This Thursday’s show marks the end of Georgia Straight Jazz Society’s 2010-11 performance year, and it does so with bang.
The Little Big Band will be appearing at The Elks for an evening of Big Band Jazz Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
More correctly, the band should be called the "Not so Little Big Band," as it has grown to a full big band complement.
Band members hail from Comox, Courtenay, Royston, Black Creek, Willow Point, Campbell River and Quadra Island.
These dedicated players get together every Monday at Cari High in Campbell River to rehearse and are looking forward to their upcoming performance, with a commitment to conclude the season on a high note.
The Little Big Band consists of Dave Blinzinger and Suzie Christenson on Altos, Carrie Fowler and Julie Kenny on Tenors and Julie Chamberlin on Baritone Sax. Blinzinger and Fowler will be doing severe justice to their many solos, and you will be treated to Fowler's soulful rendition of Someone to Watch Over Me. The entire section will also be featured on several extended soli sections, including Sammy Nestico's A Warm Breeze.
On trumpets are Roger Kirk, Jake Masri, Wendy Daniels and Celine Ouelette. Masri and Kirk will both be soloing on many of the tunes, as well as on St. Thomas, an arrangement written by one of the founding fathers of jazz on the Island, the late Dave Robbins.
Kirk will also get you puckered up with a little Sugar Blues.
The trombone section consists of Paul Nuez, Phil Cassidy, Doug Craig and Chris Freeland. Nuez will be playing many solos, including a beautiful rendition of Here's That Rainy Day.
Without a great rhythm section, a big band just doesn't kick. No problem here, with Julie Johnson on piano, Jim Chew on guitar, Don MacKay on the bass and for this performance, Mr. Billy Street, the Bopster himself on drums. You can expect several burning guitar solos during the evening, and, of course, the night would not be complete without a drum solo or two, and "The Bopster" promises to be in fine form.
Finally, the band's vocalist Amy Lelliot, in her first performance at the Jazz Club, will be singing selections including Orange Colored Sky and Come Rain or Come Shine.
The Little Big Band is honoured to be chosen to wrap up this season of the Thursday Night Jazz club, and the experience and expertise of all these musicians is guaranteed to give you a wonderful musical experience.
Soooo ... c'mon out to the last show of the season. The Thursday Night Jazz Club will be boppin!
Music lovers will be pleased to learn that jazz will be performed each Thursday throughout the summer, although not under the direction of the Jazz Society; Karen, our regular Thursday night host-behind-the-bar, has organized her own 11-show Summer Jazz Series beginning June 23 at 7:30 p.m.
For its part, the Georgia Straight Jazz Society 2011-12 season will open Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. with the Rachel Fuller Quartet.
Thank you to the hundreds of people who turned up to our shows this season, and more especially, the two dozen or so volunteers who made it possible, and to the Elks for allowing us to make their home our home. We look forward to offering you another year of fabulous live jazz. As the song says, “See You In September.”
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society