Thank you Winnipeg! A beautiful weekend of musicmaking with the Juno award-winning #WJO exploring the incredible music of Steely Dan. Next up; Larry Roy takes the 10-piece band to Saskatoon for two nights @thebassmentclub (May 13/14) and Edmonton @yardbirdsuiteyeg (May 16/17) Lets go!
We’ve Got the Jazz, Vol. 8 — this Friday, May 8.
Mark De Jong joins Brandon Smith and Jeff Sulima, stepping in for David Lavoie for a tribute to Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott.
6:30 + 8:00 sets.
For more info and to book, head to the link in our bio.
Concerto No. 2—which repurposes the language of contemporary jazz tenor saxophone within a classical concerto—unveils tomorrow at the Bella Concert Hall (Calgary, AB) at 7:30 PM. Featuring soloist Mark DeJong and the MRU Academy Orchestra. @dejongnrestless@mruconservatory@musicyyc@jazz_yyc@calgaryphil
@david.braid.composer.pianist rehearsing with @dejongnrestless , @mruconservatory , and @ucalgaryscpa students for the concert happening on Tuesday, November 18th.
This programme is full of Braid’s most compelling and exciting new works including “Three Imaginary Persian Dances” (2023) - for brass quintet and percussion, Concerto No. 2 “Veluwe” (2024) for Tenor Saxophone and small Orchestra, “Vespers” (2025) for Solo Sax, and more!
🗓️Tuesday November 18, 7:30pm
📍Bella Concert Hall at the @taylorcentre
🎟️tickets.mru.ca
#yycliving #yycarts #yycmusic #orchestralmusic #orchestralife #composerlife #saxophonist #musicmatters #educationmatters
Featuring a potpourri of both classical and jazz compositions presented as part of the Academy and APP residency series in partnership with the University of Calgary School of Performing Arts . The Program will include the world premiere of David’ Braid’s Concerto No. 2 “De Veluwe” for Tenor Saxophone and Small Orchestra, as well as performances from students from both institutions.
“Concerto No. 2 “Veluwe” (2024) was commissioned by Canadian saxophonist Mark DeJong in honour of his mother, Janny DeJong (née van ‘t Land). She was a Dutch immigrant to Canada who originated from Epe, in the Veluwe region of the Netherlands.
📍Bella Concert Hall at the @taylorcentre
🎟️ tickets.mru.ca
#musicmatters #yycarts #yycmusiclessons #fyp #yycmusic #musiceducation #bellaconcerthall #classicalmusic #composers #newmusic #canadianmusic #orchestralife
World premiere of Concerto No. 2 "De Veluwe," composed for Canadian saxophonist, Mark DeJong, to be premiered at the Bella Concert Hall, Calgary on November 18. The full concert includes conservatory students and professionals performing my chamber music and original jazz. Presented in conjunction with a residency at Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary.
Calgary and area music fans. Sharing info about this very special concert coming up on Tuesday November 18 at 7:30pm.
Tickets are very reasonably priced and will feature the world premiere of “Veluwe” as well as several pieces including a suite of music recently composed by David Braid called “Melodic Archetypes”. David’s bio is below:)
Please share to whomever you think may have an interest in this exciting performance.
Renowned composer and pianist David Braid (multi-Juno Award winning) is coming to Calgary for a residency with the Mount Royal University Conservatory Academy and University of Calgary Department of Music to perform the world premiere of David’s new concerto for saxophone and chamber orchestra.
Concerto No. 2 “Veluwe” was a commission from Canadian saxophonist Mark DeJong in honour of his mother, Janny DeJong (van’t Land), a Canadian immigrant originally from Epe, in the Veluwe region of the Netherlands.
The concerto is performed as a continuous piece but is structurally divided into three distinct sections (or movements), with the saxophone soloist becoming increasingly prominent as the work progresses. The music is delivered like a triptych, reflecting experiences from early childhood, her immigration to Canada, and her life in Canada.
Certain textures in the orchestration are deliberately designed to evoke an organ-like timbre, a poignant reference to the fact that Janny DeJong was a church organist. The work’s core three-note motif is derived directly from Mark DeJong’s own jazz composition, also titled “Veluwe.” The pitches of C, D, and F-sharp and their various permutations form the basis for virtually all the melodic themes throughout the concerto. The cadenzas are a distinctive feature: some are written and some are improvised, celebrating Mark DeJong’s explorations within the realms of both classical and jazz saxophone.
Thanks are extended to CADA (Calgary Association for the Development of the Arts) and the DeJong Family for their support in the creation of this piece.
Two fun shows coming up, where I’ll be playing with some fantastic young musicians! Wednesday night Oct 29 at Parkdale United and Friday Oct 31 at Cornerstone! Original compositions with 100% commitment!
