Take a sentimental journey with Doug Sonju & Friends, celebrating jazz tunes from the ‘30s to the ‘60s at the Vernon Jazz Club on Saturday.
The evening of vintage jazz features an incredible array of VJC favourites including Doug Sonju (clarinet and sax), Don Ross (piano), Doug Grant (drums), Brian McMahon (bass), Loni Moger (guitar), and Stephen Buck (flute, clarinet, and sax). Collectively, band members have appeared on the VCJ stage at least 85 times!
Reminiscing about the early days of the VJS (1999 – 2001) director of bookings Sue Kershaw recalled when gigs were held in the Sandman Inn’s basement.
“Night after night our audiences enjoyed quality jazz led by local musicians like Larry Crawford, Mike Garding, Hugh Parsons, Ellen Churchill, Doug Sonju, Les Copeland, Henry Piovesan, Pat MacGibbon, Hugh Fraser, Sandy Cameron, and Bob Rogers,” said Kershaw.
VJS board and members were invited to submit song titles evoking, “I remember when…” Song requests featured timeless classics like Come Fly With Me, April in Paris, ‘Round Midnight, The Girl from Ipanema, It Don’t Mean a Thing, At Last, Love for Sale, Stardust and I Got Rhythm.
A long-standing member of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, Sonju appeared at the VJS’s fourth gig as part of the Hugh Parsons Trio with Ellen Campbell.
“My memory is that fans have always been great about supporting local musicians, which I guess was all the club could offer in the early years,” said Sonju.
Jazz master Ross has appeared 16 times at the VJC, including its third gig.
“I have many memories of playing with different groups like Swinging Dix, Okanagan Swing, the Doug Sonju group, and Bjorn Edblad featuring Lennart Axelson,” recalled Ross.
Thirteen times on the VJC stage – often as bandleader of a Grant Family jazz extravaganza – Grant has many a story to tell.
“I remember a gig downstairs at the Sandman Inn featuring Brian McMahon, Gregor Sneddon, and a guitarist I can’t recall. I went to the concert and after hearing a few tunes I left, drove home to Grindrod, picked up my drums, and rushed back so I could sit in with the band!” said Grant.
McMahon has appeared numerous times including the VJS’s second gig ever.
“My recollection is of a great buzz in the air. There were many musicians who were ‘starving’ for somewhere to play. We were thrilled to have a venue catering to — no, promoting jazz,” said McMahon.
Presently working with the Barbara Samuel’s Professional Vocal Program in Kelowna, this will be Moger’s fourth gig at the VJC.
Buck runs the Thursday Jazz Jams at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna. A substitute clarinetist for the OSO, Buck also performs with the Kelowna City Band, the Night Owl Orchestra, and his two teenage sons in The Alex Buck Trio.
Special guests The Alex Buck Trio will open the gig. Alex is a marvelous pianist, brother Simon Buck a talented drummer, and father Stephen Buck will complete the trio on acoustic bass.
Doug Sonju & Friends play the Vernon Jazz Club Saturday, 3000-31st St. Doors open at 7:15 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, available at the Bean Scene, Bean to Cup or www.vernonjazzclub.ca
