We had the good fortune of connecting with Cory Weeds and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cory, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Perseverance, persistence, the continued desire to seek knowledge from people that know more than you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started out as a saxophonist first but I always had an entrepreneurial spirit and that quickly led to me buying and running Cory Weeds’ Cellar Jazz Club for 14 years. During my time there I started Cellar Live which turned into The Cellar Music Group. We have released over 300 recordings from artists all over North America. Being in the music business and more specifically the jazz business presents no shortage of challenges. The business changes so fast and we have managed to stay quick on our feet have learned to pivot very quickly when needed.

I think The Cellar Music Group is a ‘feel good’ story. First and foremost the love I have for this music comes out and while many people have gotten bitter and jaded about the business as a whole I have managed to be able to keep my love of the music at the forefront and it drives everything I do. This music needs warriors. I am a jazz warrior.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
After picking them up at the airport I would them to Studio Brewing in Burnaby which is a very small, boutique micro-brewery that I love.

We’d follow that up with dinner and jazz at Frankie’s Jazz Club

The next day after getting a good sleep we’d head t La Foret in Burnaby for breakfast followed by a nice long walk around Deer Lake in Burnaby. Deer Lake really is one of the cities best kept secrets. It’s stunningly beautiful.

Dinner that night would then be at Suika, a wonderful Japanese eatery on Broadway in Vancouver.

The next day would be dedicated to record shopping. We’d head to Audiopile and High Life Music on Commercial Drive followed by Vinyl Records and Beatstreet downtown followed by RedCat and Neptoon records on Main Street. We’d then head out to Port Coquitlam to Apollo Records which is one of the coolest record stores I’ve ever seen.

Dinner that night would be DL Chicken on Commercial Drive.

Day three would be spent on Grouse Mountain, doing the Grouse Grind, hiking around the top of the mountain and taking in all the incredible nature and sites

Day four we’d hop on a ferry and head to Victoria, BC. The ferry ride is wonderful. We’ have dinner at Pagliacci’s followed by a night of jazz at Hermann’s Jazz Club.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to Shoutout my father who fostered and nurtured my love of jazz and my mom for being the quiet supporter of everything that I do.

I was fortunate in the early days to come into contact with several people who saw and believed in my vision: Joan Mariacher (RIP), Raymon Torchinksy, Bob Syme and Michael Greenwood.

Perhaps however the biggest Shoutout however should go to the hundreds of musicians that I have had the great pleasure to work with in the last 20 years. I love this music and I love the people that make it.

Website: coryweeds.com

Instagram: coryweeds

Linkedin: coryweeds

Twitter: cweeds

Youtube: Cory Weeds

Image Credits
Menno Klaasse Ken Burke

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.