Bryn Badel  - trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn and vocalist is a versatile musician in many different genres. He has performed in a variety of settings as a classical, jazz and Latin music performer.  He founded Lust Life Jazz Band in 1994 as an artistic jazz ensemble.  He began his career as a symphonic musician and has shared the stage with many world class musicians. He performs regularly at St Andrews Cathedral, First Metropolitan United Church and for countless years with the The Island Big Band, and Kumbia.

He has performed as a soloist with; The Canadian Military, The Big Band Trio, Vancouver Island Symphony, Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, Victoria Chamber Orchestra, and The Victoria Symphony. He has been featured on filmscores, commercials and on many recordings, including albums with Maureen Washington, The Axiomatics, Kumbia, Mindil Beach, Gone Clear, and the Vancouver Island Symphony. He teaches brass fundamentals at Long & McQuade, and can be seen performing often in Victoria With Lust Life Jazz Band and other ensembles.

Ryan Tandy's bass playing is inspired by Ray Brown, informed by Christian McBride, and influenced by Ken Lister, but the solid time and visible enthusiasm he brings to the bandstand are all his own. Born in Auckland, NZ, and raised in Victoria, BC, Ryan played gigs on piano, bass, and drums in high school before going on to establish his career as a bassist. He's been a member of Lust Life Jazz Band since 2009 and appears on their CD "On Remembrance"(2011). In 2012, Ryan joined Nick La Riviere, Art Booker, and Damian Graham in forming New Orleans-inspired funk group The Hi-Fi, who recorded their second EP, "Coffee and Candy", in 2014.An in-demand sideman, Ryan appears alongside local and touring artists. Recent highlights include performances with Maureen Washington, David Vest, Tia Brazda, and Michael Kaeshammer.

Robert Johnson Born in Toronto, Robert moved to the west coast in 1995 He quickly established himself on the music scene as a much sought after Electric and Upright bass player. Over Roberts 30 year musical career, performing and teaching Robert has shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, Some of these Artists include: Saxophone giant Ernie Watts. Vancouver's George Mcfetrige, Morgan Childs, Bruno Hubert, Ron Johnston, Jack Stafford, and renowned trumpeter Donny Clark. Victoria's Tom Vickery, Pablo Cardenas, Steve Tittle, Brent Jarvis, Lust life Jazz Band. International: Paul landsburg, Gary Edigoffer, Mike Waldrop, Cheryl Hodge Group Ian Hartline, South African acclaimed piano player, Neil Gonsalves, Juno award winning Blues artist, Johnny V. Robert has also opened for Jan Arden, 5440 and Wide Mouth Mason. Recently completed a Jazz Improvisation course at Berkley with instructor Gary Burton. Attended a workshop with John Clayton and studied with Bob Mintzer.

Alan Vance is an award winning guitarist was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He claims hearing the Ballantyne brothers, who lived down the street, play jazz on various instruments was probably the first time he was really influenced by the art form. At the age of eleven after a year of piano lessons he finally begged and borrowed (but didn’t steal) enough money for his first real guitar. A week long jazz camp including clinicians Phil Wilson, Lou Marini Jr. and Lyle Mays in the early 70’s made him realize that you really must study this art form if you want to become accomplished at it. So he’s been studying and working at it ever since.

Listening to Lenny Breau was a life changing experience for him. Fortunately he was able to study some arranging with Bob Erlandson. Bob had introduced Lenny to the music of Bill Evans and his piano voicings in the sixties. Lenny ingeniously applied this tecnique to the guitar. After a few years on the road in touring bands and doing session work, he moved west to Alberta where he landed a full time gig in Calgary playing with a trio backing up local artists as well as people like Jan Arden, Cheryl Fisher and Bob Stroup. Allan co wrote, arranged and produced several albums with Cheryl Fisher which led them to performances at the Montreal Jazz Festival as well as most of the other festival stops in Canada with the likes of Tommy Banks, PJ Perry, John Stowell, Bob Erlandson and Calgary trumpet legend Bob Day. A chance meeting with a brilliant young Swedish guitarist named Erik Lundmark in the early 90’s got him thinking it might be time to go and study properly again. So he moved to the Portland, Oregon area to pursue a jazz studies degree under the direction of Steve Owen and Gary Varsace (the latter currently with John Scofield and Maria Schneider). While down there he recorded and album of his own music entitled “Sunday’s Child,” including Randy Porter on piano. He also performed with the Oregon Jazz Ensemble who have accompanied such artists as Maria Schneider, Bob Mintzer and Fred Sturm. He was also able to get a few lessons with the late Ted Greene. After returning to Canada in 2006 Allan decided to make his home in Victoria where he currently lives in his little house by the sea. He is teaching, writing and playing gigs with some great Vancouver Island musicians while finishing his master’s degree in music.

Steve Grebanier A descendant of music royalty has been playing the guitar for over 25 years. In that time he has studied a wide range of styles to arrive at his own unique sound, which lies within his jazzy chops, his funky groove, and his bluesy attack. Steve led his own jazz/funk group, Jukejoint,  for over 7 years, culminating in three CDs and a cross-Canada jazz festival tour, including Festival International De Jazz De Montreal and The Du'Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival (Toronto). As well as strumming the guitar in Jukejoint, Steve was also the composer, arranger and vocalist for the band. The group was recorded and broadcast by the CBC at the Ottawa Jazz Festival in 1998. In that same year MusicMax in Montreal, broadcast a live hour long Jukejoint performance from their studio. To this day the show is still repeated on Bravo. For over 2 years, Steve was the guitarist with Toronto Bhangra/ Reggae/ Dance faves Punjabi By Nature. He not only helped define PBN's live sound, but also was integral in the arrangement of several songs. With PBN, he toured across Canada and played on their popular CD, "Jmpn For Joy". In the winter of 2000, Steve toured Canada with blues/jazz harmonica virtuoso Carlos Del Junco. He also has performed with blues harpist Michael Pickett. Prior to Jukejoint, Steve had a five year stint as leader/guitarist of CHeeZBOxx, a Toronto based funk/rock band, releasing one independent CD as well as two cassettes. All releases met with much critical praise and received miles of college radio airplay. Currently, Steve leads his own jazz trio in Victoria as well as a guitar duo with Allan Vance and can be heard often at various venues around Victoria BC.

Paul Wainwright is a saxophonist based in Victoria Canada. His group the Big Band Trio toured concerts and jazz festivals in the US and Canada for many years. Their four cds received worldwide airplay. They maintained a house gig at Pagliacci's for over ten years to packed houses - they are the only group to have a drink named after them! He was also a founding member of the Timebenders for which he wrote the original script and The Midnights, a 12 piece professional mentoring group for students at Victoria High School. He continues to perform with his own groups, the Paul Wainwright Band and the funky and danceable Atomic Allstars. He is also in demand as a side player with numerous groups including  Lust Life Jazz Band.

Wayne Kozak honed his jazz skills in Vancouver’s thriving music venues in the early ‘70s, including the iconic Cellar jazz club, opening for the likes of Ornette Coleman and Herbie Hancock. Wayne went onto become mainstays of the Canadian jazz scene as a founding member of Cobra, one of Canada’s first fusion jazz groups. Wayne is perhaps best known as the tenor sax man for the legendary Powder Blues Band, became a sought-after session musician and performer who worked with such stars such as Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Loverboy, and Randy Bachman. Wayne also played with Long John Baldry, Jim Byrnes and Hans Stamer. He recently moved to his Maple Bay home from Vancouver, where he performs Jazz, Blues and Contemporary Music at various local venues, as well as in Victoria and Nanaimo BC.

Multi-instrumentalist Andrew Greenwood is a performer, composer, and educator based in Victoria, BC, Canada.  He has music degrees from the University of Victoria where he studied classical music, and Humber College where he studied jazz.  His teachers have included some of Canada's leading saxophonists including Pat Labarbera, Alex Dean, Mark Promane, and Wendell Clanton. Greenwood regularly performs in a variety of musical genres including jazz, funk, hip hop, and rock.  He currently plays tenor saxophone with Travel Light, Rage Pony and the Approachable Goats, and the Andrew Greenwood Quintet. He also plays tenor, flute, and clarinet in the Victoria Jazz Orchestra. Andrew also teaches music lessons at Long and McQuade, Peninsula Academy of Music Arts, and The Greenwood Music Studio. He offers lessons in piano, flute, clarinet, and saxophone.

Chris Thackray was raised in a musical family. Despite this, he spent much his childhood bonking objects with a stick until in desperation, his mother bought him a drum set. Chris pursued an eclectic music education which includes studies in classical piano, pipe organ and voice, then Jazz at Malaspina College. His drum teachers have included Pat Steward, Kelby MacNayr, Barry Elmes and Hans Verhoeven. With a keen interest in all great music, Chris is passionate about jazz, funk and blues; he has a knack for supporting bands in practically any style with great musicality and a solid groove.

Dave Emery - is a graduate of the Humber College Jazz Program. He has recently
relocated to Victoria after several years in Tokyo.  His talent was quickly recognized in Victoria where he now plays regularly with many different Jazz Ensembles including Lust Life Jazz Band.

Pablo Luis Cardenas is a pianist with the ability to play in a multitude of styles each with enthusiasm, skill and finesse. He has a charisma and charm that both intrigues and entertains his audience. This talented musician from Matanzas, Cuba was destined for a life in music after his hands first touched a piano at the age of five. When Pablo was just seven years old began his studies at the Conservatory of Music in Matanzas and went on to complete his music diploma in classical and jazz. He studied at the Conservatory for seven years before heading to the National School of Music in Havana in 1996 and graduating in 2001. Pablo went on to work as a piano teacher at the Conservatory in Matanzas, teaching music theory along with classical and later jazz and other piano styles to children and young adults. At the same time he has worked as a classical piano accompanist at the Conservatory and was selected to travel to Dominican Republic  to teach a workshops and perform at  the National Conservatory of Music, [directed by the prestigious pianist Ivan Dominguez]. Pablo has performed Classical recitals in the most important theatres of Cuba including the famous Amadeo Roldan Theatre and Federico Garcia Lorca as well as collaborating with many music projects and accomplished musicians including Matanzas sinfonic orquestra, singer Leo Vera and groups like Mambo Club International Jazz band  as well as his own jazz project performing  jazz, fusion, Latin jazz, traditional and contemporary Cuban styles. This young pianist have played at the most famous events and venues in Cuba such as the International Jazz Plaza Festival,International Contemporary Music Festival and clubs including Casa de la Musica, Jazz Club Zorra y el Cuervo and many others. Since arriving in Canada in 2010 he has been teaching and has performed with Gergana Velinova, Adonis Puentes, Maureen Washington, Phil Dyer, Damian Graham, Sara Vardy, Miguelito Valdes and many others accomplished musicians. Pablo also has his own music projects including his Latin Jazz Combo and Project Fusion who recently performed at the Victoria Jazz Festival 2012.

Leon Torres Quintero was blessed to be born in Havana, Cuba into a musical family. Inspired by both African rhythms and his grandfather, Leon displayed his unique gifts as a child. From 1984-1987, he studied Cuban percussion at the prestigious Professional Music School Ignacio Cervantes, Havana, Cuba. Upon completion of his studies, he performed with renowned musicians such as the Nueva Trova band "Abril" who were awarded first place by the University of Cuba five consecutive years for the best music and best orchestra. In addition, he played with the Latin Jazz band "Emiliano Salvador", "Salsa D'Esquina" and the orchestra "Tumba Son". He also participated in international events in Cuba, teaching percussion, performing and giving workshops for international students. In 1992, his international career was launched when he toured Italy, Switzerland and Europe with "Latin Fever". In Italy, he performed with international groups from the Dominican Republic including "Las Chicas del Can" as well as the singer Yoel Arrollo. In addition, he was invited to play with the eminent Italian musicians Jovanotti and Antonello Venditti. In 1995, Europe welcomed his band "Latin Fever" when they returned to promote their C.D "42 Degrados de Salsa" and in 1998, they were invited to Canada to perform at the Latin Caribbean Festivals from coast to coast. In 1999, he played Cuban percussion with "Havana Jam" established in Victoria by Cuban musicians, and later created his own group, "Son de Cuba" the same year. In 2000, he was featured on the C.D "Morumba Cubana" with the Puentes Brothers, which was nominated for a Juno award in 2001. Leon has contributed to a number of recordings including "Latin Fever" in Cuba with Fania Records, U.S.A, "42 Degrados de Salsa" at Studio R.T.V Commercial, followed by "Morumba Cubana" with Alma Records of Canada and "Cuban Fire" in the studio of Canadian Sound Concepts. In 2003, he was featured on Kia Kadiri's work "Feel This" as well as Ann Schafer's Latin Jazz C.D "Twelve Easy Pieces" both of which were recorded at Joby Baker Studio. Highly respected for his versatility and dedication, he has performed with noted musicians Hilario Duran, Flora Scott, Ron Hadley, Wurter White of N.Y., and the Canadian Jazz artist Hugh Fraser. He also recently performed in a tribute to Jaco Pastorius. As a music professor, Leon is famous for his technical expertise in Conga, Timbales, Bongo and minor percussion as well as his generosity of spirit. His commitment to music inspires his students and the rest of the world to discover the luminosity of Cuban percussion.

Oscar Cruz is a multi-talented, self-taught musician, who began playing guitar in El Salvador at the age of 13.  Oscar is also a singer/songwriter and percussionist (hand percussion, timbales and drums), who has performed as a soloist in Seattle, Montreal, Yellow Knife (live on CBC radio), Mexico and Victoria. In 1988, Oscar co-founded the Latin band Kumbia in which he was the lead singer and percussionist.  Oscar co-produced and wrote lyrics for the three albums Kumbia released during the 27 years they entertained audiences in Victoria and the surrounding areas.
Oscar is also an actor having performed in several plays, including the lead role(s) in Puente Theatre’s production “Crossing Borders” (co-creator) and Joan MacLeod’s “Amigos Blue Guitar”.  In Michael Ondaatje’s “The Collected Works of Billy the Kid”, Oscar acted and contributed to the music.  During his time collaborating on “Crossing Borders”, Oscar won a bursary for voice lessons at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, as well as taking lessons from Celso Machado (Brazil), master percussionists Salvador Ferrer (Dominican Republic) and Luis Conte (Cuba).