Three-time world champion in digital, acoustic and jazz accordion, Cory Pesaturo, is back by popular demand alongside a world-class line-up of gypsy jazz and jazz artists for the fourth annual West Coast Django and Jazz.
The showcase features Victoria’s own Quinn Bachand, 20, one of Canada’s most outstanding award-winning young musicians.
Bachand, now attending Berklee College of Music in Boston on a full scholarship, met Pesaturo during a jam session in Boston in 2014.
The two have enjoyed collaborating ever since. Pesaturo and Bachand with his gypsy jazz ensemble Brishen, will share the stage with gypsy cabaret chanteuse, Cari Burdett.
Bachand earned the 2014 Djangofest Award, an Emerging Artist Finalist position in “Canada’s Walk of Fame,” and a quintet of Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, including New Emerging Artist of the Year, Young Performer of the Year, Ensemble of the Year, Instrumental Album of the Year and World Group of the Year.
Brishen is a Romany word for “bringer of the storm” and that’s what they promise to bring to the stage.
Brishen burn and swing their way through Reinhardt covers, freshly constructed originals and more contemporary numbers.
The stellar Brishen line up includes Reuben Wier and Joey Smith.
Pesaturo makes a point of shunning what’s expected of him musically – a strict no-polka policy.
A three-time world champion, Pesaturo graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he was the first graduate with the accordion as his major.
His resumé includes multiple White House appearances during Bill Clinton’s presidency.
The annual one-day festival specializes in Django Reinhardt-inspired gypsy jazz, which counts the accordion as a key instrument.
Burdett’s rich alto voice stirs the heart as she delivers a vibrant, genre-defying, fusion of jazz, folk, opera and world music.
Her style of “dramatic gypsy cabaret” is the culmination of years of study and performance.
Like her gypsy ancestors, she is a troubadour, performing and teaching across Canada, Europe, USA and China.
Burdett’s multifaceted education includes classical voice, new music, opera, vocal improvisation, art song, dance, acting and musical theatre.
She holds a music degree from McGill University, Montreal and a Master’s degree in Opera from the Royal Academy of Music, London.
West Coast Django and Jazz is May 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre at Oak Bay High, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd. Tickets are $25 in advance at Ivy’s Bookshop, Lyle’s Place, Tempo Trend Music and online at beaconridgeproductions.com or $30 at the door.
