-Thanks to Jan Mulder who finished up another successful season of the Cliff-Bungalow/Mission Community Centre Jazz Series here in Calgary. Jan went out of his way to promote this entertaining monthly Jazz series that features local artists. Looks like he's already looking ahead to next year's program. This concert series runs the first Wednesday of every month starting in September.
Last Wednesday I played the vibraphone with the Jazz Winds Composers Collective to finish out this season's concert series. It was great to have the opportunity to play the vibes in a concert situation (a first for me). I hope to continue playing the vibes like this and welcome any opportunity to spread my wings on the vibraphone these days. People were very complimentary with their comments about my playing so I'm think I'm improving!
-Jazz pianist and composer Ray Bryant recently passed away. He was actually quite a significant musician for me as I really enjoyed his (and his brothers) playing on the Jo Jones trio records that he appears on. He also composed the tune "Cubano Chant" which was featured on the Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers record "The Drum Suite" from 1956:
I distinctly remember walking into Vintage Vinyl in Regina, SK when I was a teenager and picking up a used vinyl copy of this record. In fact, I think it was the first vinyl record I ever bought (haven't been many since!)
-My wife and I caught the Summit Jazz Series Part II "Latin Jazz" concert at the Cantos Foundation on Friday evening. The band really cooked and featured some of Calgary's finest including Carsten Rubeling on trombone (who is also producing this series), Jim Brenan on tenor saxophone, Chris Andrews on piano (from Edmonton), Rubim DeToledo on bass and Calgary's dynamic and fiery percussion team of Raul Gomez Tabera and Luis Elpana Tovar. It was a great evening of great Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Latin Jazz all played with the right sound and feel. The concert started out with an intense conga duet between Raul and Luis that got everyones attention really quickly. Was also nice to hear the show finish off with an arrangement of Steve Swallow's salsa tune "Let's Eat!" (based on the changes of "Softly as in a Morning Sunrise") from his contrafactual album "Real Book".
-I've got a busy week of gigs ahead of me but be sure to come out and catch the Sheldon Zandboer Trio at the Hyatt Regency on Thursday evening as part of the new Jazz series sponsored by the Cantos Music Foundation and the National Music Centre.
All That Jazz
featuring the Sheldon Zandboer Trio
Thursday, June 9th
5-7pm
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Sandstone Lounge
Calgary, AB
http://www.cantos.ca/node/1012