Character Profile

Mike Allen, Vancouver Jazz Musician

When we asked Mike Allen, Vancouver-based saxophonist/pianist/composer/bandleader and general jazz-guru, to give us his list of the top five Vancouver jazz artists, he couldn't. "The minimum I could list would be about 30," laughed Mike. "There are so many good musicians in Vancouver - and that says a lot more about Vancouver's jazz community than giving you five names."

Originally from Toronto, Mike Allen was on his way to San Francisco to study with a great sax player (Joe Henderson) when he stopped through Vancouver, and never left. Today, Mike is one of the stalwarts of Vancouver's jazz community. He is the host of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival's jam sessions and performs every Monday at O'Doul's Restaurant at The Listel Hotel on Robson Street.

The following are Mike's top five ways to experience Vancouver jazz:

  1. Be in town for the TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival (June 26 to July 5)
    The Jazz Fest is 10 days when jazz is completely front and centre in Vancouver. It features over 1,500 musicians and 400 concerts in 40 venues, both indoor and outdoor, all over the city. It's a real reflection of Vancouver's eclecticism in music because there are a vast array of musical styles presented - everything from Norah Jones to Herbie Hancock. And the best part is that it's so accessible. There are free concerts all across Vancouver.
  2. Check out the jam sessions at O'Doul's Restaurant during the Jazz Fest
    During the Jazz Fest, O'Doul's Restaurant at The Listel Hotel hosts the official late-night Jazz Festival Jam Sessions. I'm the host of these sessions and, to me, the jam sessions really represent what jazz is all about. My band goes on stage and plays a couple of songs and then we invite other musicians who are in town for the Jazz Festival up on stage to join us. Soon you have a totally mixed band of people from all over the world making music together. Last year Wynton Marsalis (the world famous trumpet player) even sat in.
  3. Enjoy small venues like the Vancouver East Cultural Centre
    Vancouver has a lot of unique small venues that are great for jazz. The Vancouver East Cultural Centre is my favourite place to listen to acoustic jazz because the sound is superb and it's a beautiful old theatre buried in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood. Other venues are The Cellar on Broadway, Ironworks on Granville Island, and of course, O'Doul's which has live jazz seven nights a week starting at 9:00pm.
  4. Take in the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society's year-round concerts
    The Coastal Jazz and Blues Society puts on year-round concerts, in addition to organizing the TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival each summer. The society is one of the things that keeps jazz alive and thriving in Vancouver. Check coastaljazz.ca for year-round concert listings.
  5. Take home the sounds of Vancouver with the Mike Allen Quartet's new CD - Vancouver
    My quartet and I partnered with The Listel Hotel on creating a jazz CD with songs inspired by the city - the mist, the rain, the ocean and the beauty. Just like Vancouver, the music is understated… and full of substance! The CD is available through The Listel Hotel as well as my website and select music stores.
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