Indulge your desire for a crooner smoothie when The Neville Bowman Trio with Curtis Parry performs at the Vernon Jazz Club Saturday.
Fans will double their pleasure with both Parry and Bowman on smooth jazz vocals. They have worked together in the past and are excited about the prospect of pairing up again.
Joining Parry on guitar and Bowman on piano is Brian McMahon on bass and Martin Lord on drums.
The band will perform a variety of “feels,” including Latin, R&B, funk, bossa nova, and swing. Their repertoire includes tunes such as Cole Porter’s Night and Day, George Gershwin’s They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Henry Mancini’s Days of Wine and Roses, Jerome Kern’s The Way You Look Tonight, and some Parry originals.
A VJC favourite, Bowman is enthusiastic about performing with Parry.
“The Vernon gig will be a treat, working with Curtis. He’s been in Vancouver for a while, so I look forward to hearing what new material he’ll bring to the stage,” said Bowman.
Crooning guitarist Parry has been compared to Michael Bublé and George Benson.
“My style is a mixture of George Benson, Joe Pass, Django Reinhardt, Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr., and Michael Bublé,” said Parry, who also has a passion for songwriting, releasing a solo CD entitled Curtis Parry Solo.
Originally from L.A., Parry studied with some of the best in the world, including seven-string guitar jazz legend Ron Escheté, bebop ace Rick Zunigar, and jazz fusion master Alex Machacek.
Performing since his teens, Parry has played concert halls such as the illustrious home of the Oscars, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in L.A., and the Pasadena Convention Center in California for Jon Singleton, Kenny Loggins, and Eddie Van Halen, to name a few.
Parry now lives and works in Vancouver.
“I play at various hotels and clubs in Vancouver such as The Sutton Place, The Fairmont Pacific Rim, and The Empire Landmark.”
Known for his versatility, Bowman plays regularly with award-winning groups such as the Michael Garding Big Band. He recently appeared at the VJC with the Amanda Morazain Quartet.
“My musical style has become very eclectic,” said Bowman. “I work in so many varied parts of the music business –– theatre, rock, blues, classical, even country will creep into my jazz playing.”
Bowman also has his own jazz idols.
“My influences are countless, though at the top of the list, heroes include Chick Corea, Michel Camilo, Dave Brubeck, Harry Connick, and of course, the late Oscar Peterson.”
A past president of the Vernon Jazz Society and lauded band teacher at Kalamalka Secondary, McMahon inspires his own students by exposing them to top quality jazz, and is taking his students to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho this month.
Founder of the multi-award winning Just in Time Trio, Lord counts Roy Burns and Peter Erskine among his influences. He enjoys challenging and complex compositions as a way to add to his versatility and personal style as a musician.
Curtis Parry and the Neville Bowman Trio perform at the Vernon Jazz Club Saturday at 8 p.m. Doors to the club, located at 3000 31st. St. above Nolan’s Pharmasave in downtown Vernon, open at 7:15 p.m. and tickets are $20 ($15 for jazz society members) at the Bean Scene and the Bean to Cup coffee houses.
