Jazz fans are in for a treat at Studio Live in Cumberland on Wednesday, June 24 when The Samuel Blaser Trio with guest Francois Houle hits the stage. Hailing from Switzerland, Samuel Blaser is a rapidly rising star on the European and international jazz scene.
He is an accomplished trombonist/composer who surrounds himself with great players and whose music is engaging, passionate and accessible.
Accompanying Blaser for this performance is the iconic French pianist Benoit Delbecq. The New York Times’ Nate Chinen calls him “a brilliant and unconventional French pianist”.
New York drummer/composer Gerry Hemingway is well known in jazz circles for his work with Anthony Braxton, reeds and later as drummer with the group Bass/Drum/Bone with trombonist Ray Anderson and bassist Mark Helias among a host of the who’s who in jazz.
Joining them for the gig is Vancouver’s Francois Houle, clarinetist/composer par excellence. Houle leads his own group and collaborates with top musicians world wide.
This Swiss/French/American/Canadian quartet of composer/improvisers, appearing under the moniker Fourth Landscape, dig deeply into extended technique, engaged and uncompromising free jazz, and ambient abstraction with the poise and intensity of forward thinking masters.
Advance tickets for the Wednesday, June 24 show at Studio Live in Cumberland are $20 at Bop City Records, Courtenay, Blue Heron Books, Comox and Rider’s Pizza Cumberland. Tickets at the door are $25. Studio Live is located at 2679 Beaufort Ave. and First Ave., Cumberland. Showtime is 8 p.m.