Traditional Jazz At It's Best

HERMANN'S JAZZ CLUB (Victoria, B.C., Canada)www.hermannsjazz.com

Some history:
Oct. 28, 2001, CanUS returned to its traditional home at the famous Hermann's Jazz Club now celebrating 41 years of live dixieland jazz in Victoria!!
CanUS and Friends are at Hermann's Jazz Club 1:00-3:00 pm the first Sunday of every month.
You will be able to enjoy good food, good music, good friends right in the heart of downtown Victoria.
All ages are welcome at Hermann's so bring the whole family!!!

It's HOT JAZZ!! It's DIXIELAND!! It's SWING!! It's RAGTIME!! AND THE BLUES!! And More!! New Orleans Jazz With Jazzy Three-Part Harmony Vocals & a Hot Band.CanUS has toured extensively in the U.S. including a concert on the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first time a Canadian band had been so honoured.
This is a band full of surprises and with a strong vocal component copied from such as the Mills Brothers & Boswell Sisters. They feature dixieland and swing favourites in a six piece band that will rock your socks. Musicians include the creme de la creme of professional musicians in Victoria, each one a star in his or her own right. Their shows are eclectic and entertaining for all age groups and children love dancing to the music, too. A live band! Something they really enjoy.
A review in the Mississippi Rag by Paige Van Vorst states that CanUS is a one-of-a-kind group with a sound unlike any other on the scene today which is a tremendous accomplishment. A story in the Times Colonist - the hometown newspaper - states In Victoria they are a respected traditional jazz combo. And outside the city CanUS has been one of the stars of the American trad jazz festival circuit.

And changes do occur in the band lineup over the years. Amazingly, this is the 34th year of CanUS performing at Hermanns Jazz Club while at the same time touring the U.S. and Canada Traditional Jazz Festivals for 25 of those years. Their concert at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. can still be seen on you tube where you can also listen to all 8 of the CDs. Newest to the group is Simon Stribling, former leader of Fireworks Jazz Band Simon travelled world-wide now living in Victoria . He join local heroes of classic jazz, Al Pease, clarinet& tenor sax, Doug Rhodes, alto sax, Avram McCagherty, banjo, Joey Smith bass, and Toni Blodgett, band leader & tickling the ivories. .

A beautiful terrific Canadian woman has snagged us another jazz musician (Australia this time) who moved to Canada, married her and now we have his wonderful jazz trumpet and reeds talent here in Victoria!
Simon Stribling is now an exciting addition to the CanUS lineup as of July, 2021!

And the show goes on!!! So happy to announce that you will still be able to enjoy the wonderful gift of jazz at Hermann's Jazz Club, a 43 year history is continuing in this unique venue for musicians and fans of our music. Supporting these shows with your presence will affirm that we value this gift to the community so we really look forward to having you join us. Come one, come all and all ages welcome.

COME TO THE CLUB..or Livestream Right To Your Home

Showtime:,Sept. 7 2025 1-3 pm Victoria time

Hello to you all.... and those who made the Special Feature Aug. 3rd show who were beyond happy with that show especially those who came from across the Salish Sea! Jim Armstrong had so much fun he suggested he may come back for another “Special” feature show sometime this fall.
We perform for folks like you at the best jazz club in Canada and points beyond, travelling musicians tell us.
The musicians may vary over time but the music remains true to our style.
The band regulars: Simon,trumpet our Australian member and past leader of the Fireworks Jazz Band, Lauri Lyster playing drums for us.There are 5 other local heroes like Joey Smith, past bassist for Glenn Miller Orch., Al Pease , Canada’s reed rep. in the NORAD Band, Doug Rhodes from L.A.,alto sax where he was a studio musician, Avram McCagherty vocals and banjo who also has his own popular band well known in Victoria!and with stride/ragtime Toni at the piano. And we sing!
Make a date and celebrate this special musical event in Hermann's Jazz Club, a world class show room with restaurant service! CanUS offers traditional New Orleans Jazz and early swing era standards played by musicians who know how to get those feet tapping and lift your spirits in tough times with lots of room for you to bring friends as well. 'Happy jazz' is still something we can all enjoy together.

Show tickets are $25.00 + tax & fees. Walk-ins are welcome if there is room but advance ticket purchase is recommended. Online, https//:www.www.hermannsjazz.com>to reserve. Watch any of the shows of CanUS & Friends on and click on LIVESTREAM.

Sample of our past:
Another Big Welcome in 2019 For CanUS at Olympia Jazz Fest, Lacey,WA

After our self-imposed retirement of 11 years from travel around the continent, we were lured out by the indefatigable Charlotte Dickinson from Olympia to take part in the 2017 festival
We were overwhelmed by the welcome from audiences and our fellow musicians in a four day extravaganza with bands from as far away as Boston and New York and all over the U.S. We were the sole Canadian representatives and here are some of our performances in that illustrious festival.
To begin, here are two numbers from the REUNION SET WITH CanUS & JIMMY ARMSTRONG:
Short Dress Gal and Love Me With A Feeling https://youtu.be/Jp0dvVw8WVY

Diga Diga Doo and River Stay 'Way From My Door https://youtu.be/DJjrAJ9Z0-Y

These are some of the CanUS Jazz Band tunes:
What A Little Moonlight Can Do https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltX3BbzJXBk
Bouncin Around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDcsMdkXLCc&feature=em-share_video_user
Waste No Tears https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOE0cDQFOHM&feature=em-share_video_user
Darktown Strutters Ball https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITPTmc601Hs&feature=em-share_video_user
Ol Squareface https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtbktdLOmUQ&feature=em-share_video_user
Stealin Apples https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeFpgLg2kHk&feature=em-share_video_user
Hustlin' & Bustling' For Babyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4fyhxotDQQ
Our sincere thanks to the Olympic Jazz Festival and all the producers, staff and volunteers who make a wonderful experience for attendees and also for the musicians.

CanUS and The Greats Concert in San Diego 1994

I can't believe this happened but in 1994 we played San Diego Jazz Festival with guests Donnie Clark, trumpet, John Norris from Hawaii, cornet and Al Pease, clarinet along with CanUS Quartet originals.
And it got recorded and recently it got posted to youtube.
So here is the link - a very good "on the spot" record of what we did including the brief sit-in with friend Igor of "Igor's Jazz Cowboys" singing a tune with us!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y79jhDWwqdE

Historically Interesting!
CanUS Jazz Band at the KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS MILLENNIUM STAGE, Washington, D.C.
Nov. 9, 2002

It comes with cleaning out closets where you sometimes stumble over something you had rather forgotten. So there it was - a video sent by to me by The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. filmed at our concert on Nov. 9,2002.
Now with you tube to make it possible for anyone interested to share that concert with us, here it is! Certainly a highlight in the history of CanUS and none of our other travelling engagements comes close to the thrill of playing there.
Thanks to our Dept. of Foreign Affairs and also to the retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor who liked our recordings enough to recommend us to the Kennedy Center.
The band lineup: Toni Blodgett, piano (leader), Jim Armstrong, trumpet, Doug Rhodes, saxes, Jackson Stock, trombone, Joey Smith, bass and Don Leppard, drums.
Proud to represent Canada for the music lovers and neighbours to the south. We were treated royally and basked in the very full house which gave us a standing ovation as their appreciation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-QTESE78Wk