The Lethbridge Jazz Festival explores the many different facets of jazz music, June 13-15 at numerous venues across the city. The festival features all kinds of jazz from salsa to gospel including approximately 1,000 performers from seasoned pros to enthusiastic newcomers.
The fun began June 9 with a jazz gospel service at Southminster United Church.
“We wanted to have something for everybody,” summarized Lethbridge Jazz Society president Don Robb.
“It’s come together really well. We’ve had a lot of great support from the community,” he continued. 
The first big event is June 13 with the Lethbridge Big Band and Friends who officially kick things off at CASA at 7:30 p.m.
Another popular event of the festival is the Young Lions concert which is June 14 at 1:30 p.m. at CASA featuring school bands from eight Southern Alberta schools. There will be bands from R.I. Baker School, The Magrath High School Jazz band , Gilbert Paterson Middle School, Catholic Central, Wilson Middle School, Raymond High School as well as bands from LCI and Chinook High School.
This year there are several familiar faces including Tommy Banks and Vern Dorge who played the festival last year. Plus there is a lot of local talent including Paul Kype and Texas Flood who play the Slice, June 14.
There will even be more local talent playing the “Suppertime Jazz” program throughout the week at a variety of venues. The Mocha Cabana features Dale Ketcheson, June 13-15; Plum features James Oldenburg and Paul Holden on June 14 and Sheldon Arvay and Don Ponech on June 15; The Cotton Blossom Lounge hosts Cal Toth and Anna Vanderheide on June 13 and 15 and Joe Porter and Joel Goodfellow on June 14; Herb Hicks and Ernie Block play the Streatside Eatery on June 14 and 15; The Telegraph Taphouse features pianist Randy Epp on June 13 and Sheldon Arvay and Scott Kanashiro play the Coco Pazzo on June 13.
Bluesman Jack Semple will play progressive blues at CASA on June 15, while Calgary based salsa band the Pana Band will get your toes tapping at CASA, June 14. If you haven’t danced enough, Hippodrome will be playing with teen duo Luke and Tess and Central Alberta quirky jazz combo the Polyjesters and Slide Zone for a free outdoor show on the plaza outside of CASA from 1-4:30 p.m., June 15.
Carstairs based jazz and roots band the Polyjesters have been together since 1999. They are excited about coming to Lethbridge.
“I don’t think we’ve ever played Lethbridge as the Polyjesters,” said stand up bassist/ vocalsit Jason Valleau.
“ We’re still there, we all got day jobs that have to do with music,” Valleau said, who along with his brother Sheldon on baritone ukulele and vocals, guitarist Aaron Young, fiddler Drew Jurecka and drummer Jon May make up the band.
“We’re like stubborn dogs chewing on the same old bone, he said adding the Polyjesters have backed an array of musicians like Ian Tyson and Cindy Church.
“So we keep sharp by learning how to play other people’s music,” he said.
“That’s the great thing about jazz music, there are so many styles. There are about 10 styles of jazz music. We’re musical chameleons. We know hundreds of songs from old swing, western swing, gypsy jazz and cool pieces by Nat King Cole,” he said.
“We read the audience. If it looks like a bunch of old farmers are in the audience, we can easily slip into some Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. If they look cool and well dressed, we can play more modern jazz,” he said. They also have plenty of their own material.
Dallas based singer Rosana Eckert will be singing with local trio HBO 3 (Paul Holden, James Oldenburg and Brad Brouwer) with Vern Dorge at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, June 15.“I saw her singing with Marv Stamm, who was here last year. I wanted to see Marv because he’s a trumpet player, though it was her concert and she was terrific,” Robb continued.
Eckert is excited about visiting Lethbridge. She will be here from Thursday to Sunday
“I’m looking forward to the festival, just hearing a lot of music and taking it all in. My stay will be a nice few days. I’m excited about performing with some of Lethbridge's musicians. I jus
t want to take it all in and have a really good time,” said the Dallas based singer, who teaches at the University of West Texas.
“I do play a lot of jazz festivals,” she said adding she is just coming up here for this festival.
“ I just enjoy meeting musicians. Festivals are a good way to hear a lot of music in one short period of time,” she said.
Her show begins at 8 p.m. at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre with HBO3 and Vern Dorge. Tickets are $35.
Jack Semple is excited to be back in Lethbridge.
“I played the Lethbridge festival only once before I love it very great people very fantastic audiences,” he wrote in an e-mail from the Czech Republic, where he is vacationing.
He will be playing progressive blues music with his trio, bassist Dave Chobot and drummer Martin Blonski.
Pianist Tommy Banks returns to Lethbridge with saxophonist PJ Perry.
“He’s to the saxophone what Tommy Banks is to the piano,” Robb enthused.
They have added several late night programs including a free nightcap program at the Mocha Cabana with Randy Epp at 10 p.m. on June 14 and James Oldenburg and Paul Holden at the Telegraph Taphouse on June 15 at 10:30 p.m..
“It’s for people who just want to relax after seeing a great show but they aren’t ready to go home yet,” Robb explained.
While there are a lot of free events, the bigger events cost money. Tickets for Tommy Banks and PJ Perry at the Yates, June 14 cost $35 as does Rosana Eckert’s June 15 show with Vern Dorge at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre.
The Polyjesters cost $15 at the Slice, June 15. Jack Semple‘s June 15 show at CASA costs $20 as does the Pana Band’s June 14 performance and the opening performance by the Lethbridge Big Band and Friends at CASA on June 13.
There are some good package deals for accommodations for people coming from out of town as well as other deals available on the Lethbridge Jazz Festival website http://www.lethbridgejazz.com/.
A version of this story appears in the June 12, 2013 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
