Melody Diachun Quartet

Trail & District Arts Council’s Jazz Series presents the Melody Diachun Quartet on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 7:30 pm in the Muriel Griffiths Room at The Bailey Theatre.

Single tickets are $22. Or buy a 6-show Jazz at the Griff Series pass for $110. Passes available only by visiting or calling the box office 250-368-9669.

**NEW Buy a 2023-24 Patron Membership for $25 and get 20% OFF all Trail Arts Council presentations! More details here. https://tickets.trail-arts.com/TheatreManager/1/login?pass=0.

The Jazz at the Griff series brings you the Melody Diachun Quartet. Enjoy the jazz club vibe as you savour a glass of wine in a setting that is up close and personal with the band. Secure your tickets in advance as this concert is expected to be in high demand and sell out quickly. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this musical celebration!

Step into the world of musical brilliance with Melody Diachun, a distinguished nominee for Jazz Artist of the Year at the esteemed 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards. Melody and her band will perform a heartwarming evening of soulful melodies. Joining Melody are Doug Stephenson on guitar, Jill McKenna on acoustic bass, and Joel Fountain on drums. Together, they’ll create a captivating ambiance with a selection of love-themed songs, specially curated for those who understand the true essence of love.

Born in Montreal and raised in Nova Scotia, Melody Diachun was the first vocalist admitted to McGill University’s Jazz Performance program and after graduating she studied with the great Sheila Jordan in New York City. Melody is known for her “soulful confidence, exquisite intonation, phrasing, and sense of time.” – All About Jazz and was nominated ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at the 2009 Canadian National Jazz Awards and ‘Artist of the Year’ at the Kootenay Music Awards in 2018 and 2019.

Doug Stephenson has been an integral member of Western Canada’s music community for over thirty years. The Calgary native is a guitarist, bassist, songwriter, and producer. He has performed with a wide range of artists including Melody Diachun, Charlie Rouse, Bob Murphy, Les McCann, Jay Thomas, John Stowell, Tommy Banks, P.J. Perry, Altered Laws, Barry Romberg, Bob Brough, Campbell Ryga, and Blues legend Big Miller.

Jill McKenna is a multi-instrumentalist with a particular love of collaboration and improvisation in jazz, folk and alternative sounds. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, McKenna then lived in New York City studying jazz performance on the upright bass at the New School. McKenna is often found playing alongside a variety of artists, including on NPR’s Tiny Desk with dodie, on the road with Maddie Storvold, or with various artists in and around the Kootenays. McKenna is currently based out of Nelson, BC and is the founder of Marivon, a truly eclectic group of international recording musicians, who have joined forces to make music surpassing geography and genres.

Joel Fountain is a very busy freelance musician residing in Vancouver. Career highlights include performing in Russia with trumpet virtuoso & ‘Order of Canada’ recipient Jens Lindemann; performing concerts with Canadian Jazz sensation Laila Biali; touring the world with jazz trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson as part of his ‘Big Bop Nouveau band’; playing in the Grammy nominated jazz big band the “One O’clock Lab band”. Joel has produced and recorded multiple albums, including producing Juno nominated Adam Robert Thomas’s 2018 self-titled solo album. In 2011 Joel released his own solo album entitled “Lindsays’s Song” of all original music where he played drums, keyboards, and sang.

Single tickets are $22. Or buy a 6-show series pass for Jazz at the Griff for only $110. Only 100 tickets available to Griff shows. All individual tickets available online at tickets.trail-arts.com, by phone at 250-368-9669, and in person at the Bailey Box Office at 1501 Cedar Ave, Trail. Jazz Series passes are available ONLY by calling or visiting the Box Office.
**NEW 2023-24 Patron Membership for $25 and get 20% OFF all Trail Arts Council presentations! More details here.

Licensed Event. Seats for all Griff performances are general admission. Two 40 minute sets with a 15 minute intermission. Groups of 4 can reserve a table by contacting the Box Office in advance.

On-line ticket sales end 3 hours before show time (4:30 pm). When available, tickets can be purchased at the door. Griff doors at 7 pm. Show at 7:30 pm.

The Jazz at the Griff series is made possible thanks to funding from McEwan Law, BC Arts Council, BC Touring Council, the Government of Canada, and Tourism South Kootenay. We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Shows in the Jazz at The Griff series include:

James Brown and Dave Restivo – Thursday, October 26, 7:30 pm
Composer and guitarist James Brown returns to BC to present a series of concerts with the Juno award winning pianist Dave Restivo. The duo will interpret new and previously recorded compositions from Brown’s catalogue including music from their 2021 Koerner Hall premiere of the “Mosley Street Suite” and Brown’s 2022 release “Song Within the Story”. Guest artists are Rob Fahie on bass, and Joel Fountain on drums.

Rick Lingard Quintet – Thursday, November 30, 7:30 pm
The Rick Lingard Quintet features Rick Lingard as lead vocalist and saxophonist, Juno award-winner Mike Rud on guitar, award-winning pianist David Restivo, Tony Ferraro on drums, and Doug Stephenson on bass. The band’s members have played with great artists both locally and internationally.

A Jolly Holiday – Thursday, December 21, 7:30 pm
A lively and uplifting set of jazz and show tunes with a sprinkle of Christmas dust on top. Take a journey with Erik Mortimer and Nadine Tremblay as this quartet play some piano solos and sing songs from 1940’s onward that are meant to entertain. Playing all covers, they will dazzle you with songs made famous by Peggy Lee, Amy Winehouse, Coco Love Alcorn, Ella, Bing and more.

Melody Diachun Quartet – Thursday, February 15, 7:30 pm
A heartwarming evening of soulful melodies with Melody Diachun, a nominee for Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards. Joining Melody are Doug Stephenson on guitar, Jill McKenna on acoustic bass, and Joel Fountain on drums. Together, they will create a captivating ambiance with a selection of love-themed songs, specially curated for those who understand the true essence of love.

Itamar Erez Quartet – Thursday, March 14, 7:30 pm
Itamar Erez is an internationally renowned composer, guitarist, and pianist, who blends the delicateness of Middle Eastern music, the freedom found in jazz, and the passion of flamenco, to create a unique sound. Erez received the 2014 ACUM Prize for Special Achievement in Jazz and the prestigious 2014 Landau Prize. The quartet also features John Nicholson (sax), Jeff Gammon (bass), and Kevin Romain (drums).

Fawn Fritzen Quartet Thursday, April 18, 7:30 pm
Raised on folk, classical, and musical theatre, Fawn Fritzen embodies Canada’s diversity with her mixed cultural roots of Chinese, French, and German, singing in her three ancestral languages as well as English. Joining Fawn are pianist David Restivo, guitarist/bassist, Doug Stephenson, and drummer Tony Ferraro.