Number 3
May 11 , 2001
I FEEL LIKE a kid just outta school on summer holidays. Gorgeous
weather. Sleeping in time. Doing nothing time. Doing everything time.
And, above all, jazzing time! Haven’t been getting enough for a long,
long time and it’s time that changed!
BEEN LOOKING FORWARD to this weekend’s Tribute to Art Blakey’s
Jazz Messengers show for a long time, too. Main thing is it’ll be
the last performance in town for a while for saxist Jon Bentley
who’s booking off to England for further study. He’ll be back to do some
jazz festing with Diversions (and if you’ve read previous columns,
you’ll know how I feel about THAT wondrous group). Then, of course, there’s
the rest of this stellar line-up: Brad Turner (trumpet); Dennis
Esson (trombone); Ross Taggart (piano); André Lachance
(bass); and (I certainly can’t think of a more appropriate drummer around
for this gig than) Bernie Arai (drums). And it can’t escape any
local jazz fan that this is a rare chance to catch some classic, historic
compositions interpreted by musicians we all know and love for their own
great talents. And it’s knowing their capabilities (and that they’re always
stretching and growing) that makes this event so exciting for these ears.
Friday-Saturday, May 11-12 at The Cellar. Two seatings for this
event: first set 8:30pm; second set 10:00pm, with doors at 8pm. Reservations
highly recommended (hope it’s not sold out already!) at 738-1959.
GOING ON ACROSS town at the WISE Hall is the huge, throbbing
pulse of Orquesta Goma Dura, which, of course you know by now,
is the 19-piece Latin off-shoot of John Korsrud’s Hard Rubber Orchestra.
If you need to get off yer arse and shaka shake-it, this is the place
to be this Friday, May 11 evening. I’ve heard OGD in several rooms
including the Starfish (great vibe, but too small for anything
but listening), and the Roundhouse (kinda cold and distant vibe-wise),
so the WISE could prove to be the best yet with its large overall size,
great big dance floor, and general warmth. $12 at the door. 8pm doors.
9pm first set. Tickets/info: 683-8240.
BEFORE YOU HEAD back down to The Cellar on Saturday night, pause for a
bit and tune into CBC Radio One (690 AM) for the weekly Hot Air
broadcast starting at 5:05pm. You’ll get to hear the Maria Schneider’s
big band and get a wee taste of the evening to come when host Paul Grant
plays some of the wonderful Brad Turner Quartet with Seamus
Blake CD recorded at The Cellar.
WHAT’S BEEN GOING on is this thing called Parallel Tuesdays at
the Sugar Refinery each Tuesday for… a long time. Curated by saxist/bassist
Masa Anzai and percussionist Skye Brooks, the series features
a variety of jazzers doing their thing. Tuesday, May 15 features John
Korsrud (trumpet); Masa Anzai (alto sax); Pete Schmitt
(bass); and Sky Brooks (drums). $3 suggested donation (but they’ll take
more and are most certainly worth it). 10pm start.
THE CHRIS GESTRIN TRIO makes a long-awaited return to the stage
at The Cellar Friday, May 18. Now, everyone knows that Gestrin’s got a
house gig Sundays where he rides that Hammond B3 like a cowboy taking
down a bull he got the powah. BUT, what everyone should (if they don’t)
know is that Gestrin’s Trio sees the man on piano taking things a little
more straight and serious, the inimitable Dylan van der Schyff
creating textures and sounds like you never imagined and stalwart bassist
André Lachance keeping things earthbound. What’s cool is the versatility
of this trio: there’s a refined, elegant sensibility on one side and a
heady, exploratory improvising vibe that weaves in and out of it all.
Always an adventure. 8:30pm start. Info/reservations: 738-1959.
PLANNING A TRIP? If you’re heading to the Western Front
Thursday, May 24, you probably are. The Coastal Jazz & Blues Society
is winging Europe’s A.D.D. Trio over for some sounds to expand
the mind by. Robert Dick (flutes, etc.); Christy Doran (guitar); Steve
Argüelles (percussion). 8pm start. $15/$12 at 872-5200.
AS IF ANYONE could forget that the one and only Gary Bartz
is in town next Tuesday-Wednesday, May 22-23 at (where else?) The Cellar.
After the taste we’ll get of Bartz’s past with the Jazz Messengers’ Tribute,
we shall be so primed to hear this legendary alto saxist live in the flesh.
Tuesday, Bartz will be backed by the Mike Allen Trio (Allen, tenor;
Darren Radtke (bass) and Dave Robbins (drums). Wednesday’s show is Bartz
with Brad Turner’s Quartet: Turner (trumpet); Bruno Hubert (piano);
André Lachance (bass); and Dylan van der Schyff (drums). Two shows: 8pm
and 10pm are $20 each, or both shows for $30. Reservations for dinner
only at 738-1959.
Related links:
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The Cellar
Hard Rubber Orchestra
Hot Air (CBC)
Mike Allen
Western Front
jazzie archive:
2002
6 Jazz Fest Diary
Writer/Photographer Josephine Ochej is a regular contributor to The Jazz Review, the Westender and Coda Magazine.