Most of us live close enough to Georgian Bay or Lake Huron to watch the changing seasons as nature orchestrates. For some jazz orchestrations, no need to look far, there's lots going on right here on land.

And that's not all. Here is my column, Doreen Sezz appearing in Mosaic Magazine being distributed this week. Please note that since the magazine went to press, the change in time for Le Bouquet in print is incorrect now. New time is for 8:00 pm to 11:30 p.m. as it says in the poster (above).

Now that November is here, it's time to make plans for New Year's Eve jazz entertainment. At press time there's an event that sounds like
a good bet for those who like a 5:30 pm meal with music, then home to loved ones for bringing in the new year. As well, there are later sittings to accommodate those who like to stay 'till midnight and bring in a bubbly new year.

And when the entertainment is a Sweet Jazz Quintet of favourites such as Rob Gasidlo, keyboard, Don Buchanan, sax, Tyler Wagler, bass. Bruce Campbell, drums with vocals by Diana Campbell, an entertaining evening is guaranteed. At Sweetwater Restaurant, Cobble Beach's home of Friday night's Tapas and Jazz, the food is usually good too. At $65 per person, tickets are sure to go fast. Reservations 519-370-2173

Here's a look at some other events around the Southern Georgian Bay area:

Nov.7 - 6pm - 10pm - Don Buchanan, sax, Rob Gasidlo, keyboard. Sweetwater Restaurant, Cobble Beach, Owen Sound.
Nov.8 - 7pm - 11pm Charlie Bell Jazz Quartet, Bruce County Museum - Chocolate Gala, Southampton.
Nov.8 - 7:30pm - Howlin' Dog Vintage Jazz Band, Kincardine United Church - fundraiser for Legion, Kincardine.
Nov.8 - 8pm - 10:30pm Chantry Centennairs, Chantry Centre, Southampton.
Nov.10 - 8pm - 10pm Baytowne Big Band, 55 Special Restaurant, Barrie.
Nov.13 - 6pm - 9:30pm Le Bouquet Quartet (Stevie Vallance,vocals, Charlie Bell, sax, Andy Harasmczuk,guitar,Jack McFadden bass - Pheonix Lounge, Southampton.(Plans are for this event to be each month, second Thursday) (Please note change in time - see poster above!)
Nov.14 - 6pm - 10pm Bobby Dean Blackburn, keyboard/vocals - Sweetwater Restaurant, Cobble Beach, Owen Sound
Nov.23 - 2pm - 4pm Rhythm & Pews with Shelaugh Hart, Rob Gasidlo, Don Buchanan - Central Westside United Church, Owen Sound
Nov.28 - 6pm - 9pm - Jason Hunter Trio (Jason and friends) - Southampton Place.
Nov.29 - 9pm - 12am - Stardust Big Band with Stevie Vallance - Town Hall, Southampton.
Nov.29 - 8pm - Howlin' Dog Vintage Jazz Band - Park House Tavern, Goderich

Dec.8 - 8pm - Baytowne Big Band - 55 Special Restaurant, Barrie.
Dec.14 - 2pm - 4pm - Toronto All Stars Big Band - Roxy Theatre, Owen Sound.
Dec. 19 - 6pm - 10pm Sweetwater - Angele Desbois, Paul Danard
Dec.20 - 7pm Pete Rissi Trio - outdoor free concert, Market Bldg, Owen Sound.
Dec. 22 - 7pm - Parsons and Brown outdoor free concert, Market Bldg, Owen Sound.

Dec. 31 - 5:30pm 7pm 9pm sittings - Sweet Jazz Quintet - Diana Campbell, vocals, Rob Gasidlo, keyboard, Don Buchanan,sax, Tyler Wegler, bass, Bruce Campbell, drums. Sweetwater Restautant, Cobble Beach, Owen Sound.

Check out www.jazzbythebay.ca for updated listing of these and other events.

Looking back:

Canadian Big Band Celebration this year featured Dinah Christie, who returned to share her dynamic jazz singing style. And she went all out at the Sunday Brunch held in Port Elgin. She wowed the hundreds who attended this final function of the weekend with old and new songs, humorous patter, sharing the stage with old favourites, Charlie Bell, sax, Doug McClelland, keyboard, Mike Grace, bass and Steve James, drums. She also welcomed on stage old friend, Stevie Vallance, for a couple of familiar melodies, including Summertime. A standing ovation was well deserved.

Dinah Christie, who sang at Canadian Big Band Celebration in 1995, sings with Stevie Vallance, a newcomer to the area at Sunday Brunch CBBC recently. Mike Grace is shown on bass. Not shown are Steve James, drums, Charlie Bell, sax, John McClelland, keyboard.

We began the weekend on Friday night to catch as many entertainers as possible who were playing gigs among 11 different venues. We had a fabulous buffet dinner at Saugeen Golf Club, listening to Razzmatazz, led by trombone player, Pete Rissi with Jack McFadden, bass, Wayne McGrath, trumpet, Scott Chow, keyboard, Syl MacIntosh, sax, Dave Melito, drums. A good start for a weekend of great jazz.

Between 9:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m., we dashed around Port Elgin and Southampton, catching as many sets as possible but only made three more. Among them, Howlin' Dog Vintage Jazz Band, always a toe-tapping interlude with some great musicians; Dave Shmalz, trombone, Steve Hasbury, clarinet, Dave Jewett, trumpet, Mike Kelly, drums, Karen Weber, bass, Ron Daniels, guitar.

At another memorable session Carole Warren sang with Sploink, a group of innovative musicians whose rendition of Autumn Leaves was like no other I have heard before. Don Buchanan, sax, Jason Hunter, sax, Tyler Wegler, bass, Rob Gasidlo, keyboard were fabulous. We included some dancing during the evening with Beverley Taft Quartet. Beverley's laid back vocal style melded harmoniously with Lenny Boyd, bass, Mark Kieswetter, keyboard and Stan Perry, drums.

Highlight for me at the Big Band session on Saturday afternoon was listening to JazzFM91's Toronto Youth Big Band, a community project by a Toronto radio station which is also a registered charity. Quality of music belied the young age of 12 boys and 4 girls between the ages of 13 and 17. Under the direction of Kelsey Grant, a professional educator, some of these budding musicians may go on to study music at Humber College where there is a good jazz program.

Other out of town big bands appearing were Timmins All-Star Big Band and London's Prime Time Big Band, to round out the afternoon of dancing at the cavernous room in the CAW Centre, Port Elgin.

Although this is the last issue of Mosaic for 2008 we will try to keep you informed of not only jazz events in our own area but we hope to include out of town info on gigs that involve local performers.
Don't forget to check out http://www.jazzbythebay.com and come back here often.

For those interested in live theatre events on Broadway, London's West End and around the world, check out my daughter Janine's column, On The Boards and In The Wings that also appears in Mosaic. It has been on line also since 1998 at http://www.ontheboards.com