JAZZ DOUBLE BILL:
DAVID LAVOIE QUARTET +
AARON SHORR TRIO
In partnership with JazzYYC
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2026
Doors Open at 2:30 PM
Pre-show chat at 2:40 PM
Show at 3:00 PM
LOCATION
St. Stephen’s Anglican Church
Calgary, AB
ARTISTS
Aaron Shorr Trio
Aaron Shorr, guitar
Jeff Gammon, bass
Jon McCaslin, drums
David Lavoie Quartet
David Lavoie, trumpet and EVI
Joanna Borromeo, keys
Adam Pettigrew, bass
Nate Chiang, drums
Continuing to expand the definition of “chamber music”, ISC is co-presenting this concert with JazzYYC with a double bill featuring two incredible groups: David Lavoie Quartet and Aaron Shorr Trio.
Aaron Shorr Trio (Curated by JazzYYC)
The Aaron Shorr Trio brings together three of Western Canada’s most formidable jazz voices, featuring Aaron Shorr on guitar, Jeff Gammon on bass, and Jon McCaslin on drums. A cornerstone of the Winnipeg jazz scene for nearly a decade before relocating to Calgary, Shorr has performed with artists including William Bonness and Caity Gyorgy, as well as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Royal Winnipeg Ballet. His 2023 debut album, Omand’s Creek, explored the classic guitar trio format through original compositions alongside interpretations of jazz standards and popular music. Joined by Gammon and McCaslin, two mainstays of Calgary’s jazz scene, the trio brings together three musicians with a shared focus on improvisation, interaction, and the guitar trio tradition.
The Aaron Shorr Trio is presented by JazzYYC in partnership with the Instrumental Society of Calgary.
David Lavoie Quartet
Under multi-instrumentalist David Lavoie’s leadership, the band pulls off a tasteful variety of repertoire, reflecting Lavoie’s appreciation for lyrical melodies, angular melodies and melodies with unusual intrigue. You’ll hear jazz icons and original tunes performed with profound reverence for the language of jazz. The quartet is made up of David Lavoie on Trumpet and EVI, Joanna Borromeo on keys, Adam Pettigrew on bass, and Nate Chiang on drums.
PROGRAM
American Tune, Paul Simon
Bill's Blues, Aaron Shorr
Soul Dance, Joshua Redman
Pannonica, Thelonious Monk
Down the Black Well, Aaron Shorr
Wichita Lineman, Jimmy Webb
-INTERMISSION-
I’ll Start the Good Habit Later, David Lavoie
Fern House, David Lavoie
The Contrarian, David Lavoie
For Ron, David Lavoie
Ohm’s Law, David Lavoie
I Started the Good Habit, David Lavoie
FEATURED ARISTS
AARON SHOR TRIO
AARON SHORR
Calgary-based jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, and bandleader Aaron Shorr originally hails from Winnipeg. He studied at Humber College and the University of Manitoba, continuing his development through private study with renowned guitarists Peter Bernstein and Ben Monder, among others. Shorr has performed with leading Canadian jazz musicians including Jocelyn Gould, William Bonness, Caity Gyorgy, and Sanah Kadoura, appearing at festivals including JazzYYC and the Medicine Hat Jazz Festival. An experienced educator, he has taught at the University of Manitoba and Canadian Mennonite University, and serves as musical director of Still Crazy: The Music of Paul Simon, for which he arranged 25 songs for a 13-piece ensemble.
JEFF GAMMON
Canadian bassist Jeff Gammon is an emerging presence in the jazz community, having studied jazz performance at Mount Royal University in Calgary and Capilano University in Vancouver. He has performed with prominent Canadian jazz musicians including Steve Kaldestad, Bill Coon, Brad Turner, Hugh Fraser, and Cory Weeds, and has collaborated with international artists such as Randy Brecker and Mike Murley. Gammon has appeared at festivals and venues throughout Canada, including the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and has performed in theatre pit orchestras. Alongside his performing career, he teaches privately and has served as a teaching assistant at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Jazz Workshop.
JON McCASLIN
Recognized as one of Western Canada’s leading jazz drummers and educators, Jon McCaslin is known for his dedication to both the jazz tradition and its continued evolution. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, he studied jazz at McGill University, graduating with distinction in 1999, and completed a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies in 2002. He earned his Doctorate in Jazz Studies from the University of Toronto in 2015, researching contemporary melodic jazz drumming. McCaslin has performed with internationally recognized artists including Mulgrew Miller, Peter Bernstein, Chucho Valdés, and Wycliffe Gordon. His album Sunalta, released on Cellar Live in 2012, was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award, and he has authored the jazz drumming blog Four on the Floor since 2009. Based in Calgary, he maintains an active performing and teaching career across Canada.
DAVID LAVOIE QUARTET
DAVID LAVOIE
David Lavoie is a guitarist, trumpeter, composer, and educator in Calgary, AB. He is also in demand as a freelance musical collaborator for many artists. He spent several years in Vancouver after completing his BMus at Capilano University and led a group with noted Canadian jazz musician Brad Turner there. David is passionate about sharing his music through a variety of projects. From jazz to post-punk, he has led several groups which play his original compositions. David’s multi-faceted approach to his music allows him to create thoughtfully and expressively in many genres.
JOANNA BORROMEO
Joanna Borromeo is a singer, pianist, composer, educator, and Juno-nominated recording artist. Well-versed in the genres of jazz, hiphop jazz, soul, R&B, and contemporary classical music, Joanna is one of Calgary’s most creative musical talents in the city. Her work as a freelance musician has taken her to festivals throughout the UK, the Caribbean, and all across Canada. As an artist and bandleader for her own projects, she’s performed in major jazz venues along the west coast of the US, including Yoshi’s SF, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, and LA’s the Blue Whale. What she loves the most about playing jazz is expressing harmonic nuance, having the room to stretch out improvisationally, and the art of exploring groove and rhythm. Her biggest musical influences in jazz to-date are Michael King (Theo Croker), Wynton Kelly, and Ahmad Jamal.
NATE CHIANG
Nate Chiang is a freelance drummer living and playing in Calgary, AB. He has been gigging in a variety of styles (mostly jazz and hip hop) for over 5 years in Calgary and studying jazz drumming with some of Calgary’s foremost educators. Nathaniel is currently the band leader for the Nate Chiang Trio, the house band at Deane House in Inglewood.
ADAM PETTIGREW
While at the University of Calgary, studying under Marilyn Engle and Dr. Lana Henchell for a degree in classical piano, Adam Pettigrew side slipped into a jazz career on double bass. He now performs regularly around Calgary as a sideman, working with the David Lavoie Quartet, the Bow Djangos, the Fox Big Band, Johnny Summers, and many more.