April means spring to some, Georgian Sound Festival to others, and to most jazz fans it mean Grey and Bruce counties welcome many more gigs to choose from. Here’s a reminder from Mosaic Magazine:
Something new this year is a gig for the youngsters on Friday, April 23. An invitational jazz event featuring 10 regional youth jazz bands, stage bands and jazz ensembles brought together by Thornbury-Clarkburg Rotary, and heralding the 19th annual weekend G.S. Festival. The bands will perform from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m for respected adjudicators in Beaver Valley Community Centre, Thornbury. YouthFest is open to the public as well as friends and family of student performers. Admission is $2.
A concert by the adjudicators is slated to follow YouthFest with Chantry Island Quartet led by well know bass player and teacher, Mike Grace. An impressive lineup of musicians will perform French jazz legend Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano; John McLellan, piano, Stephen James, drums, Georgian Bay Symphony’s Meryl Gilmore, flute, with guitarist Ted Quinlan from Humber College music program sitting in. $10 at the door.
Those with stamina may want to stick around for the evening Jazzmania also taking place in Thornbury and Clarksburg. This annual event costs $15 and covers entry to 10 different venues each with jazz combo entertainment. Shuttle buses are available from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.
And there’s much more jazz through the weekend with Big Band Saturday – Georgian Sound, Toronto All Star and Stardust Big Bands as well as Hogtown Swing Collective Dancers at intermissions in afternoon and evening gigs. At Sunday’s Jazz Brunch, swinging songstress Heather Bambrick entertains with Bill King Trio at the Centre and The Stone Band with Marlene O’Neill stage Gospelfest at Grace United Church.
All weekend events presented by Thornbury-Clarkburg Rotary Club partnering with Georgian Sound Big Band and supported by Blue Mountain Chamber of Commerce. For tickets and more info go to www.georgiansoundfestival.ca
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Mosaic Magazine for April is still available free at cultural and tourism centres in Grey and Bruce counties.
For Up to date listings go to Jazz By The Bay
