Malcolm Holt
Special to The Record
Wow! Last week was a blast, when Zandhunga created the promised hot Latin atmosphere and dance experience.
This week the Georgia Strait Jazz Society returns to something cool and laid back in a comfortable lounge atmosphere. We’re excited to add another new artist to our 2015 season, as Zandra Burns takes the stage at The Avalanche Bar this Thursday.
“Julie London was an American jazz and pop singer and actress. She was noted for her smoky, sensual voice and languid demeanour,” Zandra told me in a recent discussion. “When I first heard her songs, including Cry Me a River, I’m in the Mood for Love, and You and the Night and the Music, I knew my goal was to become a jazz singer.
“That, together with years of listening to the style of Ella Fitzgerald, made me realize that I was inspired by the great jazz divas from the 30s, 40s and 50s, and discovered my passion for jazz. I enjoy offering something nostalgic and elegant for my audience. Melding different styles together under the broad term ‘jazz’ proves to be most appropriate for me.”
And so Zandra’s life is following that goal; she’s currently attending the jazz program at VIU, and intends to pursue her career as a jazz singer. As with so many others from VIU, we’re the lucky people who get to listen to them ply their art before they become well known.
This Thursday, Zandra performs with Ken Lister on bass and Jesse Marshall, a recent graduate of the VIU jazz program, on guitar.
“We will be performing standards, and arrangements inspired by Julie London recordings, and you can expect that this will be a wonderful relaxing show; fitting for a warm summer evening.”
Show time is 7:30 p.m. Greek dinner options and pub food will be available. Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members.
Jazz notes: The Georgia Strait Jazz Society has co-ordinated a month-long event at Rhodos Coffee, beginning on June 1, with members of Comox Valley Camera Club. A selection of framed photographs will be displayed, and on sale, for the duration, and jazz music will be played during regular daytime business hours.
Special in this event will be the evening reception, 5-8 p.m., on Friday, June 5 (which coincides with Elevate the Arts activities in Courtenay), with live jazz, and tapas-style dishes for sale. Everyone is invited to drop in, and meet society members and discover why it is that Courtenay has become the renowned new centre of “where jazz is at” in British Columbia.