After last week's terrific performance by Georgia Strait Big Band, and the memorable Sunday night concert by the Canadian/American lineup, Tunnel Six, it's time for one of the exciting recent incarnations in the local jazz scene.
DMN&FRNZ takes the Avalanche stage for its debut performance at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Who?
DMN comprises Don MacKay on five-string bass, Michael Eddy on piano, and Neil Clark on drums.
These three well-known musicians have been refined a wonderful program that recognizes the incredible talent of composers who include Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans and Horace Silver.
Their renditions of standards and not-so-standards will be enhanced by the addition of FRNZ: Rachel Fuller on alto sax and EWI, Carrie Fowler on tenor sax and Jay Havelaar on trumpet. The FRNZ bring a bucketload of talent to the group and are excited about the performance at the Jazz Club.
A few of the tunes you can look forward to enjoying include: Fowler's soulful renditions of You Are Too Beautiful and Hugh Fraser's Fairy Tales along with her wild interpretation of Corea's Captain Marvel.
In her most recent appearance at Thursday night jazz, Fuller mesmerized the audience with her electronic music. This Thursday, as a special feature, she will be sure to enchant you with her version of Herbie Hancock's Tell me A Bedtime Story, performed on the EWI (electric wind instrument).
She will also join Havelaar in delivering a blistering rendition of Joy Spring. Also, to be looked forward to is Jay's trumpet intro to Spain.
On piano, Eddy is sure to melt your hearts with his rendition of Evans' Some Other Time as well as giving his fiery best to everything else including a touch of Gospel Blues.
Keeping it all together on bass and drums, MacKay and Clark are totally in the groove with dynamics and tempos locked right in. Neil's drum solos are a fiesta of flailing flams and diddles while Don's solo contributions challenge the bounds of traditional bass playing.
For more information about Georgia Straight Jazz Society, visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com or find us on Facebook.
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society