Pianist Jan Stirling will be performing with bassist Joey Smith and saxophonist Dick Smith at jazz vespers in North Saanich.
Stirling studied jazz at Toronto’s Humber College, and then toured with a show band. She has had weekly gigs in Vancouver for a five-year period, and has also toured Asia and Australia. She studied with Dr. Anthony Genge, Don Thompson, Alan Broadbent, Kenny Werner and George Cables. Her CD, Prisms of Light, was recorded in Toronto with Kieran Overs and Davide DiRenzo.
She settled in Victoria in 1980, and now teaches and performs regularly at several clubs and restaurants. She performs alongside local notable musicians such as as Joey Smith, Ken Lister, Sylvain Boisvert, Dick Smith, Anita Bonkowski, Eugene Smith and many others.
Bassist Smith is much in demand in the Victoria area. Originally from Tennessee, he came to Victoria via the Glenn Miller Orchestra, for whom he played bass for two years. He has also played with a long list of jazz luminaries which includes Cleo Laine, Herb Ellis, Rosemary Clooney, Charlie Byrd, John Dankworth, George Essihos, Daniel Lapp and CanUS. In addition, he has appeared at numerous jazz festivals in Canada and the US, including a performance at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He works as a teacher, arranger and freelance musician playing bass and guitar with local traditional and contemporary jazz groups.
Alto saxophonist Smith is a west coast native. Following music studies at the University of British Columbia and Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachussetts, he spent a number of years touring Canada in various rhythm and blues bands, and playing on cruise ships.
The Stirling/Smiths Trio performs at Jazz Vespers at St. John’s United Church, 10990 West Saanich Rd., on April 3 at 7 p.m.
There is no admission charge; an offering will be taken.
For further information, call Bernadette at 250-656-0875 or email bernadettegreene@shaw.ca.
