Since the 2011 season began, the Georgia Straight Jazz Society has presented a variety of newly formed combos: in the menu of local jazz music, these are the appetizers — acts that will become tomorrow’s favourites.
This week, the stage will be handed over to the mature, seasoned sound of Indigo Jazz: one of the most popular main courses of the banquet that is local jazz music.
Indigo Jazz contains addictive flavours that you can’t quite pin down, and the sweet rapport results in music of a conversational quality and truly engages the listener. The recipes are spiced with little-known American jazz standards and Brazilian bossas, along with well-loved favourites from the worlds of jazz, blues, and pop.
This Thursday at the Elks, Indigo Jazz regulars Dale Graham on vocals and Rick Husband on guitar are joined by special guests John Hyde on bass and Greg Hill on drums. If you love fine melodies, compelling performances, and rhythmic nuance, this group plays your kind of music.
Graham’s agile, warm voice has earned her a rightfully deserved following among local jazz fans. She moves straight to the heart of a poignant ballad such as Round Midnight, swings hard with But Not For Me, and rides a smooth Latin rhythm for Recado Bossa Nova. Her expressive vocals have room to shine within the rhythmic and harmonic counterpoint of guitar, bass, and drums.
Husband plays guitar with harmonic insight, strong rhythmic drive, and a just-right feeling. He provides seamless support to vocal and instrumental leads, and brings a lyrical sensibility to his solo work and improvisation. Listen for his fine arranging and playing on Pat Metheny’s Better Days Ahead.
John Hyde is a newcomer to the Comox Valley, but his jazz experience runs deep. A former artistic director of jazz studies at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Hyde also has performance credits with the likes of Lee Konitz, Phil Nimmons, Marion McPartland, P.J. Perry, and Oliver Jones. This performance is his inaugural appearance at Thursday Jazz at the Elks.
Greg Hill is a seasoned jazz drummer, best known locally for his longstanding anchor role in the jazz combo The Blue Monks. His playing is heartbeat-steady, and he maintains a sweet sensitivity to his fellow musicians.
Together, this quartet explores the meeting place between voice and instrument, with vocals that find the timbre of a saxophone or trumpet, and instrumental lines that tell a story as a singer might.
So if you feel like a feast of fine music and want to treat your ears and eyes, plan on visiting the Elks’ Home on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is by donation, and you’re more than welcome to join the growing ranks of jazz enthusiasts who start to enjoy their weekends one day earlier than everyone else.
Visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com for more information.
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society