making the scene

just jazz

covering the jazz scene in Kelowna


Kelowna is home to a number of tremendously talented jazz musicians. Guitarist Sean Bray has been named one of the top 50 Canadian guitarists of all time. Upright bassist Bernie Addington was a staple of the Vancouver jazz scene before relocating to Kelowna a number of years ago. Multi instrumentalist Neville Bowman is top drawer as both a pianist and as a vocalist. Singer Kinga Heming stacks up against the best Canada has to offer.

While there is currently no local 'home' for live jazz in town, there are a number of venues who host the genre on a somewhat regular basis. Shakers Lounge in West Kelowna has jazz and blues artists in on Wednesday nights. The Vibrant Vine has featured jazz acts from time to time, as have Barn Owl Brewing, Grizzli Winery, and The Placery Lounge in the Hyatt Place Hotel.

Craig Thomson | Photo copyright (c) 2021 Miles Overn Photography

Upcoming Events

Jazz concerts, gigs, and other events in and around Kelowna.

Jazz Jam at the RCA
Hosted by Craig Thomson
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Sean Bray Trio at Sandhill Winers
Art 'n Jazz Show
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Bianca Berkland at Little Straw Vineyards
Afternoon Show
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Anna Jacyszyn & Loni Moger at Grizzli Winery
Happy Hour Music
Friday, May 24, 2024
Anna Jacyszyn at Crown & Thieves Winery
Prohibition Party
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Jazz With Peggy at Frind Winery
Afternoon Show
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Anna Jacyszyn at Crown & Thieves Winery
Prohibition Party
Friday, July 5, 2024
Jazz With Peggy at Frind Winery
Afternoon Show
Saturday, July 6, 2024
Anna Jacyszyn at Crown & Thieves Winery
Prohibition Party
Friday, July 19, 2024
Anna Jacyszyn at Crown & Thieves Winery
Prohibition Party
Thursday, August 22, 2024

happenings

The weekly Jazz Jam at the Rotary Centre for the Arts is back on. Every Thursday night from 5:00 until 7:00, a mixture of amateur to semi-pro and professional jazz musicians come together and run some charts in full performance mode.
Our jazz musician photo gallery is coming together, and as we get out to more jams, we'll keep adding photos.
Miles Overn shares the story of how this just jazz section came together over the past month.

listings & directories

Local Jazz Artists

Jazz

Anna Jacyszyn
One of Kelowna's most loved jazz vocalists, Anna gigs regularly with guitarist Loni Moger

Bernie Addington
Kelowna's first call upright bassist for jazz, blues, you name it

Cameron Ward
Cameron doubles on upright bass and electric 6 string bass guitar

Craig Thomson
Very likely the hub around which everything jazz happens in Kelowna. Craig is a saxophonist and music educator.

Kinga Heming
Golden-toned jazz vocalist

Loni Moger
One of Kelowna's very best jazz guitarist

Miles Overn
Smooth jazz / R&B / Neo Soul guitarist

Neil Gray
Drummer, pianist and composer, Neil splits his time between Kelowna and Vancouver

Neville Bowman
First call jazz pianist, Bowman also sings and plays other instruments well.

Sean Bray
Schooled in New York city and master of not just jazz but other idioms as well, Bray has over half a dozen albums to his credit as a solo artist and gigs extensively as a sideman around town and on tours.

The Trevor Salloum Group
Available in many forms, The Trevor Salloum Group plays a variety of jazz and latin styles and is primarily a private function band.

Wood Wire & Fire
Violin, guitar and bass trio

Jazz Adjacent

Major Mambo
Cuban and other Latin styles

Zoe Marie Welch
R&B vocalist and songwriter

Venues

Kelowna does not presently have a venue exclusively dedicated to jazz. Having said that, there are a number of places that bring in jazz musicians and bands on at least a semi-regular basis.

Mixed
Barn Owl Brewing
Rotary Centre for the Arts
Shakers Lounge
The Vibrant Vine


This section would not be possible without the kindness and generousity of all who have given of their time to set up interviews, participate in them, share creative assets, and speak freely with us as we built this out. We will be depending on them into the future. So, thank you to....... Your contributions are deeply appreciated.

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