With only four weeks remaining in the 2010-2011 season, what better way could there be than to spend a summer evening, cool drink in hand, listening to one of the smoothest jazz combos in the region?
This Thursday you are invited to experience one of the region’s finest modern jazz combos on the Elk’s stage at 7:30 p.m.
Georgia Straight Jazz Society features Jazztet as the host band for Thursday Jazz at the Elks’ this week. The musicians in this quintet have over a century of combined jazz experience, and have performance credits from London to Tokyo.
Now, five years into the musical collaboration that is Jazztet, they have honed and refined their sound and are one of the coolest, most innovative groups in the Comox Valley.
Jazztet consists of John Ringstead on guitar, Mike Schwarz on saxophones, Don MacKay on bass, Ralph Barrat on piano and vocals, and Bill Street on drums. Their interpretation of jazz standards is anything but standard, and audiences will appreciate their genuine, musical collaboration and creativity.
The multi-talented Mike Schwarz will have multiple saxophones on stage with him for this performance. While you will not hear him play all of them at once, you will hear his assured touch and beautifully lyrical playing on each of the soprano, alto and tenor saxes over the course of the evening.
Ringstead’s smooth guitar playing is the perfect foil for Schwarz, and together they venture well outside the box.
Barrat’s voice is warm and resonant, with the timbre of a Bobby Darin or Sinatra. His keyboard work is rhythmic and infused with blues. Don MacKay’s five-string bass playing is clean and structured, holding the centre for the quintet, but he is also well capable of innovation and improvisation. Bill Street’s drumming expertly drives the changes in feel and tempo for the quintet.
Expect some exciting material from Jazztet on this outing including new renditions of tunes from Cole Porter to Wayne Shorter. Be prepared to enjoy modern renditions of a fine selection of old and new including Ralph’s mini tributes to some of the jazz’s greatest vocalists.
For more info, check out Jazztet.org.
For more information about the Georgia Straight Jazz Society, visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com.
— Georgia Straight Jazz Society
