Georgia Straight Jazz Society marks the conclusion of its highly successful Autumn Concert Series with a special Saturday night performance by the B3 Kings, presenting their legendary Christmas Concert on stage at The Avalanche Bar & Grill at 7.30.
This festive jazz program has flourished for 15 years, and the GSJS has been included in this year’s 10-gig tour, which this year spans from Calgary to Courtenay.
Funky and festive
The B3 Kings are a funky and festive jazz quartet formed in 2002 for a Christmas concert at The Cellar in Vancouver. The show was such a huge success that the concert has become an annual event.
Canadian vocal sensation Denzal Sinclaire, an internationally known jazz star, doubles as vocalist/drummer, and has had his praises sung by the likes of Diana Krall and Cassandra Wilson.
Hammond B3 organist Chris Gestrin is responsible for making this group as funky as it is with his wicked organ grooves and creative arrangements of Christmas classics.
Saxophonist Cory Weeds brings an unbridled enthusiasm to the show, and is perhaps best known for his work with the great Dr. Lonnie Smith. He has also been a great supporter of Georgia Straight Jazz Society and its success in presenting live jazz.
Guitarist Bill Coon is as funky as they come in this lineup, yet brings with him his wonderful jazz sensibility. Bill is well known to Comox Valley jazz aficionados having made a guest appearance in Courtenay about a month ago when he played with the John Hyde Trio.
B3 Kings Christmas shows sell out well in advance and their concerts are eagerly anticipated each year.
Debut album
In 2004 the B3 Kings went into the studio to record their first Christmas album. The quartet shared the bill with Bruno Hubert Trio and produced A Cellar Live Christmas.
The album has received rave reviews around the world.
Jazzreview.com called it “one of the greatest Christmas recordings ever.”
To see a medley of the Christmas concert, visit bit.ly/1zibBN9
Regular Thursday Night Jazz performances resume at the Avalanche Bar on Jan. 8. Please note that we will be presenting jazz every Thursday in the new year.
–GSJS