Georgia Straight Jazz Society will be welcoming back The Larry Ayre Blues Trio +1 (LABT+1) to The Avalanche Bar and Grill at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7.
The group features Larry Ayre on guitar and vocals, Mike Berman on drums and John Hyde on bass.
They will be joined on this evening by a special guest, Dan Craven on saxophone.
Ayre is an accomplished guitarist and music teacher who has been performing in the Comox Valley for over 25 years. He was the leader of The Larry Ho Blues Show and then went on to lead Larry Ho’s Jive Five.
Berman has decades of drumming experience. He started his musical career in Montreal and was soon playing on the east coast of the US in New York and Florida. After settling in Vancouver Mike played for many years in the band of R&B stalwart Al Foreman.
Hyde is an accomplished bassist, well known to local jazz aficionados, who moved to the North Island a few years ago after a distinguished career playing and teaching in Calgary and Edmonton.
And the Trio is excited to have Dan Craven joining them to play some swinging sax. Dan is a polished musician who has played – among many others – with the Arrowsmith Big Band, the Boss Tenors and Time Well Wasted.
The LABT+1 always features blues, as well as up-tempo swing numbers like Louis Jordan’s Choo Choo Ch’Boogie and Chartreuse.
On this night they will be adding some original instrumental pieces written by Ayre and humorous originals such as I Hear the Couch (Calling Me) with lyrics penned by Larry’s wife and co-founder of the Jive Five, Marki Nickerson.
As 2Jive, Larry and his wife have produced an EP of original material; you can hear their songs on Larry’s website www.larryayreguitarist.com. Also, check out his Facebook page Larry Ayre Blues.
Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. It’s all rush seating, and there are no reservations. Please visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com for more information about the jazz society, and while you’re there select the “calendar” tab to see the great line-up of upcoming events.