| Valley Winds Music Association Jazz Band |
The Jazz Band, also known as the Big Band, plays jazz standards, pop and Latin hits. It puts on community dances and its own 'Jazzy Christmas' in addition to the Valley Winds concerts. Musicians are welcome to attend the first three rehearsals free and then decide if they want to join Valley Winds. Although there are no formal auditions, places are available depending on the need for specific instruments.
Jazz Band practices will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 at the Canmore Collegiate High School in Canmore. 2023 rehearsals begin on January 18.
The Jazz Band has two upcoming events:
Big Band Dance March 4, 2023 at the Canmore Seniors Center
Ironwood Stage and Grill May 4, 2023
Mark DeJong and Carsten Rubeling are highly respected professional jazz musicians from Calgary who make the weekly commute to bring jazz to the community of the Bow Valley.
They are both active performers and educators in and around Calgary and greatly sought-after musicians. Having both completed post-graduate studies in their respective instruments, they bring a wealth of knowledge, talent and experience to every rehearsal, along with a real sense of joy for what they do, making Jazz Band a pleasure to participate in
Originally from Rocky Mountain House Alberta, Carsten Rubeling is one of Canada’s most active and dynamic jazz trombonists, composers and educators. His musical versatility has lead him to play a wide range of styles including classical music, hip hop, salsa, and everything in between. Carsten can be found jamming in jazz clubs, performing in concert halls, or creating cross-disciplinary artistic projects in Calgary’s Neverland art space.
Carsten completed his graduate studies in jazz at the City University of New York Queen’s College where he studied with Michael Philip Mossman, Antonio Hart and Michael Dease, and also has a degree from Humber College in Toronto where he studied with some of the Canada’s best jazz musicians including Pat LaBarbera, Alastair Kay, and John MacLeod.
Carsten has performed and recorded with Sean Jones, Ingrid Jensen, Seamus Blake, Brian Lynch, Eric Bloom, Brad Turner, David Braid, Nick Fraser, Michael Kaeshammer, G Mills, Jens Lindemann, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Foothills Brass, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Jann Arden and Weird Al.
Mark has been active as a performer and educator since graduating from the University of Calgary in 1991. He taught saxophone at the Mount Royal College Conservatory, organized music for the Beat Niq jazz club from its inception until 2000, and maintained a busy performing schedule with The Swinging Bovines saxophone quartet.
After moving to Vancouver in 1998 to study with acclaimed sax teacher Stan Karp, Mark again relocated to New Jersey in 2001 to pursue graduate jazz studies with master saxophonist Ralph Bowen. After completing his graduate studies Mark returned to Canada to begin teaching jazz studies at the University of Saskatchewan.