Vancouver Jazz Exchange

This page contains a record of all the meetups we have held, along with the jazz recommendations and resources discussed at each.

February 15, 2026 #

Coming soon!

February 8, 2026 #

Location: VPL Central Branch

Recommendations:

  • Victoria discussed her interests in vocal jazz styles and introduced singer Catherine Russell. We listened to two Russell tracks, “Alone Together” and “Blue and Sentimental”.
  • Chris Wong discussed Ethio-jazz (which tied in to the recent Infidels Jazz Presents: Africa! at Fox Cabaret concert). We listened to Mulatu Astatke’s “Yègellé Tezeta”.
  • Alex Gondek shared Duke Ellington’s “Kinda Dukish / Rockin’ in Rhythm” from “The Great Paris Concert” (other renditions appear on several other recordings).

Other topics that came up: The culture and jazz writer Ted Gioia’s Substack, the jazz singer Tierney Sutton (we listened to her cover of “Haunted Heart”), the late jazz singer Shannon Gunn’s posthumously released “On a Mountain” album, and the upcoming Jazz at the Bolt Festival.

January 24, 2026 #

Location: VPL Central Branch

Recommendations:

  • Alex Gondek shared Charles Mingus’ “Let My Children Hear Music” album, specifically the first track, “The Shoes of the Fisherman’s Wife Are Some Jive Ass Slippers”.
  • Joe Hersch shared his personal playlist, and played a few samples of songs by David Benoit, Greg Adams, Carmen Cuesta, Chris Botti, Gabriela Anders, and Gabin.
  • Chris Wong shared “Thème de Yoyo” by the Art Ensemble Of Chicago from their soundtrack album “Les Stances a Sophie” (also on “The Pathé Sessions”).