Jazz at the Fort Garry Hotel
presented by Jazz Winnipeg &
Upcoming shows
Please note that for this season of Jazz at the Fort Garry Hotel, online advance tickets are $20 + Showpass fees (total $22.14) or $25 at the door, if available.
Jazz at the Fort Garry HOTEL is located in The Club Room on the lower level of The Fort Garry Hotel. The venue is wheelchair accessible with assistance.
please inform the hotel's front desk staff if you'd like to use the elevator to access the lower level.
The Very Groovy Things
Sunday, February 1 at 7 pm
Returning to the Club Room by popular demand, The Very Groovy Things specialize in popular music of the '60s, featuring the Mamas and the Papas, the Laurel Canyon scene, and a bit of British Invasion. This is a high-energy, fun times show, and last year’s special collaboration between The Very Groovy Things and Jodie Borle sold out quickly - be sure to get your tickets to this special two set Groovy Things show early!
Please note there is no Jazz at the Fort Garry show on February 8.
We have a special event - The Canadian Jazz Summit Finale Concert - on February 7, 7:30 pm, at the Desautels Concert Hall.
*Special Event*
Dizzy & Fay
Sunday, February 15 at 7 pm
Free, fun, and full of emotion, Dizzy & Fay is a songwriting duo featuring pianist Mark Lalama and vocalist Amanda Walther. Their melodies are fresh yet familiar, drawing listeners into their whimsical world with every original composition. With a one-of-a-kind take on the classic jazz sound, Dizzy & Fay deliver 100% original music that is as heartfelt as it is captivating.
Regularly touring throughout Quebec and Ontario, Dizzy & Fay have been building a passionate audience, one show at a time. This spring, they’re excited to expand westward, with performances at The Bassment in Saskatoon and the Yardbird Suite in Edmonton.
Based in Southern Ontario, the duo has released two full-length albums, earning extensive airplay on jazz radio stations across the United States and Canada. Their latest album, Hooked, received glowing praise from Wholenote Magazine, describing the pair as “highly musical tunesmiths and storytellers,” while their 2021 song “I Knew It Was Love” was an official selection at the London Music Video Awards.
Dizzy & Fay’s unique blend of artistry stems from their rich musical backgrounds. Mark Lalama, a songwriter, pianist, and producer from Fenwick, has performed across North America and collaborated with some of Canada’s most renowned jazz artists, including Jackie Richardson, Marc Jordan, Guido Basso, and Molly Johnson. Amanda Walther, a Juno-nominated singer-songwriter from Toronto, is celebrated for her emotive compositions, including the soundtrack for the LGBTQ+ film Walk With Me, which earned her multiple international awards for Best Composer and Best Soundtrack.
Together, Dizzy & Fay bring a fresh energy to the jazz scene, creating music that is timeless, engaging, and brimming with emotion.
The E4
Sunday, February 22 at 7 pm
The E4 (Eric St. Godard - piano; Sam Little - Bass; Kieran Wallace - Drums; Niall Cade - Saxophone) is a boundary-defying ensemble that draws freely from the full spectrum of jazz. Blending the atmospheric lyricism of Pat Metheny, the harmonic sophistication of Bill Evans, the fire of the 1990s “Young Lions” era, and touches of modern R&B, the group crafts a sound that feels both rooted and boldly modern.
The E4 cconnects with audiences by telling original stories that bring listeners together through an exhilarating, engaging experience—one that lingers long after the performance ends. Led by pianist Eric St. Godard, The E4 is a truly unique presence on the Canadian music scene. Their music embodies jazz’s ever-evolving spirit—fluid, exploratory, and unconfined.
B Sharp Trio - Brazilian Watercolours
Sunday, March 1 at 7 pm
Brazilian Watercolours brings the vibrant rhythmic and melodic traditions of Brazil to life through the expressive lens of Marco Castillo’s B Sharp Trio. This program explores a wide-ranging repertoire by great Brazilian composers, moving fluidly across regions, styles, and grooves - from lyrical ballads to rhythm-forward celebrations. Anchored by Castillo’s deep connection to Brazilian music, the trio highlights the richness, colour, and sophistication of these works, revealing how melody, harmony, and rhythm intertwine within Brazil’s diverse musical landscape.
Joined by Dhiego Costa on piano and Paul Klassen on drums and percussion, the B Sharp Trio offers an immersive evening of music that is both deeply rooted in tradition and alive with contemporary energy.
Stefan Bauer
Sunday, March 8 at 7 pm
Internationally acclaimed vibraphonist and composer Stefan Bauer brings a deeply lyrical, rhythmically adventurous trio to the Fort Garry Hotel, reuniting with longtime Winnipeg collaborators Larry Roy and Daniel Koulack.
Born in Germany and now based in New York, Bauer has built a singular career spanning mainstream jazz, contemporary classical music, and global traditions. His collaborators over the decades read like a who’s who of modern jazz and creative music, including Kenny Wheeler, Mick Goodrick, Adam Nussbaum, Norma Winstone, Paul McCandless, and Vince Mendoza. His work has been presented at major festivals and venues across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America, with multiple award nominations and international releases under his own name.
From 1990-2001, Bauer lived in Winnipeg, forging lasting musical relationships with artists across the city’s jazz community. This performance brings together three musicians with a shared history and deep musical trust: Bauer’s shimmering, harmonically rich vibraphone lines intertwine with Larry Roy’s sensitive, expansive guitar work and Daniel Koulack’s grounded, melodic bass playing.This is a rare opportunity to hear a world-class artist in close conversation with two of Winnipeg’s most respected musicians.
U of M Jazz Faculty Collective
Sunday, March 15 at 7 pm
Experience an evening of inspired, high-level jazz as members of the University of Manitoba Jazz Studies faculty come together for a special group performance at the Fort Garry Hotel.
Featuring Will Bonness, Karly Epp, Karl Kohut, John Challoner, and Fabio Ragnelli, this all-star lineup brings their distinct musical voices into one dynamic ensemble. While these musicians regularly shape the next generation of jazz artists in the classroom, it is rare to hear them assembled as a collective on the bandstand. This performance offers a unique opportunity to experience the full breadth of their artistry — spontaneous, interactive, and grounded in a deep appreciation for the jazz art form.
In A Sentimental Mood: Celebrating the Music of Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington
Sunday, March 22 at 7 pm
Join us for an evening of sultry ballads and blazing swing as The Jazz Casuals celebrate two of the most significant figures in Jazz history.
Ella Fitzgerald's iconic voice makes any song an instant hit, and over the course of her nearly 60-year career she recorded quintessential versions of many classics, such as "Sentimental Journey," "Someone To Watch Over Me," and "Blue Skies." As a prolific bandleader, pianist, and composer, Duke Ellington penned thousands of songs, including "Mood Indigo," "Take The 'A' Train," and "Caravan," many of which are now considered jazz standards. Their first studio collaboration in 1957 began a long and musically fruitful relationship, spawning definitive recordings of many of Duke's masterpieces.
With an all-star ensemble of musicians from some of Winnipeg's most popular jazz groups (Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Ron Paley Big Band, Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra), come be transported back to the glorious days of jazz, swing, and big bands!
The Jazz Casuals are Krista Herd - vocals; Jacob Herd - alto sax; Ava Maya - bari sax & bass clarinet; McKenzie Walpole - trumpet; Stormy Allen - trombone; Patrick Coyston - piano; Fred Warner - bass; Ben Roloff - drums
The River City Syncopators
Sunday, March 29 at 7 pm
Formed in 2021 by the multi-talented Jonathan Alexiuk, The River City Syncopators bring the sounds of The Jazz Age into the 21st century!
Too long confined to textbook footnotes, or over-compressed audio reissues, this band brings the high-energy, envelope-pushing arrangements of the 1920s dance bands back where they belong- on stage LIVE. With an eye to authenticity, one dozen local musicians of all ages and disciplines dedicate themselves to recreating the completely unique sound of this music - you won't hear this anywhere else!