By Malcolm Holt
Special to the Record
This week鈥檚 jazz at the Little Red Church in Comox offers a wonderfully entertaining evening: something completely different when Georgia Straight Jazz Society presents The Palace Band, in response to an overwhelming request to relive the excitement of last year鈥檚 great show.
It鈥檚 impossible to talk about the creation of The Palace Band without first describing the production that formed them, 鈥楢 Night at the Palace.鈥�
Every year, for the past 17 years, in the depths of winter, the community of Errington comes together to don their sequins, feathers, flapper dresses and frock coats to put on a completely original night of vaudeville, comedy and burlesque theatre. While there was always music involved, somewhere around the middle of this dynasty, a solid core band was formed, to be known as The Palace Band.
It soon became apparent that performing two sold-out weekends a year was not going to be enough to satisfy the appetites of these musical mavericks. Drawing on their collective history of musical theatre, jazz programs, and a wealth of other musical projects, they created a repertoire inspired by the jazz music of the 1920s to the 鈥�40s.
鈥淚t will be an evening of musical fun and laughter based on an act that was reborn from the era of rum smugglers and late-night cabaret, when music bubbled with swinging emotion and soul,鈥� band members said in describing the show. 鈥淕et ready for the return of the raw sounds of old school jazz, with an energy that will put your feet into motion and a smile on your face. We鈥檒l be combining soaring vocals with a flash of trumpet and the thunder of drums, to make the old times new again.鈥�
The Palace band is Tom Bradbrooke on vocals and piano, Kevin Robinson on stand-up bass, Luke Sales on trumpet, James McRae on drums, Ashlee Sales on lead vocals and Galen Mongeau on vocals and guitar. Claudio Fantinato will be the special guest on alto sax.
The public is invited to join the regular crowd to experience the fun, and discover what a warm, friendly, and safe atmosphere awaits you. Bring a friend, put on your feathers and sequins, and enjoy a happy escape!
Doors open at 7 p.m. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for society members, $20 for non-members. Memberships will be available at the door.
For your added information, tickets ($35) for Maureen Washington鈥檚 Dec. 14 seasonal concert 鈥淎 Sprinkle of Jazz and Blues鈥� are for sale at House of Colour in Courtenay and Blue Heron Books in Comox, and at the door to Thursday Night Jazz.
Please visit to see the calendar of great weekly shows between now and next May.
Malcolm Holt is the president of the Georgia Straight Jazz Society
