Valley residents will have a rare opportunity to hear two Montreal jazz musicians play their first performance together at Locals Restaurant in Courtenay.
This Sunday, chef Ronald St. Pierre will host an intimate night of fine jazz, fine food and fine French wine, featuring jazz guitarist Benson McGlashan and upright bassist Tim Croft. The jazz pairs perfectly with Locals’ wine-pairing dinners which have become a Valley favourite for discerning diners.
It’s been three years since McGlashan has played on Vancouver Island, and this Valley local is “happy to be home and enjoying the beauty.”
Locals’ owners, Tricia and Ronald St. Pierre, are excited to host this special evening. “We have watched Benson grow from a young ‘boy next door’ to a gifted musician of significant repute. He will not be in the Valley for very long, and our Valentine’s celebration provided a perfect fit.”
McGlashan has been called “… one of the few guitar players in Montreal who can truly make me feel what he is playing. He is wise beyond his years” by Jenn Hardy of Pork Pie Jazz.com, and has played in New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and more.
Back for only a few weeks, McGlashan was thrilled to discover that his friend Tim Croft has just recently moved to the Valley to teach music. Croft is a renowned bassist and former Montreal musician who has played and studied with some of Canada’s most notable musicians.
The two are eager to perform as a duo for this unexpected, one-time opportunity surely not to be missed. What better way to celebrate love than with fine food, French wine, and Montreal jazz?
Seats are filling quickly and reservations are required.
Locals, Food From the Heart of the Island, is a restaurant that celebrates the quality food production in the Comox Valley. Chef St. Pierre provides a memorable dining experience that marries the bounty of the region with culinary artistry, offered in a casually elegant setting, with heartfelt service.
Locals is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner at 364 Eighth St. Reservations recommended: 250-338-6493, www.localscomoxvalley.com.
— Locals
Restaurant