Doors at 6:30 pm / Show at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $12 Advance / $15 Day of Show
Guitarist brothers Tony and Peter Chotem play lush original jazz. With tantalizing hints of rock, folk, Latin, and blues, their mix of acoustic and electric guitars is cool and inviting. They have been performing music together for over thirty years and their original compositions and arrangements draw inspiration from three decades of music. From Miles Davis to Burt Bacharach, and from Eric Clapton to Alison Krauss, Double Helix keeps the palate wide open as they draw their listeners into their musical mosaic. Their sound is primarily instrumental but they do include vocals on some of their bluesier numbers.
Tony and Peter Chotem grew up surrounded by music and artists of various kinds. Their father, Neil Chotem, was one of Montreal’s busiest musicians. Neil Chotem composed, arranged, and played for Quebec’s biggest stars including Quebec’s most successful rock band: Harmonium. From their father, Tony and Peter learned the value of originality and the need to develop both as composers and as players. Their jazz sets stand out due to the large percentage of originals that are included. Another important lesson they learned from their father was the value of versatility and that there are no real boundaries in music. They are equally happy improvising to an ancient Celtic melody as to a 20th century blues standard. Last but not least, they learned the value of good arranging. Even familiar standards sparkle with fresh ideas and unexpected arrangements.
Tony Chotem studied jazz and classical guitar at McGill University in Montreal. He has recorded with Columbia Records and for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia where, when he is not performing or recording with Double Helix, he works as a free-lance musician, arranger and producer, and teacher.
Peter Chotem lives in Vancouver, British Columbia where he divides his time between teaching, composing and, of course, Double Helix.
Tony and Peter, the core of Double Helix, perform frequently as a duo but also love to draw upon Vancouver’s many excellent bassists and drummers to round out their ensemble. They are active members of Vancouver’s busy jazz scene, playing clubs, restaurants, festivals, concerts and corporate events.
In January 2010, Double Helix was selected to perform at the Orion Independent Music Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. In July 2010, they performed at the 2010 Vancouver International Jazz Festival. In September 2010, they were nominated in the “Best Jazz” category at the 2010 Barrie New Music Festival. In March 2012, Double Helix completed their first Canadian tour with performances in Regina, Saskatoon and at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. They were also invited back to perform at the 2012 Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
In July 2013, Double Helix embarked on a second Canadian tour featuring engagements at some of Ottawa and Montreal’s leading jazz venues. This was followed, in 2014, with a tour of the BC interior with gigs in Revelstoke, Enderby, Kelowna and Nelson, and a tour of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island, in
July 2015, with gigs in Pender Harbour, Sechelt, Gibsons, Langford, Duncan and Victoria. Double Helix was thrilled to be reviewed in the 2014 November/December edition of Canadian Musician Magazine. Their original composition “Sigrid” was featured in the PBS Roadtrip Nation program, '’Ready To Rise”, which premiered on February 12, 2016 on KQED, in San Francisco. In July 2017, their 2nd Easten Canada tour took them to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and the Eastern Townships. While in Montreal, they were interviewed by CBC radio host Sonali Karnick for her program; ‘All in a Weekend’. In July, 2018, Doble Helix toured Central BC with gigs in Kelowna, Kamloops, Lac La Hache, Wells and Prince George. In April 2019, they toured Alberta, with gigs in Edmnton, Banff, Lethbridge, Cochrane, East Coulee and Calgary. They are currently hard at work on their second all original Jazz Album.
