Denman Island will be graced with a concert by two incredible musicians April 20.
Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson, two of Canada’s pre-eminent musicians, celebrate 30 years of musical friendship with a new recording and series of performances on the south coast throughout the middle of April.
Originally from Powell River, but a longtime resident of Toronto, Don Thompson is one of the world’s most-respected jazz artists, known for his own award-winning recordings as well as his work with jazz giants such as Jim Hall, George Shearing, John Handy, Paul Desmond, Boss Brass, Lenny Breau and many others.
He is renowned as a brilliant instrumentalist (piano, bass and vibes) and composer. Don has won several Juno Awards in addition to innumerable other industry honours.
He is also a highly respected music educator and it was as such that he met saxophonist Dwyer at the Banff Centre in 1982. In 2010 Don was invested as an Officer of the Order Of Canada.
Qualicum Beach resident Dwyer is well known and respected as a pianist, saxophonist, arranger, composer, entrepreneur and educator.
Many of the highlights of his career have occurred working alongside Thompson in settings ranging from their telepathic duo setting to big bands and orchestra.
Dwyer also received critical recognition and a Juno Award (his seventh) recently for his award winning orchestral recording Changing Seasons.
He also toured in 2012 across the country with his innovative Canadian Songbook project. He is also familiar to Canadian audiences through his frequent appearances on CBC Radio.
The Thompson/Dwyer duo is notable for its telepathy, melodic clarity, sophisticated harmonic approach and the obvious respect that these two musicians share with each other. Their new album, Look For The Silver Lining, on Triplet Records, is a joyous exploration of the classic standard repertoire.
From upbeat swingers like The Touch Of Your Lips and How About You? to poignant ballads like I’ll Be Around and What’s New, this new recording is truly a meeting of two supremely gifted and simpatico musical minds.
They play April 20 at 8 p.m. in the Denman Island Hall. Tickets are available at Abraxas on Denman, and Bop City in Courtenay and at the door.
