Don Wade: A brief biography.

Don’s earliest musical influences were radio broadcasts during WW II: the many fine radio orchestras, the Saturday afternoon opera broadcasts from The Met, but especially the big band remotes. He came out of that era with a love of the great jazz tunes the dance bands were playing…known today as “jazz standards”.
During his college years (early ‘60s) and already veteran of many dance bands, Don formed a four-piece group (playing alto and tenor sax and valve trombone plus piano, bass and drums) to finance his studies.  Over its seven-year run the band, The Gaslighters, successfully put nine people through college and taught Don how to present the best in music and entertainment.

While teaching high school music and theatre in South and North Dakota, California, Oregon and British Columbia, and thanks to his sense of humour, story-telling skills and comedic timing, Don frequently found himself on stage as Master of Ceremonies at a variety of gatherings.

Don continued his love of playing the saxophone throughout his teaching years, plus a 2-year stint with the 1950s rock’n’roll quartet, The Diamonds. He currently plays soprano, alto and tenor saxes with Sax Among Friends; tenor sax with The Milleraires and Sentimental Journey big bands; soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxes with Opera Appassionata; and soprano sax with The Oakridge Dixielanders. For many years Don co-directed and arranged for the Deer Lake United Church Choir and KidZ Jazz Band.

Other members of Sax Among Friends

RON THOMPSON, GUITAR
Ron Thompson has been active on the Vancouver jazz scene for over thirty years. He was a founding member of Hugh Fraser's V.E.J.I. and went on to lead his own group, Gypsalero. Just a few of the singers Ron has played for include Michael Bublé, Dee Daniels and Jim Byrnes. He currently plays with the Dal Richards Orchestra, Stringfever and the Scott Robertson Trio. Ron's style draws from the entire History of Jazz Guitar, with influences from Joe Pass, Django Reinhardt, Kenny Burrell and Lenny Breau.

BRENT GUBBELS, BASS
Brent studied music at Capilano College and took private lessons with Rene Worst, Tom Hazlitt and David Brown. He has performed folk, roots, jazz and Latin music with artists such as Oscar Lopez, James Keelaghan, Susan Crowe, Sandy Scofield, Dal Richards, Lowry Olafson, Miles Black, Brad Turner, Gypsalero, George McFetridge, The Hard Rubber Orchestra, Tony Wilson, Chris Gestrin, Daryl Jahnke, Fantazea, and many others. Since 1992, he has extensively toured North America and Europe and played at a variety of international jazz and folk festivals. Brent can be heard on recordings by Oscar Lopez, Gypsalero, Juno nominees Susan Crowe and Compadres, Juno winner James Keelaghan, and many others.

MICHAEL GUILD, GUITAR
Michael is a Vancouver native and has been a fixture on the local jazz scene for nearly 30 years. A few of the local musicians he’s worked with include Campbell Ryga, Ross Taggart, Hugh Fraser, Jack Stafford, Fraser MacPherson and can currently be heard with Meagan Fanning. Michael has studied with jazz legend Joe Pass and has appeared on TV, radio and at West Coast Jazz Clubs with musicians such as Paul Horn, Leon Bibb, Mitzi Gaynor, and Frankie Lane.

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