Saturday Big Band Jazz at the Ironwood with the Fox Big Band

🎷🎺 One of Canada’s best sax players coming to Calgary with the Fox Big Band Jazz Lover! 🎺🎷

Date: Saturday April 11 Time: 2:00
Venue: The Ironwood, 1229 9th Ave SE
Reservations: (403) 269-5581 or [email protected]

Cory Weeds arrives in Calgary with the kind of presence that fills the room before he even lifts his horn. His tenor sound: bold, warm, and unmistakably his, has made him one of the most engaging straight‑ahead saxophonists working today. There’s a deep respect for the jazz tradition in everything he plays: swing that pops, phrasing that feels like a conversation, and a tone that can move from velvet‑smooth to full‑on fire in the space of a chorus. Whether he’s leaning into a bluesy ballad or tearing through a hard‑bop tune, Weeds plays with purpose, joy, and a directness that audiences connect with right away.

Over the past twenty years, he’s carved out a remarkable career. He’s released more than 20 albums—including the 2025 recording Every Now and Then – Live at OCL Studios, made right here in Calgary with the always‑swinging Champian Fulton. He’s collaborated with top musicians from across Canada and the U.S., developing a voice that honours the greats while still pushing himself creatively. Critics consistently point to his sense of swing, his melodic instinct, and the way he makes even the toughest material feel relaxed and alive. From intimate small‑group sessions to larger ensemble projects, Weeds has always been about connection, groove, and telling a story through sound.

This April, Calgary gets to hear him in a whole new context as he joins the Fox Big Band under the direction of Brandon Oberhamer. The Fox Big Band has become one of the city’s most exciting large ensembles—tight, versatile, and fearless with both classic and modern charts. Pairing their precision and energy with Weeds’ commanding tenor is a recipe for some serious musical chemistry. Expect explosive moments, beautifully shaped ensemble writing, and that special kind of spark that happens when a great soloist and a great band push each other higher.

So gather your friends, mark your calendar, and get ready for an afternoon of outstanding music, good food and drinks, and great company. Don’t miss your chance to be part of what’s sure to be one of the standout musical experiences of 2026! 🎷💃🕺

Under the direction of Brandon Oberhamer, FOX BIG BAND continues to captivate Calgary audiences, performing regularly at premier venues such as the Ironwood Stage and Grill. Following a series of sold‑out JazzYYC collaborations—most recently with the electrifying Benny Benack III—the band recorded a live album released in 2025. Another packed house at the Ironwood welcomed internationally acclaimed saxophonist Seamus Blake, further cementing the band’s reputation for world‑class performances.

With a powerhouse 13‑piece horn section, a full rhythm section, featured vocalists, and an exciting roster of guest artists, FOX BIG BAND delivers modern big band arrangements that draw from blues, Latin jazz, rock, funk, bebop, fusion, and contemporary styles. Whether unleashing high‑octane ensemble energy or shaping a tender ballad, the band offers a dynamic, immersive musical experience.

Showcasing some of Calgary’s finest jazz musicians, the ensemble features masterful soloists and tight ensemble playing across a wide‑ranging repertoire—from Pat Metheny, Phil Collins, and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band to jazz icons like Count Basie, Buddy Rich, and Duke Ellington. Recent performances have celebrated the music of Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis, and other jazz legends.

Founded in the 1980s by Calgary trumpeter, bassist, and arranger Doug Fox, FOX BIG BAND remains a cornerstone of the city’s jazz community—honouring its legacy while continuing to evolve and inspire. Doug always enjoyed playing the music of the classic swing big bands but was also interested in composing and arranging contemporary big band music that crossed into other genres of music in blues, Latin jazz, funk, rock and other contemporary styles.

BRANDON OBERHAMER is the musical Director of the Fox Big Band. He has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Wednesday Night Big Band, Prime Time Big Band , the Calgary jazz Orchestra and of course the Fox Big Band. Brandon is the Jazz Director at St. Francis High School in Calgary and is the Director of the Calgary Summer Jazz. Brandon has performed internationally on cruise ships across the globe. Also, Brandon is a saxophone, flute and clarinet clinician in Calgary schools and teaches private lessons at his own studio. Brandon has now released three albums, The recently released smooth Jazz album “The Oberhamer Brothers” Together Again, another of sacred Hymns entitled “Beautiful Savior” and one of classic Christmas Carols “Christmas Peace”.