The Georgia Straight Jazz Society is often asked to play more of specific styles of music and high on that list is Latin American tunes.
If you’re one of those people, then Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Avalanche Bar is the place for you, when Nanaimo’s Latin American Band La Familia takes the stage until 10 p.m.
The richness of Latin American music is amazing, with a mosaic of rhythms, styles, instrumentation, and languages that are colorful, passionate and surprising as one scans through the Latin-American geography. The chief motivation behind the formation of La Familia was sharing this cultural legacy with the people of Vancouver Island and the mainland.
The members of La Familia are Antonio Vélez, Bill Smith-Nuñez, Cesar Valencia, Rodrigo Moreno, Amelia Thomas, Len Imbery, Jill McElwain, Darren Nilsson, and Alicia Silkie Murray. Their repertoire of music covers a vast variety of styles of music including salsa, cumbia merengue, rumba, vallenato, reggae, son Cubano, etc.
Featured instruments include Latin percussions: congas, bongos, trombone, trumpet, accordion, piano, guitars, and bass, and their repertoire includes songs made famous by Santana, Buenavista Social Club and Gypsy Kings.
Since the formation of La Familia in 2014, the common vision has been growing as a group to become credible ambassadors of this beautiful music and in that way to enhance the multicultural richness of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and Canada. La Familia has been gaining momentum in every gig.
The band is committed to making Latin-American music known to the people of Vancouver Island, and beyond.
This is an opportunity to warm yourself up on a winter evening, in the company of other regular live jazz music fans who will make you feel really welcome. Treat yourself to a Latin moment, and discover why Courtenay has become a hotbed for live jazz music, and why people from beyond our region are taking the time an effort to see our Thursday night performances. Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members.
For more information about future shows, visit georgiastaightjazz.com and click on the Calendar tab.