$45.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

Afro-Cuban and Latin percussion celebration!

Kick off the season in style with Montuno West, a high-energy ensemble that fuses Afro-Cuban rhythms with West Coast jazz flair into an irresistible, dance-floor–ready sound. Known for their tight arrangements, driving percussion, and electrifying live shows, Montuno West has built a reputation for turning concert halls into celebrations. Expect intricate musicianship and pure joy. Drawing on influences from salsa, Latin jazz, and beyond, Montuno West’s performances have been praised for both their authenticity and infectious spirit. This is more than a concert, it’s a party to launch the season, so come ready to move, celebrate, and let the groove carry you.

Montuno West’s collaborative ensemble brings together internally renowned artists from diverse cultural backgrounds from Canada to Cuba, Venezuela to Brazil. Grammy winner Israel “Toto” Berriel is a master of Afro-Cuban folklore. Chris Andrew, one of Canada’s best pianists, brings his Latin and jazz expertise. Raul Tabera and Luis Tovar are leading Latin percussionists in Canada, and Rubim de Toledo, bassist, brings fluency in jazz, latin and global music. Come enjoy the energy and the groove. But don’t expect to sit still.

$45.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

Join us for an electrifying night as the Jon Bentley Quartet hits our stage to highlight their 2025 release Go Ahead! – an album rooted in soulful grooves, powerful melodies, and funky swing. Jon Bentley is a Juno nominated veteran jazz saxophonist with decades of professional international experience and over 30 recordings as bandleader and sideman.

Bentley’s saxophone/organ jazz quartet plays a mix of originals and classic jazz repertoire. Jon’s big, expressive tenor leads a distinctive lineup with Chris Gestrin on the B3 organ, Tristan Paxton on guitar, and Joe Poole on drums. Audiences can expect tight unison lines with open and expressive soloing. This is the kind of jazz that rewards close listening but is never pretentious.

“Saxophonist Jon Bentley is one of Vancouver’s unsung musical talents, a gifted musician who never grandstands, but rather brings out the best in the musicians around him” (Vancouver Sun)

$45.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

The Vernon Jazz Club is thrilled to welcome bassist, composer, and bandleader Aretha Tillotson, one of the most compelling voices in the new wave of Canadian jazz. A JUNO-nominated artist and 2024 Western Canadian Music Award winner, Tillotson has performed across North America with leading players including Kris Davis and the Ingrid and Christine Jensen Quintet, while also bringing her versatility to stages as diverse as jazz festivals and the Broadway production of SIX.

Tillotson’s music blends strong compositional ideas with deeply grounded bass work—described in reviews as both “strong and steady as the Rockies” and capable of shifting seamlessly from anchoring the groove to front-line soloing. Her projects, including Introducing Aretha Tillotson and Kinda Out West, showcase original music rooted in Western Canadian ideas and landscapes and contemporary jazz language, brought to life by top-tier collaborators.

For this performance, Tillotson’s quartet follows in the 50’s and 60’s tradition of the great saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Ornette Coleman. Aretha will be joined by Feven Kidane on trumpet, Daive Laing on drums and Donny Kennedy on alto sax.

$45.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

Celebrate Halloween and The Day of the Dead in style! Dance ‘til you drop with the Okanagan Valley’s premier Latin ensemble. Major Mambo will deliver ALL the dance music, from Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Bossa Nova and more. Skip the high cost of flights and jet fuel: Major Mambo will take us to Havana, Puerto Rico and Brazil.

All Hallows’ eve extravaganza will have special snacks and themed drinks available. Dress up if you desire and come prepared to have fun.

Major Mambo is Patricia Dalgleish (vocals/piano), Trevor Salloum (Latin percussion/vocals), Maggie Ponzo Cotton (vocals/Latin percussion), Francisco Jaramillo (bass), Joe Auty (trumpet) and Bob Rogers (trombone).

$45.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

Featuring the acclaimed husband-and-wife team of Bill Sample and Darlene Cooper, Wild Blue Herons deliver sophisticated, groove-driven jazz and funk with soul, gospel, and pop influences woven throughout. Their sound moves effortlessly from infectious jazz-funk grooves reminiscent of The Crusaders and Steely Dan to intimate, emotionally charged ballads inspired by the great ladies of jazz. The musical connection between Sample and Cooper is at the heart of the band, and forms the foundation of their latest album “It’s All About Love” - a contemporary blend of jazzy swing to funky ballads.

A BC Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee, Bill Sample has performed with legends including Celine Dion, Ray Charles, Kenny Loggins, and opened for Oscar Peterson. Darlene Cooper is celebrated as an engaging jazz, soul, and gospel vocalist whose collaborators include Eric Bibb, Dee Daniels, and Leon Bibb. One critic praised the duo’s performances as “pure emotion… a full on listening experience that sizzles deceptively.” (Chris Spector - Midwest Record) With appearances at festivals and premier jazz venues across Canada, Wild Blue Herons bring a polished, soulful, and deeply musical live experience to every stage.

For this performance, Bill and Darlene will be joined by Miles Hill - bass, Randall Stoll - drums, Steve Hilliam - sax, and Jim Hopson - trombone.

$45.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

Anthony D’Alessandro is a JUNO-nominated pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader based in Toronto. Hailed by Jersey Jazz Magazine as “one of the most impressive young jazz pianists today”, he has performed in many notable clubs, halls and jazz festivals around the world.

D’Alessandro tours internationally as a bandleader across Canada, the United States, South America and Europe, performing alongside international stars, as well as fellow Canadians Caity Gyorgy, Pat LaBarbara and Ernesto Cervini.

D’Alessandro’s album City Lights was nominated for Jazz Album of the Year at the 2026 Juno Awards. Reviewers suggest the album “showcases not only D’Alessandro’s growth as a composer but also the vitality of a new generation of Canadian jazz musicians making their mark globally.” (Paris Move) Anthony’s most recent project is an ambitious tribute to the legendary composer George Gershwin. In D’Alessandro style, this includes “swing and stride arrangements” of music by George Gershwin alongside originals and James P. Johnson repertoire.

$45.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

“Swinging, singing, and sparkling,” trombonist and vocalist Casey Thomas-Burns lights up the stage with joyful energy and classic swingstyle.

Drawing inspiration from artists such Urbie Green, Sarah Vaughan, J.J. Johnson, and Bria Skonberg, Ms.Thomas-Burns leads her quartet in performances that blend the timeless elegance of the jazz Golden Age with the joyful spirit of New Orleans hot jazz.

As the founder and director of the 11-woman big band The Leading Ladies, and dubbed “the future of arts leadership” by Juno-nominated bassist Jodi Proznick, Ms. Thomas-Burns is a star on the rise in the Canadian Jazz Scene. Whether on the bandstand or behind the baton, she brings a distinctive blend of charisma, creativity, and classic swing to every stage she steps on.

Expect some fabulous holiday tunes on what is shaping up to be a wonderful December evening out.

$75.00 Adult (19+)
Including fees & charges

No Minors 19+

The best NYE party in the Okanagan deserves the best party band in the land.

Justin Glibbery, a professional pianist, composer, and music educator, has been a part of the Okanagan Valley music scene for 32 years. His sound encompasses many influences: Lyle Mayes (Pat Metheny Group), Oscar Peterson, Bruce Hornsby, Keith Jarrett, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. Glibbery’s music always has a very lyrical melody with a solid harmonic and rhythmic foundation and contains some twists and turns along the way.

“The Vernon Jazz Club is one of my favourite places to play. It feels like a jazz club from the 40’s with the great listening crowds and the vibe of a really cool room,” reveals Glibbery. “Intimate venues are the best to play at because you are very interactive with your audience. They feel you and you feel them. This circle of energy usually catapults the performance into something really magical where almost anything can happen.”

Glibbery’s recording projects have included three all-original albums as well as working with Juno-award winning guitarist Oscar Lopez on his most recent album Apasionado, which was recorded at Glibbery’s home studio with Glibbery helping to both arrange and produce it.

Joining Justin on stage will be a stellar line-up of some of the valley’s finest. Stefan Bienz on bass, Michael Treadway on drums, Bryn Badel on trumpet, Yanti on vocals, and Stan Sabourin on sax.