Jazz pianist Brian Buchanan will be performing at the McMillan Arts Centre Tuesday.
Buchanan said this will be his first time performing on the Island, and he said he is very excited.
Buchanan, who will be playing piano, will be accompanied by Ken Lister on bass and Geoff Bowen on drums. Buchanan said he and Bowen go back a long time.
“We will present a concert as an acoustic jazz trio with a fairly classic approach,” Buchanan said. “The program will include some originals, jazz classics, Latin jazz and arrangements of some choice standards.”
Both Lister and Bowen have played with jazz artists such as Kenny Wheeler, Art Pepper, Herb Ellis, Stan Kenton, Ross Taggart and Chet Baker.
Buchanan said he has been working in a lot of trios in the past few years, and he said it’s one of his favourite formats.
“It allows for interplay,” he said. “There’s a lot of musical communication in a trio. It’s a more intimate format than a larger ensemble.”
Buchanan said his goal is to perform tunes that allow for some in-depth improvisation while maintaining lyricism.
“My arrangements and style include use of rich harmonies, and rhythmic and melodic interplay with the bass and drums,” Buchanan said.
Buchanan said smaller venues, such as the MAC, are a nice way to perform since it feels more intimate.
The Oct. 11 concert starts at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available from the MAC office (133 McMillan St.), online at www.mcmillanartscentre.com/events or at Fascinating Rhythm in Nanaimo or Cranky Dog Music in Parksville.
