After last week鈥檚 memorable NMA big band concert, jazz at The Avalanche Bar and Grill shifts to one of the finest local jazz groups on Thursday, Oct. 24 when the Sympatico returns.

Since last year鈥檚 performance for the Georgia Straight Jazz Society (GSJS), Sympatico has gone on to play to great acclaim at the Nanaimo Jazz Festival, Simms Park and most recently at the Filberg Festival.

Sympatico is led by Don MacKay on five-string bass and Michael Eddy on keyboards with Rachel Cooper on saxes, clarinet and EWI, Jay Havelaar on trumpet and flugelhorn, Rick Husband on guitar and Aaron Amar on drums. These well-known Vancouver Island musicians play an exciting Latin infused program that recognizes the incredible talent of composers such as Chick Corea, Russell Ferrante and Pat Metheny.

Expect to hear some classic Chick Corea including 鈥淪pain鈥�, 鈥淎rmando鈥檚 Rhumba鈥� and 鈥淲indows鈥� and Husband鈥檚 interpretation of Pat Metheny鈥檚 鈥淏etter Days Ahead鈥� and 鈥淚t鈥檚 Just Talk.鈥�

Rachel and Jay will also demonstrate their uncanny ability to play so well together with a bit of flugelhorn and electric wind instrument (EWI) in renditions of an original tune called 鈥淕alleon, 鈥渁nd Chick Corea鈥檚 鈥淐rystal Silence.鈥�

With the addition of drummer extraordinaire Aaron Amar and some percussion from Jay and Rachel, Sympatico is ready to energize and delight you with their upcoming two-session program at 7:30 pm.

Sympatico is an energetic infusion of talent, conceived to be unique and enjoyed by all. If you are new to the Valley and love jazz music, or just getting into it, this will be a great night to come down and discover the safe and social atmosphere at The Av, and why it is that Comox Valley has created the most enviable jazz scene in B.C.

Admission to this show is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. For more info on the band please see

Visit for full information about the GSJS and its calendar of events between now and next May.