The Vernon Jazz Club will be swept away to Brazil this Saturday with the sounds of Jennifer Scott and Brasileira.
Vocalist and pianist Scott will be joined by jazz heavyweights Cory Weeds on saxophone, Bill Coon on guitar, Rene Worst on bass, Dave Robbins on drums, and Liam MacDonald on percussion.
They will be playing the music of Baden Powell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Ivan Lins, as well as Brazilian-influenced originals.
A Juno nominee, Scott is a driving force in the Canadian jazz scene. She has appeared on Jazzbeat and Hot Air and was also featured on four separate albums produced by CBC.
Andy Gilbert, from JazzTimes, writes, “Scott has set herself apart from the jazz-vocalist pack with her mesmerizing renditions of the most unlikely tunes. With her warm, flexible contralto, Scott brings a striking emotional intelligence to everything she sings, no matter what the context.”
In addition to Brasileira, Scott has been busy touring with her Duo project which includes partner Rene Worst. She also leads a quartet featuring guitarist Peter Bernstein which will be recording a new album in January.
This is not Scott’s first time playing in Vernon.
“It’s always such an amazing experience. One of the most supportive audiences in Canada, I think,” she said.
Weeds is the busy owner of the Cellar Jazz Club. He is a member of People Playing Music and has toured with them throughout Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
Weeds’ debut album as a leader featured Peter Bernstein, Mike Ledonne, and Joe Farnsworth. Big Weeds was nominated for album of the year at the 2009 National Jazz Awards and was selected by Jazz Week as one of the top 100 releases of 2008.
Coon is a Juno-nominated guitarist, composer, and arranger. He has performed with award winning artists such as Jimmy Heath, P.J. Perry, and hip-hop artist K-OS.
His writing and performing can be heard on more than 30 albums to date while jazz ensembles and orchestras throughout the world have performed his arrangements.
Coon teaches at Capilano University, is a clinician and adjudicator for music festivals across the country, and was awarded the title of guitarist of the year at the 2009 National Jazz Awards.
Worst is an internationally known and well-respected bass player. He has toured Canada with jazz legends Chet Baker, Gene Bertoncini and Joe Pass. He has been a featured session player on recordings by Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Bowie, Aerosmith and Poison to name just a few.
Worst was voted bassist of the year by the B.C. CARAS for four years in a row. He is currently both the producer and bassist for Brazileira.
Robbins is not only a first-rate composer, arranger, and educator but is also one of Canada’s premier jazz drummers. He has played music all over the world and has shared the stage with top musicians such as Gary Bartz, Dee Daniels and Kenny Werner.
Robbins taught at McGill’s Conservatory of Music and is currently on the music faculty at Capilano University.
MacDonald was inspired to start drumming when his uncle, who was a professional drummer, left behind a beautiful set of old Rogers.
This passion for percussion has led him to work with an extremely eclectic mix of projects in which he plays Brazilian, Arabic, roots and blues, Afro-beat, and flamenco music.
Jennifer Scott and Brasileira take the stage at the Vernon Jazz Club (3000-31st St.) Saturday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the Bean Scene, Bean to Cup and at www.vernonjazz.ca.
