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

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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