Jazz Vespers with Linda Szentes & Jazzlinks
“Where Jazz Meets Spirit!”
Linda Szentes and Jazzlinks is a combo made up of friends and associates who are versatile, seasoned musicians: since it’s first gig in 2016, band personnel has included Roy Sluyter/Brenda Baird, piano, Michael Toth, guitar, Johan Worst/ Mark Bender/Paul Freeman, bass, Terry Keller, trumpet, Nick Apivor, vibraphone/percussion and Zoltan Kollar/Buff Allen drums in various formats ranging from duos to quintets.
Linda, the leader of the band, is an accomplished singer in many genres: combined with her smooth, lyrical voice and consistent swing feel, she moves easily from bossa and bluesy-jazz to free improvisation on soulful funk grooves.
Some band highlights include:
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An invitation to play for Ted-X Surrey in January 2024 at the Bell Centre
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Four Fraser Valley Music Award nominations in the Jazz Performance category from 2020- 2023: these nominations resulted in an interview on “Merry Memories”, a radio broadcast hosted by Edgar Wilson on CIVL, the campus radio station for UFV in Abbotsford which sponsors the Fraser Valley Music Awards
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An Arty Award from the Abbotsford Arts Council in 2021 for excellence in performance
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The production of two successful Livestreams in the summer of 2020, one of which was generously sponsored by the Abbotsford Arts Council.
In 2025, the group had a busy year performing in three Jazz Vespers concerts including Northwood’s Vespers in the Valley, followed by summer gigs performing in Deep Cove Coffee Concerts, Fraser Valley Heritage Railway’s summer patio music series and the City of Langley’s Sounds of Summer concert series. Upcoming gigs include a brunch gig at the Espresso Café in Newton on October 25, and a series of gigs at Lulu Island Winery’s Vibes and Vino on Friday nights in Richmond in the new year.
Typically, our services last for an hour, and in Northwood fashion, we offer a time of conversation over home baked goods prior to Vespers.
The Jazz Vespers service provides a time where jazz meets the Spirit in a time of reflection and prayer. The suggested donation is $10, or pay-what-you can.
Everyone is welcome.
Check out the poster for more details—and mark your calendar!
We can’t wait to see you there.
Come for the music. Stay for the Spirit. Leave inspired.
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