NEWS
September 24, 2024
It's going to be an amazing semester at StFX with some outstanding visiting artists! Allison Au on September 25, Greg Amirault on October 28, Brenda Earl Stokes on November 18, Melissa Aldana on November 25!!! In addition, we'll have a faculty concert by Kevin Brunkhorst on October 7. I'm so grateful that I'll be sharing the stage with many of them, along with my fantastic colleagues at StFX! if you're in the area, come out and enjoy what's sure to be some p
July 29, 2024
I'm super pumped to head to Toronto in a few days for shows at Hirut and The Rex! It will be great to be back in Toronto and to play with some of my fantastic colleagues from StFX. Check out the performances page for more info.
July 23, 2024
I had an awesome time back in Vancouver! What an amazing scene and so many great players. It was great to be back for a few days and I had so much fun performing with Billy & Cory Weeds, Sharon Minemoto, James Danderfer, Jon Bentley, Tristan Paxton, Kostaki the Greek, Dave Sikula, and the crew with Side One. Looking forward to my next visit!
September 18, 2023
Words cannot truly express how excited I am that the first StFX Music visiting artist of the 2023-24 year is the incomparable vocalist Norma Winstone! A true living legend, Ms Winstone has been an idol of mine since I was a young undergraduate student. She'll be visiting StFX September 21 & 22, doing a clinic for our students and performing in concert on September 22 with StFX music faculty, including yours truly. If you're anywhere near Antigonish, NS, don't miss the opportunity to hear one of jazz and improvised music's greatest vocalists, and what the LA Times calls "state-of-the-art, imaginative, virtually beyond-definition singing".
More info can be found on my performances page, and you can also visit this link here
July 26, 2023
Looking forward to another trip back to BC in August with performances at Frankies, Dosanko & La Fabrique St-George, as well as some private functions with Side One. Check the performances page for more info!
July 13, 2023
Thanks so much to everyone at Halifax Jazz Festival! I had two great shows, one with my group, and another with the Hanlon Brothers. What a great experience! If you haven't caught any shows at HJF, please go out and hear some great music!
June 10, 2023
Jazz Festival season is almost upon us, and I'm delighted to have my debut appearances booked at this year's Halifax Jazz Festival. I'm playing two shows on Wednesday, July 12 - first with the Hanlon Brothers, and afterwards with my quintet. Check the performances page for more info, and I hope to see you there!
April 18, 2023
I'm really looking forward to my first trip back to BC since moving east in 2020! There are some great performances coming up next week, including by my Present Past group. Here's a link to an interview I did with the fantastic Will Chernoff for his Rhythm Changes blog:
https://www.rhythmchanges.ca/paul-rushka-present-past/
You can check the performances page for more info on the upcoming gigs. Hope to see you at one or more of the gigs!
October 23, 2022
I'm extremely excited to be participating in the first Antigonish Jazz Festival in November. There will be lots of great shows spread out over three days, and I'll be involved in four, playing with the groups of Mike Murley, Kenji Omae, Kevin Brunkhorst, and a trio with Jake Hanlon & Meghan Gilhespy. Check the performances page for more info. Hope to see you out and about!
October 17, 2021
Gigs!!!
Things are slowly starting to open up in Nova Scotia, and a few
gig opportunities are happening. Next up - my first faculty recital at StFX tomorrow, Oct 18. Check the Performances page for more listings.
June 29, 2020
It is with great honour and excitement that I announce a new step in my musical journey: I have taken the position of Assistant Professor of Music at St Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. I'm thrilled to join the faculty at StFX and to have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the next generation of Canadian bassists and jazz musicians.
February 18, 2020
I'm very excited that my good friend Lara Driscoll, who I met during my time in Montreal, is about to release her debut album, which features myself on bass and the tremendous Dave Laing on drums. The album is available for preorder now - please click the link for more info.
https://laradriscoll.com/home
We'll be performing the cd release at Frankie's on September 10; in the meantime there's tons of other great gigs coming, so please check my performances page for more info.
November 10, 2019
It's been a busy fall season and it's about to get busier with the holidays rapidly approaching.
Next weekend, November 15-17, brings the West Coast Big Band Festival and I'm delighted to be one of the featured clinicians. You can read more about the festival here.
December 1 is the debut of a new project brought forth by Cory Weeds and the Cellar Music Group in collaboration with the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby, BC: The Shadbolt Jazz Walk. This all-day festival features many outstanding jazz musicians from Vancouver in addition to visiting artists from New York City, Chicago and more. I will be performing in two separate sets; the first under the leadership of vocalist Lusine Yeghiazaryan, and the following with tenor saxophonist Grant Stewart. This is sure to be a fantastic day; please come out and support it so that it can become an annual event! For more information about the Shadbolt Jazz Walk, click here.
In the New Year, I'm very much looking forward to performing a weekend at Frankie's February 14 & 15 with Bill Coon's majestic Double Quartet.
Please check the performance page for more information and I hope to see you out and about!
May 20, 2018
Lots of great upcoming shows I'm super excited about. First up is a concert with European pianist Emil Viklicky presented at the Revue Stage on Granville Island. Check out arwibo.com
for more info.
After that, a busy June sees a variety of shows, including a short tour with Kristian Braathen, and local concerts with Cory Weeds, Vince Mai, & Steve Kaldestad. There's also some great concerts in the jazz festival, including Bill Coon's Double Quartet, Natasha D'Agostino, Jillian Lebeck, & Sam Taylor's group featuring famed tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna. Check out my performances page for all the details, and I hope to see you out and about.
January 6, 2018
I am proud to announce that I have been appointed Instructor of Double-Bass at Vancouver Community College (VCC). I am honoured to join the music faculty at VCC and I'm very excited to make a contribution towards moulding the next generation of Canadian bassists.
September 10, 2017
Autumn Highlights
I don’t know what happened, but it’s September already! I feel like I blinked and summer was over. Fortunately, I have some wonderful shows coming up that are making me feel very excited about Autumn.
Bill Coon's Double Quartet CD Release
Frankie's, September 15
It is an honour to be a member of this unique ensemble. Bill put this group together probably 10 years ago, coupling a jazz quartet & string quartet, and writing some beautiful pieces specifically for this project. This is no pedestrian jazz + strings ensemble where the strings are an afterthought; this is very much a band in the truest sense of the word. We did the recording in March of this year and the music came off very well; please come and check it out.
Natasha D’Agostino Quartet
Frankie’s, September 24
I can’t say enough about this wonderful vocalist and improvisor that I only met a couple of years ago and have been playing with for about a year. She’s grounded in the jazz tradition but is also versatile, open, and interested in moving the tradition forward. We recently spent a day in the studio together with guitarist David Blake and drummer Bernie Arai that went really well, and will be returning to record some more tracks on the Tuesday following our Frankie’s gig. If you don’t know Natasha, please introduce yourself, and keep your eyes peeled for a new record from her in early 2018.
Oliver Gannon Quartet
Frankie's, September 27
I think if the Vancouver jazz scene has a godfather, it must be Olly. This incredible musician has played with everyone and has made the whole city better with his musical wit, sophistication and swing. It will be a pleasure to share the stage with him and another important member for the older generation, the fantastic drummer Blaine Wikjord.
Paul Rushka Trio
Tangent, October 1
I'm going to have a ball playing with two of my favourite musicians - trumpeter Brad Turner and guitarist Tristan Paxton - at Tangent Cafe. We will be featuring some original works by each musician as well as select favourite standards. Come by for the music, and enjoy some great food and drink at this East Vancouver institution.
Eric Alexander Quartet
Frankie's, October 27 & 28
I'm definitely excited to have the opportunity to perform two nights with New York tenor saxophone titan Eric Alexander! Known for his high-octane energy and bravura technique, this will be an animated, hard-swinging affair.
Cory Weeds Little Big Band Explosion
Frankie's, November 10 & 11, ACT Theatre November 12
This is a project sure to excite! When I lived in Montréal, I spent a lot of time playing and writing for what they call there a 'Chamber Jazz Ensemble.' Basically, it's a pared down big band with 3 saxophones, 4 brass + rhythm section. This project, put together by Cory Weeds, has the added bonus of combining some of the best and brightest jazz musicians from Vancouver & New York City, for a sound that will definitely blow the roof off! Featuring from the East - Joe Magnarelli - trumpet, Steve Davis - trombone, & Gary Smulyan - baritone saxophone. Featuring from the West - PJ Perry - alto saxophone, Steve Kaldestad - tenor saxophone, Chris Davis - trumpet, Rod Murray - trombone, Chris Gestrin - piano, Jesse Cahill - drums, & yours truly on bass. Extra special bonus - the arrangements will be written by our own Jill Townsend!
March 28, 2017
I'm excited to have the opportunity to perform four concerts in the next two months with my Present Past ensemble, which celebrates the music of Canadian jazz icon Kenny Wheeler. This group features the amazing Jon Bentley on soprano and tenor saxophone and the fabulous Tristan Paxton on guitar, along with yours truly on bass. The repertoire is mostly drawn from Wheeler's nearly 4-decade-long recording career, but also features a few obscure gems, as well as some of my original pieces directly inspired by Wheeler's music. Our first show is this Sunday at Frankie's. Please come by and say hello! Check out the performances page for more info.
March 14, 2017
This weekend! It's going to be a pleasure to share the stage at Frankie's with the incredible New York-based guitarist Peter Bernstein. This legendary musician has been on the international jazz scene since 1989 and has performed with many jazz luminaries, including Sonny Rollins, Jim Hall, Bobby Hutcherson, Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, and many more. This is sure to be a swinging affair. With the fabulous Tilden Webb - piano, and Jesse Cahill - drums. For more info, go to:
http://www.coastaljazz.ca/from_nyc_peter_bernstein
July 17, 2016
CBC has posted an article on its news site related to my Hot Air broadcast yesterday. Please check it out at
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-jazz-trumpeter-bassist-1.3682578
July 14, 2016
This week I am the featured guest on CBC's Hot Air program in advance of my sextet show at Frankie's on Sunday, July 17.
I'll talk a bit about my music and some important musical mentors, and of course, have the chance to play lots of great jazz. Please take a moment to listen in: Saturday, July 16 from 5-6pm PDT, 88.1 FM in Vancouver.
February 12, 2016
I am proud to announce that I've joined the faculty at the VSO School of Music. I'm very excited to join a faculty that includes Vancouver's finest musicians as well as to teach in its state-of-the-art facilities. Please check it out at www.vsoschoolofmusic.ca
January 29, 2016
The last couple of years that I was in Montréal, I played a lot with Lara Driscoll, a wonderful pianist/composer. She just put some videos of her Master's grad recital up, featuring yours truly and the wonderful Dave Laing on drums. If you would like to check it out, please click here
August, 2015
Welcome to my new website! It's currently under construction, so please check back often for new additions and information.