8th annual South Delta Jazz Festival

Preparations are once again underway for the South Delta Jazz Festival and Jazz Workshop. The Workshop is a summer jazz camp with thirty-five students, seven full-time faculty members, and two TAs.  The Festival comprises seven concerts during the week of the workshop and the concerts feature faculty musicians and guest artists.  Last year was our seventh annual event.   My friend, Stephen Robb, and I started this event back in 2003 with the idea of providing ourselves with some summer teaching work and a chance to get together and play music with our friends.  Since then it has grown to be the most significant arts event in Delta.  
The workshop takes place at Delta Community Music School which is situated in a very cool old heritage house in the Ladner Village (at left).
This year we welcome back  our usual core faculty Stan Taylor (drums) Brad Muirhead (trombone),  Stephen Robb (clarinet/piano), Rob Kohler (bass).  The very creative and cool Bill Clark (trumpet) will be joining us this year, as well as a great saxophonist, Dr. Ed Orgill.  These folks are all wonderful performers and very experienced educators.  I'm really looking forward to playing and teaching with them this summer.  The Infinitus String Trio will also be in residence both as students and as performers on some of the concerts.  We'll have our usual jam session at Petra's Arts Cafe, outdoor shows at Diefenbaker Park and Delta Hospital Grounds, lunchtime shows at Ladner Community Centre, and an evening concert at local church. 
It hardly seems possible, but this will be our 8th year for SDJF.  I am really proud of the work we have done to make this event so successful and especially happy with the way it has become integrated into the community in a kind of organic and natural way.