Festival - We've hit the Midway! June 29, 2011 (kp)

The festival is gathering some serious steam - and that momentum will carry us full tilt into the final weekend of the TD VIJF with a ton of incredible music still to come. Especially on Canada Day (Granville Island) and at David Lam Park and the Roundhouse on July 1st and 2nd.
We're still looking forward to July 3rd with the amazing flamenco guitarist, Paco de Lucia in a highly anticipated performance at the Orpheum and the incendiary Nordic jazz quintet - Atomic - at the Roundhouse on Sunday evening. There's lots to come before that - so have a look at the program, follow our twitter, facebook, blog and join in the fun.

(photo: Chris Cameron)

One of the most gratifying concerts to the midway point of the fest had to be the homecoming of NY's Darcy James Argue - at the Vogue Theatre on Sunday evening )with his 18 piece juggernaut, the Secret Society) just blowing the roof of the place to a full bottom floor at the venerable Granville St. theatre. Darcy was in essence unknown in his home town, primarily because he left after his high school years at Handsworth in North Van for points east (Montreal, Boston, NYC). The story is amazing and much of it was told in earlier blog space - but suffice it to say, the town was out in full force to celebrate the discovery that one of our home town boys had developed into a major artist on the jazz scene. He's already toured in Europe and this summer brings on his first Canadian jazz festival tour - taking in Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal - as Darcy mentioned in his scintillating and amusing on stage banter; this was his first professional hometown show and he was glad he held out for the Vogue. Great show!

(photo: Peter Gannushkin)

Another great show at the Roundhouse (2 shows in fact on Tuesday night) with: Eivind Aarset's Sonic Codex - one of the most innovative guitar explorers on the planet. Hailing from Oslo, Norway his wonderful quartet (2 drummers) was accompanied by visuals on the back screen and the music ranged from the abstract, atmospheric and textural (small percussion meets electro etc) to full blown Euro-funk underpinned by the fine bassist Audun Erlien. A tasty show.

(photo: Ken Pickering)

Jonas Kullhammar's Quartet back stage before their burning shows on Monday. Thanks guys! (Jonas, Torbjörn Zetterberg, Jonas Holgersson, Torbjörn Gulz)

submitted by: Ken Pickering