May Shower of Jazz
For those who do not see Mosaic Magazine, here is my column from May issue:
There's much excitement this month among jazz fans as The Artie Shaw Orchestra blows into Owen Sound for a one night gig at Bayshore Community Centre. If you haven't yet got your tickets for the May 23 blast, betty hurry.
Our old friends, Fred Parsons on keyboard and Dave Brown on drums are opening the evening promising a session with some home grown music. Parsons & Brown are joined on this occasion by Pete Rissi, trombone, Wayne McGrath, trumpet and Paul Danard, guitar.
This dance the night away echoes last year's swish bash with the Glen Miller Orchestra, brought here by the same group; Macarmill Productions, a trio of bods you may know,Greg Macivor, Dave Carr and Barry Hamill. Charity chosen this year is Grey Bruce Regional Health Centre Foundation. Tickets from the Bayshore box office or on line at www.attackhockey.com.
Owen Sound's Roxy Theatre will also echo to big band music when Jerry White and his Gentlemen of Swing entertain on May 3. Tickets and info www.roxytheatre.ca
The Owen Sound jazz scene was pretty thin a few years ago when one lone restaurant in town offered weekly jazz entertainment. Today that restaurant has switched to other music genres. A downtown jazz bar tried and failed to draw enough customers. And an ownership change led to diminished smooth jazz gigs at a hotel restaurant.
Today, among some locations offering jazz, a local eatery showcased diverse jazz talent to entertain the Saturday night diners. Keyboard virtuoso Rob Gasidlo, anchors the ongoing program drawing sellout crowds at Chaise Lounge. And he brings some excellent musicians to the weekly gig.
In April it was standing room only when Chesley diva Carole Warren, husband Steve Kennedy, soprano sax, Don Buchanan, tenor sax and Rob on keyboard wowed the fans. Shelaugh Hart swooped in for another gig from Barrie to deliver a warm and friendly mix of smooth and zingy vocals. We're always delighted to listen to Charlie Bell on sax with songstress Rebecca Bowman and more so when Mike Grace sits in with his soprano sax.
Here's Rob's May lineup of jazz to entertain diners from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Chaise Lounge:
May 3 - Nura(Diane Campbell) and Stu Steinhart. Nura sings and drums to stir the senses while Stu makes awesome music on his six-string guitar.
May 10 - Carole Warren sings and Rob is on keyboard. Carole's email handle says it all 'skylark'.
May 17 - Andy Burgess on guitar and Rob Gasidlo on keyboard in a Jazz/Rock Collision. Sounds intriguing! Rob says they'll play "everything from Miles Davis to ZZ Top!"
May 25 - Nura with Rob offering some great standards.
We've dined at the new eatery Sweetwater, part of the Cobble Beach golf complex on shore of Georgian Bay north of Owen Sound. Roads are a bit rough yet as snow had only just diminished when we were there. A regular Friday night jazz entertainment is slated for diners, from 5:30 p.m. until 9!
We heard a duo featured in Barrie's February Blues Festival, Robin Rich, super jazz pianist from Durham and a topnotch singer she brought with her has a voice range and repertoire of a long time professional which indeed she is. Christine Frolick is classically trained and moved to Barrie from Toronto. Their loss; our gain.
The following Friday another favourite made our meal memorable. Keyboard/singer entertainer Bobby Dean Blackburn cajoled one of his talented sons to briefly leave the big city and join Dad for a gig. Brooke Blackburn plays diverse licks on a guitar and his ingenuity surfaced when Bobby Dean's keyboard transformer broke down and Brooke performed solo while an ancient upright piano was hurried into service. His guitar was quickly tuned to match piano and the sometimes rollicky evening proceeded with hardly a hitch.
http://cobblebeachgolflinks.com/sweetwater.php
If you're hankering for Dixieland Jazz you can get your fill on May 31 when six-piece Howlin' Dog Vintage Jazz Band entertains from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at Park House Tavern & Eatery in Goderich. Reservations 519-524-4968
Sploink is on the bill for the kickoff Saugeen Shores' Friday Dinner Jazz on May 30 at the Queen's Bar & Grill, Port Elgin. This group has a special approach to jazz standards and features Don Buchanan and Jason Hunter, saxophones, Rob Gasidlo, keyboard, Tyler Wagler, bass and Bruce Campbell, drums.
For up to date listings of jazz events in the area check out www.jazzbythebay.ca