artword Artbar.)
Wednesday May 15, 8 pm, pwyc. Fred Butler and his Big Band (yes, on our small stage!), playing two sets of big band tunes from Duke Ellington classics to more modern big band charts written by local musicians. The band includes (though not all at once): alto sax: Abigail Neale, Corey McBride; tenor sax: Fred Butler, Patrick Panus; bari sax: Victoria Cox; trumpet: Mark Thomson, Marlon Brew, Esther Matthew; trombone: Margaret Nishimura, George Mackintosh; vocals: Grace San Andres; piano: Josh Smiley; guitar: Thom Mason; bass: Dave Holla; drums: Mat Gervais; percussion: Jess Gold.
NEWS! Be part of the live audience and get a free CD! This concert is being recorded live at Artword Artbar. We will make sure you get a copy of the CD that you help make!
Saturday April 20 at 8 pm, $15. ”Rita’s Parlour”, an evening of 1930s risqué blues and novelty numbers, starring “Lady Rita” di Ghent on piano, vocals. Keeping the lady company are Sam “The Shark” Sharkawy (guitar) and Rich Brisco (drums). 
http://www.ritadighent.com/
“The girl is brilliant!!! She’s got a million dollars down her throat!” (Jazz Cafe, Australia). “Une chanteuse hot dans la tradition avec une belle voix mezzo qui colle a merveille!” (Jazz Hot Magazine, Paris, France)
Friday April 19, at 8 pm, $5. A group of local jazz musicians (Sean Dowhaniuk on guitar, Corey Sitek on saxophone, Ethan Tilbury on bass and Matt Wallace on drums) will perform Wayne Shorter‘s classic 1964 album Speak No Evil from front to back. Sean Dowhaniuk explains: “Speak No Evil is perhaps one of the greatest jazz albums ever, and has had a profound impact on us. We are excited to explore these compositions and put our own twist on them.”
Thursday April 11 at 8 pm, $5. Jazz with the Thom Mason Trio: Thom Mason guitar, Kevin Fraser bass, Robert Early drums.
Thursday April 4 at 8 pm, $5. The Justin Golan Quartet, playing jazz and funky jazz: Justin Golan piano, Troy Dowding trumpet, Justin Rodin-Lehmann bass, Patrick Armstrong drums.
Wednesday April 3, at 8 pm, $5/pwyc. Jazz with the John Imre Quintet: John Imre – piano; Victor Agrippa – saxophone; Olivia Brown – bass; Brandon Munro – drums; Scott Taplay – guitar, playing jazz standards.
With some special guests: Shavini Fernando – vocal; Kristen Prince – tenor sax; and vocalists Olga Denisova, Erin McCarthy, Hannes Louw, and Alyssa Dupuis.
Thursday March 14 at 8 pm, $10 ($5 students and Mohawk alumni). Jazz with the Chris Bruder Quartet, featuring Mike Malone on trumpet and flugelhorn, Chris Bruder piano, Jon Stemmler bass, Sean Bruce Parker drums, playing favourite original compositions as well as some seasoned classics.
Friday March 8 from 8 pm, tip jar: Music in the bar during the James North Art Crawl. One of our favourite jazz vocalists Emily Kemp is back with her band: Scott MacIntosh guitar, Jordan Snider drums, Tom Altobelli bass, and Chris Bruder piano. www.emilykemp.ca/
Wednesday March 5, at 8 pm, cover tba. Jazz with Dimitri Mavridis Ensemble: Mark Thomson trumpet, Justin Golan piano, Travis Baynham guitar, Dimitri Mavridis bass, Keagan Early drums.
Friday March 1 at 8 pm, $5/pwyc. A night of new music unlike any other! Sean Dowhaniuk is assembling an adventurous group of jazz musicians to explore music from, or inspired by, John Cage, John Zorn, James Tenney, and other contemporary composers and improvisers, as well as works by members of the band. They will also be performing works with graphic scores, chance pieces, and free improvisation.
Players include: Ryan Cassidy saxophones; Mike DeiCont bass/electronics; Sean Dowhaniuk guitar; Lee Famelos drums/percussion/electronics; Kevin Frasier acoustic guitar; Justin Lehmann DJ/electronics/bass; Andrew Marcaccio saxophones; Corey McBride saxophones; Mike Rajna drums/percussion; Josh Smiley piano/keyboard; Ethan Tilbury bass. Plus guest vee-jay improvisations for third set, by Judith Sandiford.
SNOW STORM. We will be open, but the Cat Bernardi Quartet won’t be able to get here. They will be back another time.
James North Art Crawl, Friday February 8, 2013, from 8 pm, tip jar. The Cat Bernardi Quartet, a jazz group comprised of Claire Lee on piano, Devin Patten on bass, Ben Corner on drums and Cat Bernardi providing the vocals. They play a wide variety of jazz standards as well as their own original compositions. The Cat Bernardi is inspired by Latin, swing, bebop and contemporary jazz–all which influence their sound. www.facebook.com/thecatbernardiquartet
Wednesday February 6 at 8 pm, $5, pwyc. Jazz with the Fraser/Mason Fourtet features Thom Mason guitar, Kevin Fraser bass, Robert Early drums and Chris Stephens alto saxophone, playing mostly original music and some jazz standards.
Saturday January 26, 2013 at 8 pm, at Artword Artbar, $15 (call 905-543-8512 to book). Back by popular demand! Another rare appearance! An intimate evening of song with Jude Johnson on vocals, Carl Horton on piano and Mike Malone on trumpet and flugelhorn. Jude warns us “It’s a full moon that night….so let’s howl! Moontime Howl was the name of my third album…”
Classic jazz gleaned from the American songbook, as well as a few original songs interspersed throughout the evening, from Jude’s eight released recordings.
Jude Johnson is Hamilton’s music Ambassador and in the Gallery of Distinction. She is also the Director of the MAD creative art school.
Carl Horton is the Musical Director of the world renowned Follies and on the faculty of Mohawk college. He is one of the finest pianist anywhere.
Mike Malone is renowned for his amazing sound and sensitivity to his instrument. He recently retired from Mohawk College Music Dept. and has played with everyone who is anyone in the jazz world. A master musician.” www.judejohnson.ca www.carlhorton.ca www.canadianjazzarchive.org/en/musicians/mike-malone.html
