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Been There, Done That!

// Past Events of the RCBB

May 5, 2024

River City Big Band presented The Planets and Beyond

The River City Big Band with special guest conductor Allan Gilliland, played to a sold out show at the Yellowbird jazz club. In the concert's first half featured six new works commissioned by River City Big Band from composers Craig Brenan, Tom van Seters, Joel Toews, Stephanie Urquhart, Reid Contreras Woelfle and Simon Williams.  The concert's second half hosted the world premiere of Gustav Holst's "The Planets", reimagined for Big Band by internationally renowned composer and arranger Allan Gilliland. 

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March 16, 2024

River City Big Band in Spruce Grove at the Horizon Stage.

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February 4, 2024

River City Big Band presented Jazzy Friends: Larry Schrum

The River City Big Band with former Music Director and good friend Larry Schrum, played to a sold out show at the Yellowbird jazz club.

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December 9, 2023

a Jazzy Christmas with the River City Big Band

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May 7, 2023

River City Big Band presented Latin Roots and Dynamic Grooves

The River City Big Band with special guest Manny Valencia, Rene Abaunza and Nathan Ouellette, played to a sold out show at the Yellowbird jazz club to the harmonies and rhythms of Latin music with a jazz flair.

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March 15, 2023

Edmonton Winds and the River City Big Band

The River City Big Band played to the Alberta International Band Festival.

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February 5, 2023

Pictures, planets and the River City Big Band: When Big Band Jazz Meets Classical!

The River City Big Band played classic theme through a jazz lens - from swing, latin to fusion interpretations of symphonic music.

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October 30, 2022

River City Big Band presented Ellington: Artistry & Influence

The River City Big Band played to a full crowd at the Yardbird Suite jazz club to the music

written, arranged, and inspired by Duke Ellington and the Ellington Big Band!

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September 18, 2022

River City Big Band presented The Fab Four and More ...

The River City Big Band played on the main stage at the Kaleido Family Arts Festival  to the 

re-imagining of many of the hit of the Beatles arranged for a jazz orchestra.

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May 15, 2022

River City Big Band presented Full Spectrum: The Evolution of the Big Band

Kicking off the 2022 season, The River City Big Band played to the changing sounds of the big bands, from the 1920's to the early 2000s.

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November 21, 2021

River City Big Band Plays Basie Straight Ahead and More!

After over a year away from the stage, River City Big Band returned to a sold out show at the Yardbird Suite.  River City Big Band recreated two of the greatest recordings by the Count Basie Orchestra. 

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January 26, 2020

The Fab Four and More

Show #2 of the Fab Four and More, the RCBB presented a re-imagining of many of the hits of the Beatles, arranged for jazz orchestra, featuring guest vocalist and guitarist, Robert Walsh!

 

January 25, 2020

The Fab Four and More

RCBB presented a re-imagining of many of the hits of the Beatles, arranged for jazz orchestra.

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Kent Sangster

October 20, 2019

The Magic of Miles

Miles Davis is the one name that is a constant for setting trends, raising the musical bar and being the agent for change in the evolution in jazz. The RCBB honored Miles Davis and his legendary sound to a sold-out crowd at the Yardbird Suite.

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September 14, 2019

Kaleido Family Arts Festival. 

The RCBB took part at the Kaleido Family Arts Festival to play the big hits from the the '70s.

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May 22, 2019

Here Comes the '70s ~ The horn band hits of Stevie Wonder and more featuring guest vocalist Bernard Quilala!  The RCBB got down to the sounds of horn-based jazz, funk, R & B, and rock at Fort Edmonton Park. This was the last show of the season and the RCBB had a blast merging of the musical styles of jazz and rock from the 1960s and 1970s.

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February 20, 2019

Oh Canada! A celebration of Canadian Big Band Jazz featuring special guest Kent Sangster

The River City Big Band presented a musical look at the composers, arrangers, performers and band leaders that helped shape the big band movement in Canada. The concert featured Edmonton’s own saxophonist, composer, and arranger, Kent Sangster.

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December 19, 2018

A Swingin' Christmas & Cool Yule! 

The River City Big Band, musical director Raymond Baril and featuring vocalist Chandelle Rimmer, played seasonal music with the opening guest performance by the W.P. Wagner High School Jazz Band!

 

October 21, 2018

Woody Meets Stan ~ The Music of the Herman and Kenton Big Bands Through the Decades

The RCBB was excited to open their 2018/2019 season with a celebration 5 decades in the making!! They played to a pack house as the band rolled through the decades to the iconic music of the Herman and Kenton Big Bands.

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May 12, 2018

Big Band Steely Dan Jazz!

The RCBB was thrilled to have the fabulous arrangements from the legendary band Steely Dan.

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February 17, 2018

RCBB presents Maria Manna in Jazz at the Oasis Concert Series

The RCBB was pleased to present Jazz at the Oasis concert with feature artist, Maria Manna with a special Musical Tribute to Natalie Cole and fundraiser for the Kidney Foundation.

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October 28, 2017

RCBB presents Eric Marienthal in Jazz at the Oasis Concert Series

The RCBB was pleased to present the sixth Jazz at the Oasis concert with feature artist, 2 time Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist Eric Marienthal.

 

October 27, 2017

MCA: Special Event

The River City Big Band with special guest artist Eric Marienthal performed at the 2017 Music Conference Alberta.

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June 11, 2017

A Year End joint concert with the RCBB and Gateway Big Band at the Riverdale Community Hall.

An afternoon of fun was had by all as each band played to family and friends.

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April 10, 2017

The RCBB were guest artist at the Cantando Festival.

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March 15, 2017

Alberta International Band Festivals

The RCBB took part in the 2017 AIBF, playing one set in the Feature Artist concert.

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February 11, 2017

Jazz at the Oasis with feature artist Tommy Banks and special guest Mallory Chipman

The River City Big Band was pleased to present the fifth Jazz at the Oasis concert with feature artist Tommy Banks and special guest Mallory Chipman to a sold out crowd at the Oasis Centre.

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October 22, 2016

Jazz at the Oasis with special guest star Wayne Bergeron

The Oasis Centre was pleased to welcome back the Edmonton’s River City Big Band for their 21st Jazz at the Oasis season.  RCBB kicked off the season featuring the legendary Wayne Bergeron.

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October 21, 2016

MCA: Special Event

The River City Big Band with special guest artist Wayne Bergeron performed at the 2016 Music Conference Alberta in beautiful Banff, Alberta.

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June 4, 2016

Triple Big Band Event

The River City Big Band hosted a incredible concert with special guests The Westwinds Jazz Band from Calgary, AB and the St. Albert Community Band

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April 30, 2016

Jazz at the Oasis with special guest star TWO BLUE

The Oasis Centre was pleased to welcome back, for their 3rd show, the Edmonton’s River City Big Band.  For the final show in the series, RCBB was honored to play with Canada’s hottest Blues duo, TWO BLUE.

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February 13, 2016

Jazz at the Oasis with special guest star Carol Welsman

The Oasis Centre was pleased to welcome Edmonton’s River City Big Band for the 2nd show of the 3 show series to a full house. The RCBB was honored to play with one of Canada's premier jazz vocalists, Ms. Carol Welsman.

December 19, 2015

Christmas Special at the Horizon Theatre, Spruce Grove

Horizon Stage was pleased to welcome Edmonton’s premier jazz band back to Spruce Grove for their Christmas Special Show and they played to sold out audience. 

 

December 17, 2015

Christmas Special at the Yardbird Suite

RCBB filled the Yardbird Suite for 

The Yardbird Suite was hopin' that night as the RCBB filled the venue and played their jazzy Christmas Show.

 

December 11, 2015

Christmas Special at the Dow Centennial Centre Shell Theatre

The Dow Centre welcomed back the The River City Big Band to perform their jazzy Christmas Show to an enthusiastic audience.

 

October 17, 2015

In celebration of our 20th anniversary season, the River City Big Band (RCBB) presented JAZZ at the OASIS, the first of a three concert series featuring some the biggest names in North American jazz. In the frist show, the RCBB performed alongside Wycliffe Gordon, voted the World’s #1 trombone player in Downbeat Magazine’s Annual Critics Poll (2012 to 2014). A former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Gordon has had an impressive career touring the world as a renowned musician, composer, conductor and arranger.

 

May 28, 2015

The RCBB hosted their 2015 Season Finale Show at the Yardbird Suite to a sold out crowd.

 

May 9, 2015

The Calgary’s Westwinds Jazz Orchestra was joined by the River City Big Band for a Big Band Double Bill show at the Dutch Canadian Club.

 

March 19, 2015

RRCB shared an evening concert with the Edmonton Wind Symphonia at the Alberta International Band Festival.

 

 

 

 

June 21, 2014

Edmonton International Jazz Festival's Big Band Event: Three big bands. One Stage.

 

June 14, 2014

Joint RBB and Gateway Big Band year end concert - good food, good friends, good laughs, and good music. We had a great time blowing the roof off the Riverdale Community Hall! Many thanks to Linda Reinholdt's phenomenal organizational skills.

 

March 19, 2014

Alberta International Band Festival Feature Concert with guest performers, adjudicators Mike Murley (sax) and Brian Thurgood (percussion) 

 

Dec 6, 2013 

A Jazzy Christmas at the Westlock Cultural Arts Theatre with vocalist Chandelle Rimmer and narration by Dennis Rusinak

 

May 15, 2013

The band spent an evening recording a new Allan Gilliland composition, "In Our Hearts" at DanLyn Studios. Guest soloist: Joel Gray

 

March 13, 2013

Alberta International Band Festival Feature Concert with the River City Big Band and the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia at the Transalta Arts Barn.

 

March 2, 2013

CD release party for our second CD, "River" at St. Albert's Arden Theatre with Chandelle Rimmer.

 

February 24, 2013 

Swing & Skate at City Hall with vocalist Shelley Jones and the exciting dancers from the Sugar Swing Dance Club.

 

 

 

 

December 22, 2012

A Big Band Christmas with vocalist Chandelle Rimmer - Two sold out shows at Spruce Grove's Horizon Stage

 

December 6, 2012 

Christmas Big Band Ball - RCBB and Shelley Jones shared the stage with Dave Babcock & His Jump Orchestra in support of the Tommy Banks Performing Artists Fund at Fort Edmonton's Blatchford Hangar

 

November 4, 2012 

Brassfire - Jens Lindemann trumpet soloist and Chandelle Rimmer - Festival Place, Sherwood Park

 

May 30, 2012

McNally High School night of Jazz

 

May 18, 2012

A musical tribute to PJ Bailey in Camrose.

 

April 15, 2012

A joint concert with the MacEwan University Tuesday Outreach Big Band at the famous jazz performance venue of the Edmonton Jazz Society, the Yardbird Suite. 

 

March 14, 2012

A feature concert at the Alberta International Band Festival showcasing the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia concert band and RCBB.

 

February, 2012

Recorded second CD, River at DanLyn Studios, with Chandelle Rimmer on vocals.

 

February 5, 2012

Gone Swingin', a jazz program at the Yardbird Suite with Chandelle Rimmer on vocals.

 

 

 

 

December 17, 2011

The River City Big band, featuring the vocals of Chandelle Rimmer and narration by Colin MacLean, brought A Jazzy Christmas, our popular show of big band Christmas favourites to the new Morinville Community Cultural Centre. 

 

November 10, 2011 

A tribute to the big band singers, Come Fly With Me, showcasing vocals by Chandelle Rimmer and Johan Brinkman at Festival Place in Sherwood Park.

 

June 24, 2011

A super night of 1940's era dance music plus more at the Alberta Aviation Museum hangar with guest vocalist Johan Brinkman. What a blast!

 

June 12, 2011

Sold out show at Edmonton's landmark jazz establishment, the Yardbird Suite, featuring new original compositions and arrangements by Larry Schrum and Allan Gilliland, long-time members of the band!

 

June 8, 2011

The band provided a guest performance in support of public school music education at the year end band concert of Dickinsfield and Killarney schools led by band teachers Leila Flowers and Linda Reinholdt (yes, our trombonist-extraordinaire!).

 

March 16, 2011 

A feature concert at the Alberta International Band Festival showcasing the New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia concert band and RCBB.

 

 

 

 

December 5, 2010

A Jazzy Christmas at Festival Place, Sherwood Park - Featuring wonderful local musicians, vocalist Shelley Jones and sax master Ray Baril! Narration by Colin MacLean, too.

 

October 24, 2010

Our first CD, Just Friends, was introduced at the CD Release Party, a standing room only event at the Yardbird Suite. The band, with special guests and CD contributors Chandelle Rimmer and Nathan Hay, performed the entire CD plus a few additional tracks to an appreciative packed house. This CD is still available!

 

May 16, 2010  

The band performed at a fund raiser to help support the purchase of a new nine foot Steinway concert grand piano in the chapel at the Augustana Campus, University of Alberta in Camrose. Guest vocalist, Brittany Bailey, joined the band to put on an evening of new and old jazz tunes to an appreciative full house.

 

March 18, 2010  

We played a fun night of jazz numbers to top off a dinner for an association of Alberta surgeons at the Old Timers Cabin.

 

February 5, 2010

Simone on Simone at Festival Place - A sold out show with Nina Simone's remarkably talented and charming daughter Simone performing a retrospective of her mother's well known material. She put on an awesome musical event accompanied by the River City Big Band. It was an honour for us to play for her and her arranger-conductor, Ken Moyer. 

 

 

 

 

December 17, 18, & 19, 2009

A Jazzy Christmas (December 17 at Fort Saskatchewan's Dow Centre, December 18 at Spruce Grove's Horizon Stage, and December 19 at the U of A Myer Horowitz Theatre) - Featured wonderful recording artists, vocalist Shelley Jones and Juno Award-winning guitarist Bobby Cairns! Narration by Colin MacLean. 

 

November 13, 2009

The Big Band Hits of World War II at the Westlock Cultural Arts Theatre - Narration by Colin MacLean, Vocals by Chandelle Rimmer

 

November 11, 2009

The Big Band Hits of World War II at Sherwood Park's Festival Place - Narration by Colin MacLean, Vocals by Chandelle Rimmer

 

October 3, 2009

Big Band Jazz Concert at Lakeland College, Vermilion, Alberta. Big Band and Jazz, the music of Ellington, Herman, Miller, Basie, Kenton, and Ferguson. Guest vocalist Rhonda Withnell.

 

June 26, 2009

Big Band Retrospective at Festival Place. Everything from Dixieland to big band music of today with vocals by Chandelle Rimmer and narration by Colin MacLean.

 

March 7, 2009

RCBB plus two terrific Calgary community jazz bands from the Westwinds Music Society put on a great show at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre.

 

March 1, 2009

Jazz, Man! - The band ripped it up at The Yardbird Suite - what a night!

 

 

 

 

December 12, 2008

A Jazzy Christmas - Vocals by Shelley Jones, hosted by Colin MacLean at Edmonton's Winspear Centre

 

November 28, 2008

A Jazzy Christmas - Vocals by Shelley Jones, hosted by Colin MacLean at Wetaskiwin Memorial Centre

 

November 11, 2008

Remembrance Day Concert: The Big Band Hits of World War II - Vocals by Bartha Hartman and narration by Colin MacLean at Sherwood Park's Festival Place

 

October 26, 2008

Jazz! - Vocals by Chandelle Rimmer at The Yardbird Suite

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