It’s been almost a year since Wire Choir played on the Elks’ stage for Thursday night Jazz, and we’re really excited to welcome back this great, innovative combo.
Graham Edwards, the group’s fretless bass player says, “We always look forward to the Elks’ engagements; it is an honour to perform for such an attentive audience.” In return, we feel flattered to see this talented group return to our stage.
Others in the group include Grant McLellan on guitar and Dave Blinzinger on saxophone. McLellan is a local guitar guru who realizes his considerable harmonic inclinations with an amazing plethora of instruments, tone shaping, and techniques to vary his timbre; Dave has the three main saxophones at his disposal as well as flute and keyboard.
This week’s performance focus will be on Edward's original material some of which dates from the Uncle Harry's Wire Choir era as well as some newer material including a premiere work. McLellan will also supply some tunes from the Grant McLellan Trio of which Edwards was a member.
A selection of old and new standards will round out the evening with a tribute to a recently departed favourite drummer Joe Morello.
"Our repertoire is consequently always expanding as we each bring in new material learned in other acts and we then get to work on a version that fits the Wire Choir sound," says Edwards. "We have been focusing of late on the development of some of our original tunes and hope to premier some of these new works at the Elks." Edwards promises he will also be playing his favourite fretless electric bass for some of the more progressive songs.
The Wire Choir originates from Campbell River and Quadra Island who come together to play the music they most enjoy: traditional swing, through jazz standards to modern classics and now, perhaps the most exciting – their own compositions.
Don’t be fooled by the name – this choir is strictly instrumental!
For more information on Society membership and full listings of the Jazz Society’s Thursday Night performances, see www.georgiastraightjazz.com.
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society