What music makes you want to get out of your seat and onto your feet? Many of us simply can’t resist the big band sounds of the 1920s and 30s.
Lucky for us, Vancouver’s Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra is on a mission to transport audiences back to the vibrant era of 1920s hot jazz and 1930s sweet dance music. With over 50 historically accurate performances a year (think 100-year-old instruments and period costumes), the orchestra delivers an unforgettable experience that captures the essence of this bygone, but definitely not forgotten, era.
Sammuel Hawkins, the conductor of Ne Plus Ultra and Executive Director of the Historic Music Preservation Project, is the driving force behind the orchestra. A passionate scholar, Hawkins's deep knowledge and appreciation for American popular music shine through in everything he does.
An advocate for the preservation of both knowledge and physical items, Hawkins houses thousands of scores and dozens of instruments. Using period instruments is crucial for maintaining the integrity and life of the music. From a 1926 Leedy drum kit with its Asian-influenced percussion to a massive 30-pound bass saxophone, each instrument tells a story and adds a unique layer to the orchestra's sound.
Ne Plus Ultra's Friday night dances at the Providence Academy Ballroom are a local favorite, where attendees can don their finest vintage attire and dance the night away. (Or just sit and watch other people don-and-dance!)
The band's versatility shines through in their diverse repertoire, ranging from the refined elegance of sweet dance music to the gritty sounds of hot jazz. They even venture into the realm of burlesque!
Ne Plus Ultra also brings their music to schools, educating young audiences about the origins of jazz. Their goal is to expose students to live performance, “while also imparting the importance of the cultures that this music was from in the black communities of New Orleans, St. Louis, Harlem, and Chicago in the late teens and early twenties.”
Ne Plus Ultra's dedication to historical accuracy and their passion for sharing the joy of jazz have made them a beloved cultural institution in the Vancouver area. See you on the dance floor!
