The new Georgia Straight Jazz Society season continues this Thursday.
At 7:30, a fresh lineup of three of this region's finest performers — Barrat, Dunaway and Hyde — take the stage at the Avalanche Bar on Eighth Street.
For the past six years, Ralph Barrat has been making a name for himself singing jazz up and down the Island and in Vancouver, in the style of Mel Tormé, Harry Connick Jr., and Old Blue Eyes all rolled into one, Ralph has been fronting many jazz bands from small to big.
As a keyboard player, he is a really accomplished accompanist; his sensitive, rhythmic piano playing is infused with the blues, and his electric keyboard virtuosity approaches the vibrant sound of Jimmy Smith. On Thursday, Ralph is singing and playing keyboards with Blaine Dunaway on violin, and John Hyde on acoustic bass. All three of these performers command significant personal followings in the Comox Valley. This is your first opportunity to hear them perform together.Blaine is a life musician, a violinist and trumpet player, who also teaches, composes and conducts. He has had a long career as a jazz player, playing mostly in large ensembles, and chamber groups.
He has performed with many well-known stars, including Eartha Kitt, Julian Priester, Frank Foster, Slide Hampton, and Rosemary Clooney. Blaine is living, teaching, and working in the Comox Valley.John spent 30 years as an in-demand freelance bassist, music educator and the artistic director of the jazz program at Mount Royal College in Calgary. Quiet and unassuming by nature, John comes alive with a standup bass in hand, and his style is magical and extremely rhythmical.
On this evening you'll enjoy popular jazz standards, beautiful ballads, exciting instrumentals, and even some original interpretations of a few British pop tunes.
For more information about Ralph, visit ralphbarrat.com. For more information about Georgia Straight Jazz Society, and its forthcoming performances, visit www.goergiastraightjazz.com or follow us on Facebook.
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You are reminded that tickets for the Norbert Kogging concert on Oct. 6 will be on sale at Thursday Night Jazz, as well as at Red Carpet in Comox, and Bop City in Courtenay and at the Avalanche.
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society