Big Bang Jazz Band
Chilliwack’s longest running jazz band hosts a dance party decades in the making featuring the sounds of New Orleans Mardi Gras to the roaring 20’s hot jazz and speakeasy swing.
When: Friday May 5th, 2023 7:30 pm
Where: Evergreen Hall, 9291 Corbould Street, Chilliwack, BC V2P 4A6
Tickets: $20 / $10 students All Ages
https://big-bang-jazz-band.tickit.ca/events/18848
The Big Bang Jazz Band (also known as The 51st Eight) got their start in the band room at Chilliwack Senior Secondary in 1998 thanks to the motivation of an outcast clarinet player and vision of two spirited band teachers. When Colin Farquhar was told he wasn’t allowed to play jazz on a clarinet south of Hwy 1, he changed schools and teamed up with Rob Hopkins and Gary Raddysh at CSS. They plotted a student combo that could perform the music of jazz luminaries such as Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet and have a featured spot in the annual Chilliwack “Happy times” Jazz Festival where Rob was president. What they didn’t know is that this band would go on to headline jazz festivals throughout the US and Canada for the next decade and cultivate some of Canada’s most notable talent.
Moonlighting as a sound engineer during this time, Colin Farquhar began working shows for his peers that played punk rock and ska, most notably “The Good Life” featuring top CSS talents.* They frequently played shows at bars and halls around Chilliwack and Colin became part of the regular crew. The only thing is, they had no idea how old he was. Colin always had a cool air of confidence about him, and an old world approach to style. His signature leather cap and 1960’s bottle glasses gave him the appearance of someone much older. To this group of teenagers he seemed ancient, which is how he got his nickname…. 40
As founder and co-leader of The Big Bang Jazz Band, 40 has performed hundreds of shows in Vancouver, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Florida on clarinet, saxophone and vocals. He plays keyboards, organ and woodwinds with Chilliwack favourites The Maybelles, and has performed with local legends The Vacationers, Calvin Rempel, and numerous musical theatre productions. He has been a mainstay member of the Moonliters, the Fraser Valley’s premiere big band, for the past 20 years and co-founded a Benny Goodman inspired combo named “Slipped Disc” that has closed out major swing dance events.
He was also part of the team that holds the 2016 Guinness World Record for largest number of threshing machines running at once.
This Spring, 40 turns 40. The band is getting back together for one riotous weekend to celebrate this local legend.
The Big Bang Jazz Band features:
Bria Skonberg - trumpet & vocals
Colin “40” Farquhar - clarinet, saxophone & vocals
Lukas Matheson - trombone, vocals & real estate
Josh Roberts - guitar & banjo
Vashti Fairbairn - piano
Jennifer Hodge - bass, sousaphone & vocals
Mike Daugherty - drums & vocals
