January is your chance to catch up on local jazz
This year’s jazz has arrived in full flight. In the next few weeks you can expect a major CD release by a musician named one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 and a gig that’s billed as “straight-ahead truthful jazz and no apologies.” Balance these two with some of our local musicians burning up smaller venues and you’re set for the month.
First the "straight-ahead truthful jazz" describes Verismo the University of Calgary’s first Monday Night Jazz Series offering of 2010. The Calgary-based quintet now nine years old was founded by saxmen Pat Belliveau and Jeremy Brown to explore original compositions and to encourage artistic growth. The group continues to do that and more by featuring the talents of bassist John Hyde drummer John DeWaal and pianist Derek Stoll. Catch this series starter on Monday January 25 at University Theatre.
The November issue of Avenue Magazine featured its annual list of the top 40 movers and shakers under the age of 40 in Calgary and jazz drummer Karl Schwonik made the list. If you’ve followed his career you’ll know Schwonik has been racking up awards and achievements for the past few years. Now we can add the CD release of Visions from the Farm slated for the Beat Niq on Friday January 22. The gig will feature Schwonik along with Chris Andrew on piano Kodi Hutchinson on bass and Brent Mah on sax. The Calgary performance is part of a 23-city cross-Canada tour.
For more downtown jazz plan to visit Giuseppe’s Italian Market on January 14 and 21 to catch local saxman Rick Climans who’ll be backed by Kevin Day on keyboards. Lastly Piq Niq has vocalist Mary Boyes accompanied by guitarist Keith Smith performing jazz standards with a Latin flavour on Wednesday January 20.
