A number of churches in Vancouver, Surrey and other communities offer special Jazz vespers services featuring live music and concerts by local musicians.
The events are usually free (or by donation), open to the public, of a fairly “light” religious nature, and highly recommended.
This article includes the following topics:
Upcoming Concerts | Jazz at St. Andrew’s Wesley | Jazz Vespers in Surrey | Other Jazz Vespers Venues | Tips & Advice | Other Information
Jazz Vespers Concerts and Services
A number of Lower Mainland churches of various denominations offer Jazz vespers services. They are usually held regularly in the late afternoon or early evening once a week, or once or twice a month, and they are part “church service” and part “Jazz concert”. There is sometimes a religious message, and usually a prayer, but mostly it’s just a nice concert in a church setting.
If you like Jazz, free things and spiritual settings, Jazz vespers are great events to check out. You don’t generally have to be religious to enjoy them (although you do need to like music).
Upcoming Jazz Vespers Concerts
As the name suggests, Jazz vespers typically involve some kind of Jazz. The music can vary quite a lot though, from quiet and fairly solemn tunes to lively Soul and Gospel, to big band Jazz, to Motown.
Below are some upcoming Jazz vespers concerts at various Lower Mainland church locations. (Note: Concert performers and other details are subject to change.)
February 2, 2020
- St. Stephen’s Anglican – at 4 pm at 885 – 22nd Street in West Vancouver. The music tonight is with The Original Blend.
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with the Henry Young Quartet.
February 9, 2020
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is in honour of Black History Month.
- Northwood United Church – with Marcus Mosely Chorale at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
February 16, 2020
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Ada Lee.
February 23, 2020
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Crystal Hicks.
- Northwood United Church – with Dmitri Metheny Quintet at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
- St. Andrew’s United Church – at 4 pm with Steve Maddock at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in North Vancouver.
March 1, 2020
- St. Stephen’s Anglican – at 4 pm at 885 – 22nd Street in West Vancouver. The music tonight is with The Jordan Manderioli Quartet.
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Jennifer Scott.
March 8, 2020
- Northwood United Church – with Angela Verbrugge Quartet at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Will D Cournoyer Clements.
March 15, 2020
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Don Stewart.
March 22, 2020
- Northwood United Church – with Nancy Newman trio at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Zapato Negro trio.
March 29, 2020
- St. Andrew’s United Church – at 4 pm with the Wild Blue Herons accompanied by Darlene Ketchum and Bill Sample at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in North Vancouver.
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Linda Szentes and Jazz Links.
April 5, 2020
- St. Andrews-Wesley United Church – at 4 pm at the salons in the church at 1018 Nelson Street. The live music today is with Jamie Croil Quartet.
April 19, 2020
- Northwood United Church – with Gretta Matassa Quartet at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
April 26, 2020
- St. Andrew’s United Church – at 4 pm with Jennifer Hayes at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in North Vancouver.
- Northwood United Church – with Jazz Connexion & Steve Maddock at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
May 3, 2020
- St. Stephen’s Anglican – at 4 pm at 885 – 22nd Street in West Vancouver. The music tonight is with the Saxalamode Quartet.
May 10, 2020
- Northwood United Church – with Andrea Menard at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
May 24, 2020
- Northwood United Church – with the Universal Gospel Choir at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
May 31, 2020
- St. Andrew’s United Church – at 4 pm with Karin Plato at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in North Vancouver.
June 14, 2020
- Northwood United Church – with Trevor Whitridge Quartet at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
June 28, 2020
- St. Andrew’s United Church – at 4 pm with Angela Verbrugge at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in North Vancouver.
- Northwood United Church – with Gabriel Mark Hasselback at 4 pm at 8856-156th Street in Surrey.
Jazz Vespers Locations
Jazz vespers services take place at a number of churches around Metro Vancouver including at St. Andrew’s Wesley in Vancouver and Northwood United Church in Surrey.
Jazz Vespers at St. Andrew’s Wesley
Some of the most impressive and best known Jazz vespers services are the ones at St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street in downtown Vancouver. They take place in a beautiful cathedral-like church between 4:00 and 5:00 pm most Sundays throughout the year. The concerts feature some of the city’s finest Jazz musicians and admission is by donation.
Click St. Andrew’s Jazz Vespers for more information
Important Note: As of September, 2019, the Jazz Vespers events at St. Andrew’s Wesley have moved to the salons at the church at 1018 Nelson Street. That’s because St. Andrew’s United Church is undergoing a heritage restoration and seismic upgrade between early 2019 and sometime in 2021 (or at least that’s the plan).
Jazz Vespers at Northwood United in Surrey
Jazz Vespers also take place about twice a month at Northwood United Church which is located at 8855 156th Street in Surrey. The concerts there start at 4 o’clock, run for about an hour and are usually followed by an optional time of tea and refreshments. Admission is by donation.
The Jazz Vespers services at Northwood United usually have a brief and very “light” spiritual message with a primary focus on the music (which might be Gospel or some other kind of Jazz that’s totally unrelated to the church and religion). Similar to the concerts at St. Andrew’s Wesley (or First Baptist) in Vancouver, some of the region’s top Jazz musicians sometimes participate.
In June 2019, the concerts at Northwood United take place on June 9th and 23rd at 4 pm.
See the Northwood United Church‘s website calendar for more information.
Other Jazz Vespers Venues
We at Vancouver’s Best Places have attended (and really enjoyed) the Jazz Vespers concerts at both St. Andrew’s Wesley and Northwood United. There are other churches in the Lower Mainland that offer similar services including those listed below. In most cases the Jazz musicians featured are excellent and the extent of religious content varies by week and venue.
- St. Stephen’s Anglican – once a month services at 885 – 22nd Street in West Vancouver at 4 pm on a Sunday. (We’ve attended Jazz Vespers here too and loved it!) Starting in 2019 the services usually take place on the first Sunday of the month (whereas previously they were on the last Sunday).
- St. Andrew’s United Church – at 4 pm on the last Sunday of the month at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in North Vancouver (as opposed to St. Andrew’s Wesley in Vancouver).
- Brentwood Presbyterian Church – Jazz Evensong takes place on Wednesdays at 8 pm at 1600 Delta Avenue in Burnaby.
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips and advice to help you make the most out of your Jazz Vespers experience.
TIP #1: Combine your attendance at a Jazz vespers event with a visit to other places in the area. Unless you live right close to the venue, go out for dinner afterwards, or go for a walk and explore the area beforehand.
TIP #2: If you’re broke and don’t have any money, you don’t have to pay anything. Go, enjoy the experience, don’t pay anything and don’t feel guilty. All are welcome.
TIP #3: If you can afford it, and the venue has a collection plate and provides an opportunity for donations, give generously if you can. You’ll pay for a comparable concert elsewhere, so why not support the folk who put on the event. Also, in some cases, the church provides its venue for free and donations go to the musicians (who likely trekked from across town to entertain you).
TIP #4: If you enjoy the experience, go again, try other Jazz vespers venues, and tell your friends.
Other Information
Other articles that you might be interested in include the following:
- Festivals & Events Calendar
- Shows & Entertainment Calendar
- Vancouver Calendar of Events
- Entertainment in Vancouver
- Vancouver International Jazz Festival
