Gaby Warren: Best friend of jazz
By Charley Gordon

Nobody loved jazz more than Gaby Warren. He was well-read in other fields and he had a distinguished career as a diplomat, but when he ran into you he wanted to talk about jazz. “By the way …” he’d begin, and immediately launch into an enthusiastic description of his latest musical discovery.

Gaby’s love for jazz led him to the improbable decision to begin a career as a jazz singer at the age of 60. That led him to JazzWorks jazz camp, where many of us encountered him in the Christie Lake days. JazzWorks was part of his voyage of discovery. He found musical friends and mentors there, future collaborators.

Whatever you thought of Gaby’s singing, he was not half-hearted about it. He took lessons, not only in voice but in musical theory. He wanted to sing not just tunes but the hippest and most complicated tunes. That was clear on his recordings. He didn’t want to sing All of Me; he wanted to sign Crisis by Freddie Hubbard—and he wanted to write lyrics for it.

When Gaby recorded and performed (memorably on two CDs and at his annual Christmas Jazzworks jam), he surrounded himself with the best musi­cians, often including jazz camp faculty members. You’d think those musicians, performing with an amateur, after all, would just go through the motions. But no: they played full-out, because they respected Gaby’s courage and commitment to
the music.

That commitment to the music was also a commitment to his friends who played it. If you knew Gaby and you performed in Ottawa, he’d be there. And if you were lucky, you’d hear his shouted “Bravo!” at the end of a set. We were lucky to have him as part of our community.

Bravo, Gaby.

Gaby died June 26, 2025
Gaby's official obituary

JazzWorks Canada, in conjunction with the Ottawa Jazz Festival, is pleased to present The Anke Helfrich Trio.

​The concert will take place on June 27, 2025 at 9:00pm at the National Arts Centre's Fourth Stage.

Have you ever wondered what JazzWorks musicians do in the days leading up to the eagerly awaited Jazz Camp weekend? From August 26-29, 2024, the annual JazzWorks Practice Retreat offers a unique opportunity for musicians to escape their daily routines and focus on honing their skills in a tranquil setting. Held at CAMMAC, this retreat provides participants with dedicated practice time in private studios, 1-2 individual lessons with esteemed faculty, and the chance to play original compositions. Evening jam sessions and group activities with Composers’ Symposium participants further enrich the experience, making it an ideal environment for personal musical development.

The benefits of the JazzWorks Practice Retreat extend beyond skill improvement. Attendees can connect deeply with fellow musicians, explore secondary instruments, and enjoy a serene atmosphere conducive to creativity. With additional activities like canoeing and swimming in Lac MacDonald, the retreat serves as a perfect prelude to the Main Jazz Camp or as a standalone session for focused practice and camaraderie. Whether you’re preparing for Jazz Camp or simply seeking a nurturing space to grow as a musician, the JazzWorks Practice Retreat is a must-attend event. Register now to secure your spot and expand your musical horizons this summer.

Testimonials

"I attended the Practice Retreat the second year it was offered and my second time at JazzWorks Camp. During that session, I practiced Bach and jazz standards in the woods and hung out with the composers during their workshops. A seed started to grow, and the next year I attended as a composer with an idea to develop. I was at the beginning of my composing journey, working on a suite of pieces. For the next couple of years I brought more pieces to camp to add to my portfolio. Each time, I benefited from the thought-provoking workshops and received sensitive and constructive feedback from faculty and participants. At the same time, I was inspired by the incredible natural setting, camaraderie and music-making. I am indebted to JazzWorks Canada for encouraging me to grow as a composer, and I would urge others to take advantage of the time and space offered by the Retreat to nourish your artistic practice in the company of like-minded folks."

                       – Beverly McKiver, Practice Retreat & Composers' Symposium participant

“I have attended the Practice Retreat every year since it was first offered. I use it to get ready for Jazz Camp - get my voice in shape,  dig in to new tunes that I want to work on at camp.  I also love getting together with other participants to practice and “play”. Fooling around on the piano at the Practice Retreat each year eventually led me back to studying piano again. And I appreciate the more relaxed schedule so I have time to enjoy the beautiful lake!”

                      – Leslie Toope, Practice Retreat participant & vocalist

By John Inder, MBA

Please read the description below carefully before contacting us if you or someone you know is interested.

Role Description:

The JazzWorks Treasurer is a volunteer position responsible for overseeing all aspects of the finances for a small-scale, non-profit and charitable organization that is dedicated to the development of jazz musicianship by amateur jazz musicians of all ages.
 
The Treasurer manages and monitors JazzWorks’ financial affairs and keeps its Board of Directors current on all relevant financial matters so that the Board can make sound decisions.

The Treasurer at JazzWorks is an Officer of the Board and must fulfill the responsibilities of a Director, as defined in JazzWorks’ Constitution and Bylaws, in addition to the Treasurer’s primary responsibilities.

Key Activities of the Treasurer:

• Developing the organization’s annual Operating Budget and updating it as required
  
• Developing budgets for grant applications
  
• Developing appropriate budgets for the Annual Composers’ Symposium/Practice Retreat and Jazz Camp
  
• Filing annual Charitable Tax return
  

The Treasurer does not manage the day-to-day finances and bookkeeping activities. However, the treasurer reviews the books and provides advice to the Administrator, Bookkeeper, the Executive Director and the Board on financial management.

Reporting to: JazzWorks Board of Directors

Liaising with:

• JazzWorks Executive Director
  
• JazzWorks Administrator
  
• JazzWorks Bookkeeper
  

Estimated time per month: 8-12 hours

What we are looking for in a volunteer Treasurer:

• Canadian Professional Accountant (CPA) or equivalent designation
  
• Experience conceptualizing, carrying out and overseeing all aspects of finances of a non-profit organization and registered charitable organizations
  
• Knowledge of non-profit accounting and finance
  
• Adaptable and flexible
  
• Organized and pays attention to detail
  
• Works well independently and as part of a team; takes initiative and respects direction
  
• Able to give and receive feedback effectively
  
• Able to commit for two years
  
• Willing to participate in a regular schedule of virtual and in-person meetings to familiarize themselves with the goals and operations of the organization, and to communicate with the JazzWorks Board of Directors, bookkeeper, administrator and Executive Director
  

Assets:

• Experience working for or volunteering with an arts organization
  
• Personally connects with JazzWorks’ mandate in some way (e.g. musician, jazz lover etc.)
  

What we offer the volunteer Treasurer:

• Experience in a lead financial planning role
  
• Opportunity to learn more about non-profit and charitable organization management
  
• Opportunity to learn more about jazz
  

Please contact us if you are interested or if you have questions about this position.

JazzWorks is happy to say that our 2023 edition of Jazz Camp is almost sold out. As of today, there is limited space in shared accomodations in the Main Lodge. The Lake House is fully booked, as are the singles in the Main Lodge. 

Better hurry and register to avoid disappointment!

As you probably know by now, the Jazzworks Jam's regular home at Festival Japan has been under renovation all winter. Samantha has been kind enough to give us a room at Kato Japan, her Aylmer location. We just found out that venue is also not available this June, so we're going to postpone things until September, when hopefully we'll be back at Festival Japan. 

Keep your fingers crossed and we'll see you at Festival Japan September 21!

Born in the Netherlands and spending his formative years in his parents' home country of Suriname, South America, A.T.N. Stadwijk studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he majored in Contemporary Arranging. Currently based in New York, he is a keyboardist, arranger and producer, and has recorded and toured the world with such artists as Harry Belafonte, Richard Bona, Kenny Garrett, Marcus Miller, Paul Simon and Raul Midon. He will be joined in this funk-fusion jazz concert by Ottawa drummer Michel Delage and bassist Sage Reynolds at KaTO Restaurant on June 2, 2023, from 7:30-10:30pm.

A.T.N. Stadwijk will present a special Performance Workshop on Thursday, June 1 at Centretown United Church, located at 507 Bank Street, Ottawa. A.T.N. will be exploring the role of the keyboard/piano and how it can support other instrumentalists and vocalists in a combo setting. Bring your instrument/voice and get ready to play! If you wish to participate, please come prepared with a lead sheet for yourself and one in concert pitch for the keyboardist. Parking is available off Argyle Avenue and in the Glashan Public School parking lot, located at 28 Arlington Avenue. Doors open at 3:45 and the Workshop begins at 4pm. (Please use the arched entrance on Bank Street.)

**FREE for high school students**