Among the highlights of its performance year, there is always great excitement about jazz choir experiences under the direction of Wendy Nixon Stothert.
This is due in part to the extremely high standards Nixon Stothert sets, but it’s also even more rewarding due to the venue: the Elks’ lounge is ideally suited to choral sounds and the atmosphere is more intimate than a theatre or large auditorium setting.
This Thursday, let your spirits take wing and your smiles soar while listening to the uplifting sounds of the Just in Time Vocal Jazz Choirs, hosting Thursday Night Jazz at the Elks’ this week.
Just in Time was launched in September 2005 and is made up of adult singers of all ages and walks of life. While Just in Time comprises three choirs, this week at the Elks, two will be featured. The Jazzy Jems are an auditioned group of 10 and Vocal Minority is an auditioned SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) group of about 13 advanced singers.
These exciting ensembles are presenting songs from their recent spring production, fluttering about a theme: Fly! The choirs cover tunes from a wide variety of genres that have contributed to the current jazz realm. You’ll hear swing hits like Come Fly With Me and Orange-Coloured Sky, rousing gospel numbers such as Movin’ Up and Over My Head, contemporary chart toppers including Drift Away and Alison Krauss’ I’ll Fly Away and lovely a cappella songs like Eva Cassidy’s Songbird, Rajaton’s Butterfly, and the Real Group’s Bumblebee.
The Fly! set is a culmination of three months of dedicated work on the part of the 75 Just in Time singers, their amazing accompanist Sean Mooney, and musical director Wendy Nixon Stothert. For the concerts, they are joined by buoyant bassist Tim Croft and dynamic drummer Jacob Gregory.
This spring, the Just in Time singers have benefited from some inspiring workshops with gospel guru Brian Tate and a musical sharing with Janet Warren’s Higher Ground, a woman’s ensemble from North Vancouver, along with clinician Jenn Forsland.
The jam will be filled out with soloists from all of the Just in Time groups.
Just In Time performances are always well attended, so plan on coming down a little earlier than usual for good seats. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Admission is by donation.
Visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com for more information about upcoming spring schedules of performers.