Let the dancing begin! The Okanagan’s favourite rhythm and blues band, The Salmon Armenians, returns to the Vernon Jazz Club Saturday night.

Winner of the Okanagan Music Awards Best Blues Band for 2007, the eight-member group will deliver an evening of scorching R&B hits from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, and their own original songs.

“We’ll be performing our usual selection of classic R&B,” said Lody Kieken, who contributes the Hammond organ, keyboards, and vocals to the band.

“One of the new originals is called Little Footprint by trombonist Rich Thorne, is an allegorical apology to Mother Nature for some of our ecological mistakes.”

“We appreciate the fact that at the Jazz Club we have both a listening and a dancing contingent in the audience. We try to please both elements.”

Kieken formed the band in 1997, energizing the sound with a horn section. Joining trombonist Thorne on the horns is Doug Sonju (alto and tenor sax), and Mike Scharf (tenor and baritone sax).

Since the early ‘70s, Sonju has been the principal clarinetist with the Okanagan Symphony, also playing jazz and rock before adding blues to his repertoire. The Doug Sonju Quinet appeared at the Jazz Club last fall.

Hometown boy Scharf grew up in Salmon Arm, playing sax in jazz bands, combos, and fusion groups including Electric Lady Land and Liquid Chicken.

Thorne started playing trombone in Grade 5 and joined his first jazz combo in Grade 9. He was the principal trombone in the prestigious University of Idaho Symphony and has been a music educator for 20 years.

Drummer Larry Keats — a.k.a. the “Slammin’ Salmon” — is an original member of The Salmon Armenians. Inspired as a child by Ringo Starr, Larry began a 30-year journey into the rhythms of big band jazz, jazz combos, rock groups and musical theatre. Keats shares his music as a music therapist.

Murray Holmes plays bass and also sings. He played professionally in Vancouver for eight years with groups like Duster, Cameron Molloy and the Molloy Gang, and Ambush.

The Salmon Armenians perform at the Vernon Jazz Club Saturday at 3 p.m. (all ages) and 8 p.m. (adults). Tickets are $17 (non-members) and $12 (members) at the Bean Scene and at the door.

The Salmon Armenians have been chosen the Best Blues Band in the Okanagan for 2007 at the Okanagan Music Awards which were held Wednesday night October 10th at the Community Theatre in Kelowna, B.C.

The award marks the second year in a row that the Salmon Armenians have been recognized by their peers in the music industry. The popular Salmon Arm-based group are busy performing throughout the Okanagan and writing and recording their second CD which will feature all original songs.

You can catch them every third Thursday of the month at the Hideaway Pub in Salmon Arm, the next appearance is on November 15th at 8:30 p.m.