After the Halloween excesses of last week when Dale Graham and Friends set a new standard for jazz and fun, and the blockbuster concert by Turboprop last Sunday, Thursday Night Jazz at the Avalanche returns.
It's a more mainstream theme this Thursday, when the Dave Stewart Quintet takes to the stage at 7:30 p.m.
This is Dave's first appearance on the Avalanche stage, and the club atmosphere will be well-suited to his music.
A quick review of our statistics reveals that our audiences have changed and grown this year: The Avalanche Bar and Grill has been gathering accolades from Thursday and Sunday night performers alike, and we're proud to call it our new home and club setting.
Stewart commands a solid following, and each year his appearances in Courtenay are increasingly popular, with larger audiences each time. What make his trumpet and flugelhorn playing particularly exciting is the contrasting combination of other members of the band.
Dan Craven sets the highest standard for tenor sax playing in this part of the world; Chad Geekie is always dynamic and memorable on Fender Rhodes/keyboard; Andrew Cullen, on bass, drives the rhythm section with passion — creating a perfect balance for Hans Verhoven's style of drum playing.
Those jazz fans who know Dave's work will expect his usual pristine style and musical innovation. They will also anticipate fine jazz standards in swing style.
This is easy-on-the-ear music, so if you want to introduce yourself to modern swing-style jazz, this show will be a great place to start. As a measure of Dave's standard, he received a standing ovation at his most recent appearance for the Georgia Straight Jazz Society.
Among tunes for this week, Dave has included Cedar Walton's Bolivia, Cole Porter's My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Witch Hunt by Wayne Shorter and Nat Adderley's Work Song. For these, and much, much more, plan on experiencing some of the coolest sounds on the Island by attending this Thursday's show.
For more information about performances between now and Christmas, visit www.georgiastaightjazz.com or follow us on Facebook.
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society