After several weeks of small combos at Thursday Night Jazz, it’s time to enjoy a 20-piece big band. Following a one-year hiatus, Comox Valley’s very own Georgia Strait Big Band is thrilled to be returning Feb 21, for a performance at the Avalanche Bar & Grill.
The band continues to thrive under the exceptional, inspirational and loyal directorship of Greg Bush, professor of jazz studies at Vancouver Island University, who has dedicated much of his personal time during the past 12 years by leading this band. His total travel distance between his Nanaimo home and Courtenay, in the Band’s cause exceeds 100,000 km. On behalf of all Georgia Strait Big Band musicians, present and past, as well as the Georgia Straight Jazz Society and Comox Valley jazz fans, thank you Greg! This concert is our tribute to you.
The current Georgia Strait Big Band is the latest incarnation of big band music in the Comox Valley, which dates back some 80 years, when Courtenay was hopping and bopping to the big band Saturday night dances at the Native Sons Hall.
With a present-day songbook approaching 300 tunes, the big band music legacy in the Valley is alive and well. with a band consisting of junior musicians, all the way to - let’s just say - the more mature band members.
Additionally, the Georgia Strait Big Band can lay claim to providing numerous youth musicians with valuable performance experience. Many of those young musicians have pressed on to post-secondary music education and career in music performance and education.
Vocalist Jacki Zbirun always compliments the band with her first-call level vocals and presentation and really makes the band shine.
The musicians promise you a very entertaining evening of big band music, while showcasing some of the fine local musicianship that complements the strong jazz scene in the Valley.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com to see the calendar of events for the remainder of this year, and into 2020.