Kingston Jazz Society

Come join us for some great swing dance music!

The band playing on February 19^th (not the 21^st) at Tir Nan Og is going to be amazing!
Doors at 7:00 Music at 7:30!

In celebration of Black History Month, there is no admission charge! 😊

The Crapshooters Jazz band is a new project from the team of Dan Douglas and Ross Wooldridge. These 2 partners are the team that has made the Dixie Demons the most sought after Traditional Jazz band in Ontario. It was Dan’s love of jive music that sparked the project to life and Ross’s amazing chart writing that brought the book into existence. The band plays repertoire from Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Louis Prima and other swing greats. With the lead vocals of Spencer Evans and Dan Douglas, the CrapShooters put on an entertaining and high quality swing show that is guaranteed to get your feet moving.

The CrapShooters are…

Dan Douglas-Trombone and Lead Vocals
Spencer Evans- Piano and Lead Vocals
Ross Wooldridge-Sax and Vocals
Blair Yarranton- Trumpet and Vocals
Eric Smeaton- Drums and Vocals
Kyle Heide-Bass and Vocals

Come out to the events for the Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) in April 2026

Thursday, April 2^nd, 2026

Alison Au 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Kingston Secondary School, 145 Kirkpatrick St, Kingston, ON K7K 2P4, Canada

Juno-winning saxophonist Alison Au joins bassist Jared Beckstead and Guitarist Dave Beckstead to perform for high school music students. Their concert and workshop aim to inspire young musicians and deepen their understanding of Jazz foundations.

Inner Harbour Jazz Quintet with Alison Au 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The RCHA Club, 193 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y7, Canada

JUNO-winning Toronto saxophonist Allison Au and Brooklyn-based Canadian bassist Jared Beckstead-Craan join local musicians to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. The performance will showcase Allison’s original compositions alongside beloved jazz vocal standards, offering an engaging blend of creativity, artistry, and collaboration.

Friday, April 3^rd 2026

Inner habour Jazz Trio 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Kingston Marriott, 285 King St E, Kingston, ON K7L 3B1, Canada

Experience an unforgettable night of vocal jazz as Brooklyn-based Canadian bassist Jared Beckstead joins local duo Nathalie Craan and Dave Beckstead. Together, they bring fresh energy to timeless jazz standards, delivering a soulful, vibrant performance that will captivate from the first note to the last.

Friday April 10^th 2026

Two Thirds Down Under 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Kingston Marriott, 285 King St E, Kingston, ON K7L 3B1, Canada

Two Thirds Down Under offers an early evening program featuring jazz standards alongside original compositions. Audiences can expect a selection ranging from 20th-century classics to contemporary arrangements and improvisations of well-known jazz works, offering a refined, enjoyable listening experience suitable for all ages.

Monday April 13^th 2026

Inner Harbour Jazz Sextet 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

The RCHA Club, 193 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y7, Canada

Inner Harbour Jazz Sextet brings Duke Ellington’s genius to life with soaring horns, soulful vocals, and a powerhouse rhythm section. Experience and afternoon of swing, elegance and high-energy classics as the band reimagines Ellington’s timeless sound with excitement and style.

Saturday April 18th 2026

Ten Cents a Dance 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Venvi St. Lawrence Place, 181 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 5M1, Canada

This performance is for the seniors in this community. The program will include Jazz standards spanning from 1920-1960 with the odd original thrown in.

Sunday April 19^th 2026

Mike Myers Quintet 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

The RCHA Club, 193 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y7, Canada

The Mike Myers Quintet will be performing songs from the great American song book.

Monday April 20^th 2026

Dixie 6 plus 1 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

The RCHA Club, 193 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y7, Canada

The Dixie 6 plus 1 will present a concert of traditional Dixieland music plus some great jazz and swing tunes from the North American songbook

Wednesday April 22^nd 2026

Jazz Appreciation Concert 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Venvi St. Lawrence Place, 181 Ontario St, Kingston, ON K7L 5M1, Canada

Ten Cents a Dance delivers a Jazz concert to the senior residents at St Lawrence Place

Time for Two 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Cataraqui Heights Retirement Residence, 2666 Princess St, Kingston, ON K7P 2W6, Canada

Katie Legere and Chris Alfano

Thursday April 23^rd 2026

Quinte Symphony 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Core, 223 Pinnacle St, Belleville, ON K8N 3A7, Canada

Bandfest is an annual event where students get the chance to perform in a fun, festival-like setting. Professional musicians put on clinic-style shows to showcase the skills and unique qualities of their instruments. For many students, it’s their first time experiencing live professional music up close.

Friday April 24^th 2026

James Brown 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Kingston Secondary School, 145 Kirkpatrick St, Kingston, ON K7K 2P4, Canada

Canadian jazz guitarist James Brown and Dave Barton bring together two compelling musical voices with a rare chemistry. A highly regarded composer, Brown is known for his inventive writing, lyrical sensibility and harmonically rich approach to modern Jazz. Barton – deeply connected to the Kingston music community as a performer, educator, and collaborator- adds his warm tone, rhythmic clarity and improvisational finesse. Together, they create a duo sound that is intimate yet sophisticated, moving effortlessly between expressive originals and fresh interpretations of Jazz standards.

Saxobelles 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Kingston Marriott, 285 King St E, Kingston, ON K7L 3B1, Canada

The Saxobelles Saxophone quartet are a group of local big band musicians who perform in various bands throughout the Kingston area. The quartet offers a jazzy perspective on familiar tunes.

Saturday April 25^th 2026

James Brown with David Barton 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Hotel Wolfe Island, 1237 County Rd 96, Wolfe Island, ON K0H 2Y0, Canada

James Brown is one of Canada’s most talented and versatile musicians. A guitarist, composer and educator, he has produced five acclaimed recordings of original music.
Marrying his extensive background in classical performing and composing with jazz, he has created a unique musical space for himself. This concert is in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month. James is performing with Kingston jazz Guitarist Dave Barton.

Sunday April 26th 2026

Come out to the Kingston Jazz Society Holiday Concert December 4th 2025 at the RCHA Club!

The show starts at 7 pm.

Featuring:

• • • Chanci’s Rum Punch
    • The Mourning Doves
    • Jazz Jam hosted by The Michael Broadhead Trio

There will be a silent auction for some wonderful donated items!

Recommended donation for this event: $15 to $35

All proceeds go to support Kingston Jazz Artists and Jazz Events throughout the year.

The RCHA Club is located at 193 Ontario Street, Kingston

See you at the show. It will be great!

Inner Harbour is playing at the RCHA November 10th 2025.

They will be featuring tunes by Sade and Stevie Wonder!

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm – 193 Ontario Street, Kingston

$5 cover

CALLISTO is playing at the RCHA Club at 7 pm June 25th! Tickets $15

Featuring:
Peter Van Huffel – Baritone Saxophone, Electronics
Lina Allemano – Trumpet
Antonis Anissegos – Piano, Electronics
Joe Hertenstein – Drums

Immerse yourself in the world of CALLISTO, where innovation meets tradition and sonic
landscapes are painted with bold strokes of creativity. Saxophonist Peter Van Huffel’s latest project
is a bass-less quartet that skews the line between composition and improvisation. Featuring Peter
on baritone saxophone and electronics, Canadian trumpeter Lina Allemano, Greek pianist and
electronics artist Antonis Anissegos, and German drummer Joe Herstenstein, CALLISTO offers a
unique and profound approach to modern jazz with their debut album, “Meandering Demons.”
Peter’s innovative compositions serve as the backbone for this project, weaving intricate tapestries
that combine structured elements with the spontaneity of free improvisation. Some pieces are
expansive and suite-like, taking the listener on a journey of musical adventure and surprise, while
others offer a slow build which develops gradually through subtle harmonic twists and layering of
sound. The absence of bass in this ensemble offers the piano an extended space in which to
explore the vast range of the instrument while trumpet and baritone highlight frequencies at
opposite ends of the spectrum, giving the four-piece band an almost orchestral presence. With the
addition of electronics subtly incorporated into the sound of the piano and blended at select
moments with the resonance of the acoustic horns, CALLISTO is a captivating musical experience
that transcends genre and resonates with jazz enthusiasts and adventurous listeners alike.
CALLISTO’s inaugural album “Meandering Demons” was released in March 2024 on the renowned
Portuguese avant-jazz label Clean Feed Records. This carefully selected collection of tracks
showcases the quartet’s unquestionable chemistry, pushing the boundaries of the jazz tradition
and inviting listeners into a realm of sonic exploration.

Weblinks:

https://petervanhuffel.com/

https://petervanhuffel.com/callisto-quartet/

https://petervanhuffel.bandcamp.com/album/meandering-demons

Video Links:

https://youtu.be/TyczgB72Tuc?si=fy7vr-dNjtKcncqt

https://youtu.be/MScLfnnyCpI?si=MnRO7EZJ9CoA_AJP

https://youtu.be/NYsZw9eVi2A?si=7S7sY7piAk4Qt0CE

There’s a great concert happening at the RCHA club on Thursday May 29th!
https://snagglemusic.com/

Under the leadership of JUNO nominated and 10X Global Music Award winning jazz pianist NICK MACLEAN, SNAGGLE is an electric-jazz-funk ensemble often described by media as “Canada’s answer to Snarky Puppy”. The group features as its frontline the all-star horn duo the ALI BROS. BROWNMAN ALI (Guru, Jay-Z, Randy Brecker) and MARCUS ALI (Matt Dusk, Jason Wilson, Mr Something Something), both highly decorated and renowned musicians, have been featured as a pair on countless records owing to the almost telepathic synergy they share in addition to their highly sought-after talents as individual soloists.

Maclean and the Ali Bros stand shoulder to shoulder with some of Toronto’s top-tier electric jazz players. Sporting an all-original repertoire the group has a fearless and muscular yet introspective sound likened to a cross between electric-era Miles Davis and Rage Against the Machine that swings their live show from quietly contemplative all the way to explosively fierce – sometimes all within the same tune.

Debuting brand new material to be featured on an upcoming full length studio album, these performances will feature deeply exploratory, groovy electric-jazz that audiences will not want to miss.
—-
:: Nick Maclean – keys/synth
:: Brownman Ali – electric trumpet
:: Marcus Ali – tenor sax
:: Jay Yoo – guitar
:: Matt Gruebner – bass
:: Adam Mansfield – drums

“Groovy, soulful & exploratory… reminds me of a band I used to play in!”
– Randy Brecker, Grammy winning jazz trumpet legend (NYC, USA)

Tickets are available at the RCHA, in person or by calling 613 542 8152 after 4 pm

Please follow this link to view a complete schedule of events for Jazz Appreciation Month 2025!

Event Calendar

Inner Harbour has two great gigs coming up!

Dave Barton is one of Kingston’s premier musicians!

https://www.davebarton.ca/

Do yourself a favour and catch some of his gigs happening soon! 🙂

Trio, Monday February 10,  4:30 to 6:30 pm, RCHA

Trio. Friday February 14, Musiikki  8 to 11 pm.

The trios have slightly different personnel.

Feb 10, Sean Donaldson on drums, Michael Broadhead on bass

Feb 14. Rich Bannard , drums, Michael Broadhead on bass