05/02/2025
Good afternoon Deep Cove Coffee House Supporters,
John Lyon here. This month I am pleased to put together the mailout for the May 16th Deep Cove Coffee House.
We are grateful to super volunteer Jane Osborne, who has produced our email newsletter and posters since the very beginning of the coffee house back in 2008.
Get ready for a wonderful evening of music at our May Deep Cove Coffee House concert. The Friday, May 16th coffee house features Juno Award-winning composer, jazz guitarist, and vocalist Mike Rud at 9:00pm. Mike will be joined by Russ Botten on bass. Our 7:30pm opening acts are: singer-songwriter Linda Villarreal accompanied ny Michael Dunn, and; vocalist Tess Meckling and guitarist Bradan DeCicco. The concert is taking place at the usual venue, Mount Seymour United Church, 1200 Parkgate Ave, North Vancouver.
Our lineup:
Feature: Mike Rud at 9:00 P.M.
Mike Rud is a Juno award-winning jazz guitarist and songwriter. He is also a music instructor at Selkirk College in Nelson, BC. As an instrumentalist, Mike has played alongside some of the greatest jazz musicians of the era like Peter Bernstein, Kenny Wheeler, Herb Ellis and Joey DeFrancesco. As a songwriter and arranger, Mike won the 2014 Juno Award for his album Notes on Montreal, a critically acclaimed musical portrait of the city. It was inspired by the great literature set in Montreal (Michel Tremblay, Gabrielle Roy etc.) and sung by Sienna Dahlen. Mike’s subsequent 2015 solo release, Miniatures, delighted audiences across Canada, creating the effect of a small group with only his voice and his guitar. He has a master’s degree from McGill, and studied privately in New York City with one of the fathers of modern jazz guitar, Jim Hall. in 2007 Mike spent a year studying how the brain processes music, in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Levitin (author of New York Times bestseller “This is Your Brain on Music”). Mike has taught at McGill, Western Washington and Carleton universities, and speaks frequently at other music schools. He is the proud father of two daughters, Kelly and Abby.
Mike will be joined by Russ Botten on upright bass.
Russell Botten, a Victoria BC native played sax, guitar and piano before settling exclusively as a bassist. In the 1980’s he studied at The Banff School of Fine Arts with Dave Holland and Don Thompson, and in the US with Ray Brown, Gary Peacock and John Clayton.
Since moving to Vancouver in 1990, he toured in Japan with jazz vocalist Ernestine Anderson, performed with Renee Rosnes, Diana Krall, Herb Ellis, Bud Shank, Red Holloway, Jeff Hamilton, Larry Fuller, Clark Terry, did recordings with Dee Daniels and Seattle’s Jay Thomas, as well as TV music series with pianist Louise Rose.
Opener at 7:30 P.M.: Linda Villarreal
Linda Villarreal is a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter, vocalist, musician, and band leader who plays roots, originals, and jazz. She has recorded two CD's "Water, Colour, and Shade" (roots and originals) with Michael Dunn (guitarist and local luthier)and Gerry Teahan (bass) in 2007 and " My Love Is" in 2015 (Jazz CD and a blues original) with Rene Worst(bass), Tom Keenlyside (flutes), Bill C**n (guitar), Michael Creber (piano), John Nolan (drums), Julian Smedley(violin), and Phil Belanger(percussion). Linda is currently working on her 3rd CD of all originals. Her tone, unique songs, re-imaginings of tunes, and heartfelt renderings can make for a lovely musical experience. She performs solo/duo (usually with Michael Dunn)/with a band as the leader. Listen to recordings for free @ lindavillarreal.bandcamp.com.
Openers at 8:00 P.M.: Tess Meckling and Bradan DeCicco
Tess Meckling and Bradan DeCicco are a vocal and guitar duo currently residing on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. In recent years, both have received their Bachelor’s from Capilano University in jazz performance and composition under the instruction of Canadian jazz figures Bill C**n, Jennifer Scott and Brad Turner. Their shared joy of spontaneous improv within the Black American Music tradition is a central element of their performances. They have performed at some of Vancouver’s most popular jazz venues such as Frankie’s Jazz Club, Tyrant Studios, 2nd Floor Gastown at Water Street Cafe, Is That French, Apollo’s, as well as several international jazz festivals. When not playing jazz, they are also inspired by folk, prog rock, and indie-pop, and you can catch them playing in various different bands and venues around the city!
Logistics:
Time: Doors open: 7:00pm, Opening acts: 7:30pm, Feature: 9:00pm
Location: Mount Seymour United Church, 1200 Parkgate Ave., North Vancouver (see below)
Admission: $20 cash only at the door - includes delicious baked goodies, dark roast decaf coffee, teas and cold lemon water (Youth: $5 / children & musicians: free)
June 2025 Coffee House – mark your calendars
Feature:
Noted vocalist Leora Cash
Opening:
The Unmentionables with Dave Myles and Luci Baja
Linda Szentes solo piano and vocals
We would like to acknowledge the contributions of our many volunteers, including publicist Jane Osborne, poster lady graphic artist Luzia Wietshorke, sound man Constantin Starck, volunteer co-ordinator Heather Nasgaard, and the many other volunteers who put up posters, work the door, do kitchen duty and cleanup, serve coffee and tea, set up tables, and bring those baked goodies.
If you have a question or you’d like more information, just drop me a line by email or phone.
“John Lyon”
604-929-8757
604-442-8367 cell
