Musical Collaboration Combined Jazz With Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey: Canada vs Sweden was a musical collaboration that combined two pillars of the Olympic movement – sport and culture. The Coastal Jazz and Blues Society commissioned two internationally acclaimed composers and improvisors, Canadian clarinettist Francois Houle and Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, to compose a number of pieces based on the rules, systems and culture of ice hockey for an ensemble of 14 artists. Developed in workshop settings throughout 2008, the work premiered at the 2009 Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Arts Partners in Creative Development (APCD) assists BC arts and cultural organizations to create and develop new works or further develop existing works. APCD is in partnership with Canada Council for the Arts, Province of BC, City of Vancouver, Vancouver Foundation and VANOC.