BIG BAND MONDAY: Mike Herriott Premieres Tales of Tricksters and Vagabonds Suite on

Tales of Tricksters and Vagabonds is an original programmatic work for large jazz ensemble, drawn from Mike Herriott's 2023 album of the same name (H&H Records) and rooted in his master's thesis in music composition. The suite portrays six unforgettable figures from folklore and literature — the scheming cat of Puss in Boots, the gold-spinning Rumpelstiltskin, Shakespeare's quicksilver Mercutio, Dickens's oily 'Umble Uriah, Dostoevsky's guilt-haunted Rodion's Republic, and the gloriously life-loving Sir Jack (Sir John Falstaff) — moving from the comic to the genuinely sinister and back again across a single evening. The ensemble's instrumentation — brass and rhythm section, with no saxophones — recalls the original lineup of Canada's celebrated Boss Brass.

The performance pairs the premiere suite with a selection of highlights from Herriott's earlier releases. As the tour opener, Vancouver gives audiences a first glimpse of material from Herriott's upcoming dance-theatre collaboration with Toronto's ProArteDanza.

Cellist Ofra Harnoy, Herriott's longtime creative partner and co-owner of H&H Records, travels with the tour as co-producer and co-developer of the suite's concept.

Trumpets: Michael Kim, John Korsrud, Brad Turner, Julian Borkowski, French Horns: Jason Ford, Nick Anderson, Trombones: Cam Henderson, Jeremy Berkman, Ellen Marple, William Broverman

Piano: Sharon Minemoto · Guitar: Andrew Skepasts , Percussion: Craig Scott · Drums: Dave Robbins Bass: Marcus Abramzik