Meet the Crew

Gary has been playing keyboards since the age of 5, when he got his start on accordion and pump organ. Over the years, and together with his life-long musical partner, Cheryl, he has spearheaded and performed with groups spanning theatre, dance, and musical productions across North America and Europe. Most notably, they led and performed with "Crucial Moves," a group comprised of both musicians and dancers, and completed a 10-month, 10-nation tour through Asia and the Pacific. With the YEG Byrds now, Gary enjoys playing keyboard, singing and creating musical arrangements. He also currently sings with Edmonton's Da Camera Singers.

Kim Fast is an Edmonton-based jazz vocalist and graduate of the MacEwan University Jazz Program. She is active in worship music and church choir direction, combining professional training with a passion for faith-based performance. In 2006 she released the Christmas jazz album Missing the Mistletoe (℗ 2006 Kim Fast), a 13-song collection of originals and seasonal standards that later became available digitally in 2007. The record has been praised by listeners for its warm arrangements and Canadian songwriting voice. Alongside her own work, Kim has shared the stage with internationally recognized worship leaders including Robin Mark, Paul Baloche, and Brian Doerksen. Her career bridges Edmonton’s jazz and church communities, reflecting both artistic excellence and spiritual commitment.

Bio coming soon.

Andrew has been playing sax for the better part of the past 5 years. He was professionally taught to start but quickly moved onto practical experience in school bands during high school. His Jazz band was small in high school (only a 5-piece including the teacher) but it gave him improvisation experience and the opportunity to practice his skills in a performance setting. He has played shows and jazz festivals throughout Edmonton, and collaborated with other bands as well. His influences include the Libertines, The Brobecks, The Strokes, Weezer, Radiohead, Talking Heads, Demob Happy, Arctic Monkeys, The Cardigans.

Leigh is the bass guitar player and has been playing and recording music for many decades. He began with electric guitar in the ’70s, performing rock classics of the era before discovering jazz/rock in the ’80s, which he explored for several years. Later, he played in numerous worship bands, developing a deep connection with gospel music. About 15 years ago, Leigh transitioned to bass guitar and found a renewed source of inspiration in his musical journey.

Born into a musical family, Tom Banks has been surrounded in music over many decades. Tom is a musical performer, director, clinician, teacher and has long been on the Cosmopolitan Music Society scene where Tom is a Director Alumnas, and fills in as a drummer with the Jazz Big Band orchestra.

Randy started taking guitar lessons at the age of 14. His cousin (a drummer) started a garage band when he was 16 and Randy played guitar for about 2 year before the band broke up. His early influences were the Ventures and the Shadows, both instrumental guitar bands, then the bands from the UK. When he went out into the work world, the time constraints of raising family and working meant he hung up his guitar for years. At the end of COVID he joined the Edmonton Cosmoplitan Music Society Jazz Big Band were he still performs with them. There he met Gary, David, Caleb and Tom and starter performing with the YEGByrds. Today his influences include Kenny Burrell, George Bensen, Hank Marvin and Mark Knopler and others. He often says he gets goose bumps rehearsing or playing gigs with his bandmates.