After the spirited music style of Cam Wigmore’s show last week, jazz at the Avalanche Bar and Grill reverts to a quiet melodic trio this week when the Anderson Jazz Syndicate (AJS) takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Once a year, Doug Anderson treats us to his unique style, accompanied by two of the Valley’s finest rhythm musicians – John Hyde, bass, and percussionist Aaron Amar.
This will be an evening for those who love their music mellow and easy on the ear, so why not plan on coming down to the Av and find out why it is that we’ve got the finest jazz club in the province? Add to that the newly renovated lounge and great meals on offer before and during the performance and you have the ingredients for a really special evening.
Superb
As jazz fans in the region know, Anderson is a superb guitarist who has played with many local jazz groups and has studied with both Lee and Art Ellefson as well as Canadian jazz legend Bill Coon (who will be making an appearance on Dec. 20 with B3 Kings Christmas Concert). Anderson’s harmonic approach and rhythmic force set the stage for his fellow players.
AJS is a trio that exemplifies the precision of musical interaction resulting from a long-standing experience of playing together, and the intuition that typifies jazz.
Well earned reputation
These musicians have developed a reputation for the energetic, swinging approach they bring to jazz standards and original tunes, including some numbers based on Anderson’s haunting interpretation of some of this region’s most beautiful places. Perhaps most lovely of these is his number Dragonfly Trail.
“For us, the trio setting offers an open format which allows for a great deal of musical interaction and interplay, and therefore each instrument plays a pivotal role in shaping the music,” said Anderson.
Perhaps this is best illustrated by his terrific new number, Shadowgraphs, a Latin tune composed in three-quarter time.
Hyde was the artistic director of the jazz studies program at Mount Royal College, and past president of the Calgary Musicians’ Association.
He has numerous recording, arranging and producing credits, and has performed with many great artists including Lee Konitz, Don Thompson, Hugh Fraser, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
Amar brings professional jazz experience from Toronto where he was on the jazz scene for several years, studying with Jim Blackley and recording with Bobby Fenton. His strong musicality and polyrhythmic mastery propels this group to new musical heights.
Admission for the show is $5 for members and $7 for non-members.
