To conclude the regular jazz season this Thursday, the Georgia Straight Jazz Society had to deal with an emergency; for health reasons, Jennifer Scott and Rene Worst are unable to play the society’s final show — for the first time in nine years.
When the society recently learned of this, their immediate instinct was to contact Ryan Oliver, tenor saxophonist, considering his most amazing performance just over a month ago, to see if he was prepared to play an encore concert.
Fortunately, he said yes.
So, the society is happy to tell all jazz fans that one of Canada’s great sax artists will once again take the stage at the Avalanche Bar and Grill at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 31.
People are still talking about his previous show, and there has been a real buzz in the jazz community about this second opportunity to hear his music, accompanied by his amazing band.
A Juno-nominated saxophonist, Oliver honed his craft living on Canada’s west coast, and in Amsterdam, Toronto and New York. He has maintained a busy schedule as one of Canada’s most in-demand saxophonists, recently releasing Strive! featuring jazz legend Victor Lewis.
Oliver has worked as an adjudicator for the Fraser MacPherson Scholarship Fund and the Victoria Jazz Festival. In 2017, he took over as the new executive director for the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre (CYMC). For more information, visit ryanoliver.ca.
Go to georgiastraightjazz.com for more information about this season’s 38 jazz performances, and scheduled concerts in the forthcoming 2018-19 season. That way, you will quickly realize why Courtenay has become a significant performance destination on the Canadian jazz scene.
Admission to the concert is $10 for members, and $12 for non-members.
As a footnote, look for next week’s press release about a special post-season concert on June 7: a celebration of life for the well-loved and respected jazz artist, Neil Clark, who died recently. Admission by donation. Proceeds will go to the Hospice Foundation.