Vancouver Trumpeter & Vocalist Bonnie Northgraves Quintet

JOE ABBOTT is a clarinetist, saxophonist, singer and occasionally a band leader in Vancouver BC. He plays many different styles of modern music, folk music ,modern jazz, swing and traditional New Orleans style jazz, in fact just about anything which will keep him busy being a young professional musician he needs many strings to his bow. There’s lots of great music out there to play but in Joe’s case it all comes back to New Orleans style clarinet playing and the lively sounds of the great Jazz bands of yesteryear. Joe has based his love for traditional jazz upon listening to all the great jazz musicians in the past particularly Sidney Bechet, Edmund Hall, Jimmy Hamilton and Artie Shaw to name a few key influences.

He is a second generation jazz musician and reed man who was lucky enough to get started with music as a wee kid. His dad is a professional jazz musician, so the talent is passed on down the line. Starting on guitar at the age of nine, he formed his first band at twelve with longtime friend and musical partner Skye Lamborne. He played regularly as a teenager in Local Halls and venues on the east side of Vancouver playing original music on the guitar. At fifteen he was introduced to swing music at Victoria Park by a guitar virtuoso by the name of Pablo Doherty, siting in the park and learning tunes like “Chinatown” “Right or Wrong” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” as well as a number of folk blues standards.

He picked up the clarinet at 17 years of age shortly after finishing high school and studied with local great Evan Arntzen. He then joined a young Vancouver based band called The Rossi Gang and soon embarked on his first cross USA road trip with his friends and band mates. The band drove south and east playing jazz music on the street and sleeping in parks or staying with friends made along the way. Reaching their destination of New Orleans was a life changing experience for the whole gang and would prompt multiple return trips. He has spent a lot of time in the crescent city and learned a great deal about the immense musical life of the city and the joy of its sounds and people.

Joe has played in bands led by Jennifer Hodge, Josh Roberts, both the Arntzens, Bonnie Northgraves, Casey Tollhurst, Scott Robertson. He tours Canada and the USA playing different types of jazz, and you can see him performing at many local swing dances in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley of British Columbia.

Upright bass player JOE LUBINSKY-MAST is a busy and highly sought after player currently rockin’ for Petunia & The Vipers, Wooden Horsemen and the Rocket Revellers.

His style and energy are infectious and top notch!

JOSH ROBERTS is a jazz guitarist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Specializing in styles of jazz which emerged in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, his playing is rooted in the styles of early electric jazz guitarists like Charlie Christian and George Barnes, as well as masters of acoustic rhythm guitar, such as Freddie Green and Allan Reuss. He has performed across North America, in Europe and the Caribbean.

Originally from Chilliwack, BC, Josh began playing jazz in the New Orleans and swing traditions in high school and went on to attend Capilano University, where he received a BMus in jazz studies. Performing with various groups over the years has taken him to jazz festivals across North America and Europe.

Josh performs regularly in the Northwest, both as a band leader and a side musician. His own projects range in size from duos to a thirteen-piece big band. For twenty years Josh has been performing for the Lindy Hop and swing dance community. His bands have been featured at numerous Lindy Hop and swing dance events including Camp Jitterbug, the Northwest Balboa Festival, Balhalla, Big Sky Weekend, the Summer Solstice Swing Dance Festival, and as the house big band for Vancouver’s Lindy Bout.

He’s frequently seen performing as a side musician with Jen Hodge, Bonnie Northgraves, Jacob Zimmerman, Jonathan Doyle, Casey MacGill, and the Company B Jazz Band.