The weekly Georgia Straight Jazz Society show at the Avalanche Bar and Grill (275 8th St, Courtenay) re-introduces an old friend 鈥� one who hasn鈥檛 performed on the GSJS stage for over five years.
The Doug Anderson Trio will play at the Av on Thursday,Jan. 23.
鈥淚t has been quite a while since I鈥檝e been on the scene, so I appreciate the opportunity to play at a GSJS event,鈥� said Anderson. 鈥淚n fact, I recall that when it was relocated from the Elks to The Avalanche Bar & Grill, the first Thursday jazz society gig there was my syndicate! I鈥檓 so looking forward to featuring performing current work with my trio on Jan. 23.
鈥淒uring the past year I have been getting back into guitar jazz with a vengeance; I enjoyed playing last summer at Phil Dwyer鈥檚 jazz workshop and playing with and learning from Don Thompson and Oliver Gannon among others.鈥�
Anderson is accompanied by two well-known local favourite musicians: Aaron Amar, drums, and bassist John Hyde.
鈥淥ur trio plays jazz standards and original tunes in the straight-ahead swinging style of small combos that were influenced by Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Wes Montgomery and so many others. Our sets will include Voyage, an up-tempo tune written by piano great Kenny Barron, Moanin鈥� a bluesy soul jazz tune by Bobby Timmons, a funk infused version of Summertime, and an original tune in 3/4 called Dragonfly Trail, written for my favourite place on one of our Gulf Islands.
鈥淚n all cases, our goal as a trio is to use a tune as a vehicle for improvisation and interplay among the musicians. Having just 3 members in the group means that each note and rhythm contribute to a musical dialogue that can be very exciting.鈥�
Guitarist Doug Anderson has played with Amar and Hyde for many years. His guitar playing approach adds the melody and harmonic accents over the ground provided by his capable bandmates. Doug鈥檚 style is heavily influenced by teachers and Canadian jazz greats Lee and Art Ellefson, as well as the legendary Bill Coon.
This wonderful low-key evening performance will start at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Please visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com for full information on all of our forthcoming Thursday concerts.
