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Musical trio to perform on Denman Island

Saxophonist David French, vibraphonist Michael Davidson and acoustic bass player Ken Lister will play at the community hall Saturday.
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SAXOPHONIST DAVID FRENCH is one of three musicians performing May 4 at the Denman Community Hall.

Concerts Denman will present saxophonist David French, vibraphonist Michael Davidson and acoustic bass player Ken Lister at the Denman Community Hall on May 4 at 7:30 p.m.

French is based in Toronto where he leads two jazz ensembles: The David French Quartet and Bloomsday, a two-drummer sextet.

The David French Quartet released their debut CD Dance of the Bees on Cellar Live Records in 2011.

French has also played with a wide variety of artists including Emily Claire-Barlow, Harley Card, Josh Cole, Michael Davidson, Phil Dwyer, Nick Fraser, Michael Herring, Royal Wood, the Sam Roberts Band, Reg Schwager, Don Thompson and Broken Social Scene.

While touring internationally with Broken Social Scene David appeared on television programs Q, Drive, The Strombo Show, Big City-Small World, MTV, Much Music, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and the Late Show with David Letterman. He played at the 2011 Juno Awards and has been heard on CBC Radio and Jazz FM.91.

Davidson, based in Toronto, co-leads the chamber jazz quartet Hobson's Choice, who host Laurie Brown of CBC's The Signal says

"...has made a unique contribution to the Canadian scene with their debut album (of the waves). Just when I think I have the sound pegged, they switch things up."

Davidson has worked with many of the active jazz and improvised music players in Toronto including but certainly not limited to: Lina Allemano, Chris Banks, Harley Card, Dave Clark, Andrew Downing, Barry Elmes, Nick Fraser, David French, Al Henderson, Kelly Jefferson, David Occhipinti and Neil Swainson.

He has been composing seriously since 2001 and has recently received extensive grants funding to embark on a large-scale composition project for his main group, the Michael Davidson Septet.

Lister has been a professional jazz bassist since 1983, winning accolades and Juno Awards along the way. He performs and teaches in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island and has toured across Canada and internationally.

As a member of the Phil Dwyer Orchestra Ken won a Juno Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, 2012; with the Hugh Fraser Quintet, the Juno Award for the Best Mainstream Jazz Album of 1997.

As a freelance bassist Ken enjoys the opportunity to perform with many of his talented peers. He has performed with many great musicians including Tommy Banks, Guido Basso, Charlie Byrd,  Pat Coleman, Steve Davis, Phil Dwyer, Herb Ellis, Slide Hampton, Vincent Herring, Ingrid Jensen, Rob McConnell, P.J. Perry, Joshua Redman, Don Thompson and Kenny Wheeler.

The door is at 7 p.m., and the performance is at 7:30. Advance tickets are available at Abraxas Books and the Denman store on the island as well as Bop City Records in Courtenay.

— Concerts Denman