Calling all lovers of that big band sound!
The Georgia Straight Jazz Society proudly presents the GS Big Band in the final Thursday Night Jazz performance before the Christmas/New Year interlude.
As well as being a great seasonal finale, it’s an opportunity to recognize the tremendous work accomplishments of the music director, Greg Bush.
While the Big Band tradition in the Valley dates back 70 years, the music never gets old and continues to thrill audiences with tunes from the likes of Basie, Ellington, Miller, Gillespie and many others.
Gregory Bush, Professor of Music at Vancouver Island University, is enjoying a milestone achievement of conducting the Georgia Strait Big Band for the past five years.
A resident of Nanaimo, Greg has logged well over 200 trips (that’s more than 40,000 kilometres) to lead the band at Monday night rehearsals and go wherever the band goes to perform.
He is a highly respected teacher, musician and composer, well known to jazz lovers as a performer in his own right.
Each and every member of the Band past and present over that time has benefited from Greg's skillful leadership, immense musical knowledge and respectable manner.
Everyone in the band thanks Greg for his enormous contribution to the local jazz scene and music education in the Valley, and the way he has elevated the musical standard of Comox Valley’s very own big band.
The Georgia Strait Big Band is once again thrilled to perform at the Elks this Thursday in downtown Courtenay. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. but plan on being there much earlier than that if you want good seats for this great show.
The band attracts and showcases musicians from 15 to 70 and has featured some of the Valley’s finest divas and crooners in recent years.
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For those real jazz aficionados this is a last reminder that some tickets are still available for the B3 Kings Christmas concert on Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available on Thursday evening at the Elks, they may also be purchased at Videos N More in Courtenay and Bop City in Courtenay. Don’t delay, and you won’t be disappointed like so many would-be late ticket buyers for our last Sunday concert.
For more information, visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com or see them on Facebook.
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society