Canuck Audio Mart

Thanks to a corporate donation my company makes to JazzFM91 I was fortunate to be invited to a Jaymz Bee hosted Jazz Safari... club hopping to 5 destinations by way of the JazzFM91 Magic Bus no lesss.

It started at the Tex Rex where we heard Runcible Spoon, an all female jazz chamber group, play a set. Unfortuantly it was early Friday, the club was packed with TGIFers and hence the listening wasn't great. Still I heard enought to make me really want to hear this group in a better setting! Bet their recording are excellent as well.

Then over to the Lula Lounge to dine and take in a set of venezuelan diva Eliana Cuevas and her group for some nice latin jazz.

The highlight, over to the The Boiler House in the very cool distillery district to hear vetran trumpeter Kevin Clark and his quartet with special guest saxaphonist Pat LaBarbera (who recorded for many years with Buddy Rich). There's nothing to compare with decades of experience and top talent and it showed, big time!

Just seated at the Dominion on Queen and glancing up to take in a very young and petite Marieve Herington backed by a quartet not a single one of which can be 20 years old solicited a chuckle, especially in the afterglow of the Clark/LaBarbera performance, and I definitely overheard a few "looks a high school band" comments.

Well Herington, who fittingly does Blossum Dearie covers, and group did not disappoint and we were literally blown away by the talent, especially by the sax work of 17 years old Rob Christian... make note of the name as his star will likely be rising. Sophia Perlman guest appears for a few duets and performed a solo hurting, steamy blues that brought the house down despite the claim of some of her serior colleauges she's neither "old enough nor messed-up enough" to perfrom the number. WOW!

Finally, organization of the Safari becoming a little frayed, it was off to a very busy and crowded Reservoir Lounge to hear the Chet Valiant Combo (I bleieve that's it?). Here was have a ragged fun oriented outfit, a interesting of mix of cool Rock-a-Billy presenation (visual anyway) and hot swinging Brooklin/New Orleans Jazz... have to see to appreciate.

Jaymz Bee is a great host, funny, entertaining and totally the opposite of uppidty. Anyone having the chance to join a Safari should jump at the opportunity!

Well B#'s, consider yourself thoroughly spoilt! I'm having a hard time finding one outfit locally that is worth checking out and you get 5 of 'em . Wow!

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to provide us with a review of your evening, glad you had such a good time...it sure sounds like a blast!!

Cheers