Duos to quintets, IronFest III offers up fresh jazz juxtapositions, November 3 to 5 at IronWorks

One-off combo nights span local and international names, from Josh Zubot and François Houle to Jay Clayton and Kate Gentile

By Janet Smith

François Houle

Josh Zubot

IronFest III takes place at Ironworks from November 3 to 5, presented by Coastal Jazz, in association with the DTES Heart of the City Festival and Music on Main

FRESH, IMAGINATIVE COLLABS and juxtapositions: they’re the lifeblood of the best new jazz. They’re also the driving forces of a trio of programs at IronFest this week, where local and international join forces to see what happens at the atmospheric IronWorks space.

Highlights include the first night’s appearance by violinist-composer Josh Zubot’s string quintet, bringing together sibling violinist/violist Jesse Zubot along with Meredith Bates on violin, Peggy Lee on cello, and James Meger on bass. They fill out a fun double bill with experimental SICKBOSS, guitarist Cole Schmidt’s project with cellist Le, JP Carter on trumpet/FX, James Meger on bass/FX, Dan Gaucher on drums/FX, and Josh Zubot back on violin/FX.

We’re also, well, jazzed about the mashups on the second night: think Vancouver trumpet sensation Feven Kidane combining forces with veteran guitarist Tony Wilson; or Turkish-born, U.S.-based violinist Eylem Basaldi (of Snarky Puppy and Banda Magda) teaming up with Vancouver guitarist Gordon Grdina and bass master Torsten Müller. Rounding out the program is a dream team of clarinet innovator François Houle, U.K. pianist Alexander Hawkins, and buzzed-about American drum improviser Kate Gentile.

You can read about the third program, which includes American jazz-singing legend Jay Clayton, here, in the series coproduced by Coastal Jazz & Blues, the Modulus Festival, and the Downtown Heart of the City Festival.  

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