Five reasons to check out (free) Winter Jazz
Credit to Author: Shawn Conner| Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 19:23:03 +0000
Winter Jazz
When: Feb. 21-23
Where: Performance Works
Tickets: free (RSVP at coastaljazz.ca to guarantee admission)
1. Itamar Erez. This weekend, Coastal Jazz and CMHC Granville Island present their annual three days of free jazz on Granville Island. One of the highlights should be a Sunday afternoon set (beginning at 3:45 p.m.) by Itamar Erez and his quartet. An Israeli-born guitarist, composer and teacher, Erez fuses flamenco, Brazilian, Middle Eastern and jazz. Writing in this paper, Stuart Derdeyn said Erez’ latest album Mi Alegria is “packed with stunning musicianship.”
2. Bonnie Northgraves. Chilliwack born-and-raised trumpet player/vocalist Northgraves described her current (as of summer 2019) style “as eclectic pre-bop/swing with lots of influence from bop/hard bop/ and post-bop. Some tunes are straight-up swingers that are perfect to dance to.” Her quartet hard-bops onto the stage on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.
3. Lydia Hol. The singer/songwriter had released two albums, with a new one on the way. She describes her sound as “early 60s soul and psych-rock.” She is followed by gospel/soul belter Dawn Pemberton. (Friday beginning at 8 p.m.)
4. SICKBOSS. Saturday evening’s show (8 p.m.) features SICKBOSS, a genre-bending unit led by guitarist Cole Schmidt. They will be followed by trumpeter Jaimie Branch playing tracks from her latest project, Fly or Die II: Bird Dogs of Paradise. Her 2017 album Fly or Die made numerous 10 ten lists.
5. Watermill Project. Vocalist and arranger Sarah Kim’s Watermill Project modernizes traditional Korean music, including lyrics and styles, for a contemporary jazz quartet. Guitarist Erez is part of Watermill, which also includes bassist Eli Davidovic and drummer Mili Hong. (Saturday at 3:45, preceded by guitarist Dave Sikula’s jazz quartet at 1 p.m.)