Highlights from Fall 2016
This was a season of song for sure! With a debut, celebrations, and a busy Christmas season, it is difficult to encapsulate all the wonderful moments, juicy chords, and warm people we experienced this Fall.
Some highlights were:
September 24th – singing at my daughter’s wedding
Marcus Mosely and I sang my daughter down the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” accompanied by Bill Sample. Bill and I had written a song called “Our Love is Like a Tree” (for the tree planting part of the ceremony) which Marcus sang and then we sang the newlyweds out to Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”. During the reception, I sang (Kelvin accompanied) a song I had written especially for Lauren “My Miracle Baby” as she was my miracle after losing a number of babies before having her. It was a very emotional moment for all of us.
October 15th – Ketchum and Sample Quintet debut
The Ketchum & Sample Quintet made its debut at “Jazz @ the Pat” (Pat’s Pub). We performed many of the songs that Bill Sample and I had written in the past 10 months plus some of each of our own originals. Twenty three out of the twenty five songs we played were originals performed for the first time by this group of musicians! It was a risky ride for us but so encouraging as the packed out crowd cheered us on and seemed to genuinely enjoy our songs. The quintet is: Myself (Darlene Ketchum) on vocals, Bill Sample on piano / vocals, Rene Worst on Bass, Buff Allen on drums, and Bill Runge on Saxophone.
October 23rd – Trading and Gun for a Guitar
I had the opportunity to sing at a Fundraiser for rehabilitation of child soldiers (‘Trading and Gun for a Guitar’) with Jane Mortifee, Shari Ulrich, Bill Sample (piano and vocals), Andreas Schuld (guitar) and friends.
November 13th Marcus Mosely’s induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame
We celebrated Marcus Mosely’s induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame with a star-studded group of singers: Dee Daniels, Clifton Murray (of the Canadian Tenors), Jim Byrnes, Will Sanders, Candus Churchill, Bill Sample, and the Marcus Mosely Chorale. What an honour to sing for and celebrate our dear friend!
Christmas Season
The Christmas season kicked off with the Marcus Mosely Chorale singing at the Dundarave Festival of Lights, and then to a huge crowd of singers and onlookers at the Yule Duel in Gastown. The Chorale also sang at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Jazz Vespers at Northwood United church in Surrey and ended off with their two “Peace on Earth” concerts at Unity Church in Vancouver and Highlands United Church in North Vancouver. The choir sang a number of our original tunes…2 songs that I had written, a couple Marcus had written and a song that Marcus, Bill and I co-wrote together called “Let There Be Peace This Christmas”.
October 21st – Watershed Arts Cafe
The Darlene Ketchum Quartet performed at the Watershed Arts Cafe in October to a sold out crowd … what a wonderful arts space with delicious food and a plethora of specialty teas and coffees.
December 4th – Lynn Valley Church
In December, the DK Quartet played a concert at Lynn Valley Church to a warm and welcoming audience and then performed at the PLBC Christmas banquet to an energetic group of students!It was certainly an unforgettable season!
