If you’re into vocal jazz you’ll be digging the sounds this March. Three of the world’s best jazz singers are gigging here this month. Starting Friday March 13 vocal genius Gino Sitson hits town at the Centre for Positive Living. The West African-born Sitson is part vocalist part body percussionist a guy whose international influences and blend of blues gospel and jazz have taken the U.S. jazz scene by storm since he moved to New York in 2000. Billed as “bebop with a French accent” you can expect a performance drawing on Sitson’s upbringing in Bamileke Cameroon his studies in Paris and even the movie soundtracks he’s composed. Don’t miss it; this is a rare opportunity for Calgary jazz fans.
If big-band gigs with stellar vocalists are what you crave visit the Blind Beggar Pub on March 25. Calgary vocalist Deanne Matley will be backed by the Wednesday Night Big Band with full sax trombone and trumpet sections. Matley who’s studied with the likes of Sheila Jordan Vivian Cardinal and Patrice Barnes is well-known here for her many club gigs and past shows at Beat Niq Kaos Jazz and Blues Bar and the Calgary Jazz Festival.
The Beat Niq will also host an impressive jazz vocalist at the end of the month this time backed by a quartet featuring Toronto musicians Dave Restivo (piano) Nick Fraser (drums) and Andrew Downing (bass). Sienna Dahlen who sings writes and plays music is a vocalist who draws her inspiration from sources as diverse as Joni Mitchell Radiohead and Chet Baker. Dahlen is taking her Toronto Ensemble on the road for the first time and this is a one-night-only gig.
Speaking of one-night-only events pencil in Oliver Jones’s April 2 performance at the Jack Singer Concert Hall — a major event with Jones backed by Calgary’s own Prime Time Big Band performing a tribute to Oscar Peterson. Jones’s performance is particularly fitting since like Peterson he was born in Montreal. Jones is renowned as a pianist organist composer and arranger who retired from performing in 2000. Fortunately for us this pianist considered one of Canada’s best came out of retirement in 2002.
