A bilingual jazz artist with roots in Port Alberni is traveling back to her stomping grounds to serenade audiences with her musical partner at Char’s Landing on Saturday, July 16.
Based in Portland, OR, Heather Keizur and Steve Christofferson have been playing music together for close to eight years, him on piano and melodica and her vocals, but the duo share more than a love for jazz.
“When we met, [Christofferson] sat down and started chatting with me and we found out that we both have a love for British Columbia. He’s been to some of the places that I’ve lived, he just loves the beauty of it,” Keizur said.
Keizur said right away when her and Christofferson began playing music together, instantly a wonderful collaboration was formed.
Growing up largely in British Columbia, Keizur attended Grade 12 at Alberni District Secondary School in Port Alberni and said she would often sing with her guitar around town. At age 17 she began singing in a jazz band that was based out of Nanaimo.
Growing up, Keizur said there was always music around her home and throughout her family as her mother and aunt were both singers and her grandfather a trombone player.
Her taste for jazz flared after watching the 1972 film Lady Sings the Blues staring Diana Ross as Billie Holiday.
“I really fell in love with Billie Holiday’s songs and music,” she said.
The jazz vocalist sings in both English and French and performs her shows in a combination of both languages.
“When I first started singing in French, about ten years ago, people were like wow, we love that, it sounds so beautiful,” Keizur said. “People here get very excited about it.”
Also in both French and English is Keizur’s latest CD, Under My Skin, released in 2015 that includes 12 tracks featuring Christofferson, Dennis Caiazza and Ron Steen.
The album was composed through organic sessions in the studio where Keizur and Christofferson would often just sit down and play with no expectations that any song had to make it on the album.
“When you want to make a CD, really what the ideal thing to do is just go into the studio every once and a while and record some songs, just lay down some tracks and don’t worry about whether or not they’re good enough for a CD. Just see what happens and when ones come up that are magical you choose those ones,” Keizur said.
The recording process wasn’t all spontaneous. Keizur said the duo had their bass and drum player in the studio for more planned sessions and that the real “magical” tracks made the album.
Aside from playing music in recording studios, Keizur performs anywhere from eight to 17 gigs a month around Portland and said the city has an amazing jazz representation with lots of musicians and support from local venues.
“I’m so excited to be at Char’s,” she added. “I love that she supports the arts in Port Alberni… I’m really excited to see what she’s done there for arts and entertainment,” Keizur said.
The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20 at the door or $15 in advance on sale at Char’s Landing or call or call 778-421-2427.
karly.blats@albernivalleynews.com
facebook.com/albernivalleynews
