By Malcolm Holt

Special to the Record

The Georgia Straight Jazz Society enters the 2024 Thursday Night Jazz season with the exciting news that its regular venue has moved to the High Tide at 268 Fifth Street, Courtenay.

It marks the return of its weekly concerts to a pub setting with great sight lines and permanently installed sound and lighting equipment.

The society survived the COVID 2020-2022 lockdown through a limited series of popular outdoor summer concerts, and more recently in a couple of indoor venues which were much appreciated as interim steps, but unfortunately didn鈥檛 measure up to the comfort and familiarity, and amenities of the Avalanche Bar and Grill.

Although many regular jazz aficionados were prepared to compromise (鈥淲e can鈥檛 see the performers. We鈥檇 love to be able to enjoy a drink鈥�), we learned during the last two years, from many, that they would love to enjoy their jazz music in a lounge setting.

The High Tide has been long established - through its current and previous name of Billy D鈥檚 - as a popular, entertainment centre, and the return of regular scheduled music marks a major step in re-establishing it as a cozy pub/restaurant/social gathering spot.

Jazz concerts will be performed from 7-9 p.m. (Note: half an hour earlier than our previous time), and food will be available from the regular pub menu until 8 p.m. Drinks will be served for the duration of the concert.

The same high standard of jazz is promised and, perhaps the best news, admission will continue for the remainder of the season, to remain (for non-ticketed events) at $15 for members, and $20 for non-members. We鈥檙e committed to keeping live jazz alive in the Comox Valley. You鈥檙e invited to assist our goal by joining us between now and May by exploring the warm and friendly atmosphere in our new setting.

For more information about the upcoming season, please visit www.georgiastraightjazz.com

Malcolm Holt is the vice-president of the Georgia Straight Jazz Society