The NOW Orchestra is one of the seminal improvising orchestras in Canada. Featuring the finest that Vancouver has to offer in the realm of creative music, this ensemble never failed to astonish listeners.The internationally renowned NOW Orchestra has performed with international artists such as Nicole Mitchell, Amina Claudine Myers, George Lewis, Marilyn Crispell, and has extensive touring history from 1999 – 2004 at the Jazz em Agosto/Opening Gala Concert (Lisbon, Portugal), the Bimhuis (Amsterdam/The Netherlands), Jazzgalerie Nikelsdorf (NIkelsdorf, Austria), Berlin Jazz Festival (Berlin, Germany), Chicago Jazz Festival (Chicago, Illinois – USA), Guelph Jazz Festival (Guelph, ON) and the National Arts Centre (Ottawa, ON). The ensemble has released seven recordings, which feature guests Marilyn Crispell, René Lussier, Pierre Tanguay and Barry Guy.

NOW Orchestra bios

SELECTED SHOWS

2008

June 7 Now Orchestra: Through the Eyes of a Child, Vancouver International Jazz Festival

Guest artists: Nicole Mitchell, Mercedes Baines and Kedrick James

Ranul, Very Nearly Everybody, Thorsburger, Mercedes (Red Socks), The Dignitary, Mercedes (The Analyst’s Couch), Miracle is a Beach, Slap and Tickle (Coat Cooke)

2007

November 16 - Now Orchestra, The Vancouver East Cultural Centre

Guest artists: Amina Claudine Myers and the Voices of Joy Chamber Choir, Christine Duncan, Viviane Houle, Phoebe MacRae, Matthew MacTavish, DB Boyko, Peter Hurst

September 21, Now Orchestra: Electric Dreams, Ironworks

Guest artist: Stefan Smulovitz

August 31 - Now Orchestra Granville Island Market Stage

Gravity Boots, Unidad a la Luce, Brass,Creole Talkin,’ Tried and Truant, March, in a word, in a breath, in an instant, Reeds, WOWOW, Bouncin’Back                                         

September 3 - Now Orchestra Haywood Bandshell In Alexandra Park at English Bay

Gravity Boots, Unidad a la Luce, Brass,Creole Talkin,’ Tried and Truant, March, in a word, in a breath, in an instant, Reeds, WOWOW, Bouncin’Back                                         

March 21, 22 - Now Orchestra: Orbits and Revolutions: Stories of the World with VICO,

the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Guest artists: Joseph Pepe Danza, Bic Hoang, Qiu Xia He, Mei Han, Navid Goldrick, and Gordon Grdina, and Guest Composers: Mark Armanini, Jin Zhang, Ron Samworth, Joseph "Pepe" Danza, Coat Cooke and Moshe Denburg

TOURING HISTORY

August 2004

NOW Orchestra with Special Guest George E. Lewis

Jazz em Agosto/Opening Gala Concert (Lisbon, Portugal)

October – November 2002

NOW Orchestra with Special Guest George E. Lewis

Bimhuis (Amsterdam/The Netherlands)

Jazzgalerie Nikelsdorf (NIkelsdorf, Austria)

Berlin Jazz Festival (Berlin, Germany)

September 2002

NOW Orchestra with Special Guest George E. Lewis

Chicago Jazz Festival (Chicago, Illinois – USA)

September 1999

NOW Orchestra with Special Guest George E. Lewis

Guelph Jazz Festival (Guelph, ON)

St. Johns Church (Toronto/Music Gallery)

National Arts Centre (Ottawa, ON)

Club Soda (Montréal, Québec)

May 1995

NOW Orchestra: Plays Paul Plimley et René Lussier, Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville

Guest Artists: René Lussier and Pierre Tanguay

NOW Orchestra members

Coat Cooke, Saul Berson, Graham Ord, John Korsrud, Brad Muirhead, Rod Murray, Kevin Elaschuk, Ron Samworth, Paul Blaney, Clyde Reed, JP Carter, Bill Clark, Rod Murray, Graham Ord, Kevin Elaschuk, Bruce Freedman, Kate Hammettt-Vaughan, Lisa Cay Miller, Dylan van der Schyff and Peggy Lee.