Award-winners round out the month’s jazz
Jazz awards tend to be lower profile than the Junos but it’s worth noting that our local jazz musicians have racked up a lot of national and international recognition. Kristian Alexandrov for instance just snagged the 2008 Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for best pianist. Not bad for a guy who also counts composer music director and producer amongst his talents. Alexandrov is well-known for his 10-year stint working with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and as a staple performer in Calgary’s jazz scene. Either way Alexandrov who draws influences from Bulgarian folk Afro-Cuban jazz and classical is a must-see. Now that he’s based in Vancouver the opportunities to see him perform are less frequent so last week’s release of his new CD Akoustika at Beat Niq was a rare pleasure. The CD offers original contemporary jazz compositions in a trio arrangement with Alexandrov on piano Ben Harries on bass and Andy Ericson on drums.
Don’t miss another award-winner playing Beat Niq at the end of the month — 23-year-old Karl Schwonik originally from central Alberta recently won the Richard Cowie Scholarship for Young Jazz Musicians. Awarded by the Calgary Musicians’ Association and C-Jazz the award provides assistance to further the musical education of deserving Calgary artists. The official public presentation of this award will be made at Beat Niq on May 29 and 30. The two-night event titled “East Meets West” will feature Schwonik (drums) Kodi Hutchinson (bass) and Jeff Johnston (piano).
Schwonik is no stranger to international recognition having played a gig at Carnegie Hall just last month but local support is crucial to all young jazz musicians. The Cowie award in particular has provided recognition and financial assistance to a number of young jazz musicians. Last year’s award was presented to young drummer and bandleader Spencer Cheyne. Cheyne’s group often described as a funky jazz quartet includes Brent Mah (saxophones) JJ Soriano (guitar) and Brendan McElroy (bass). Don’t miss his May 15 gig at Beat Niq.
