Energy and stage presence is the way the audience described David Woodhead's group of musicians, Confabulation, who stormed across the Heritage Playhouse stage on July 13 as part of the fundraising Showcase of the Performing Arts (SOPA). The well-attended concert began with jazz, wild and free, and went on to give new meaning to arrangements of tunes by the late composer and musician Oliver Schroer.
While Woodhead, a Toronto multi-instrumentalist, displayed his ability on guitar and ukulele, the Shuffle Demons' Richard Underhill showed great control of the saxophone. Drummer Rich Greenspoon and keyboardist Doug Wilde added to the mix with their own talents. Jaron Freeman-Fox on violin is no stranger to the Coast, where his mentor, Schroer, was so well known. For those new to the Coast, it's hard to describe the lasting effect that this late musician's work has had on young music students, except to say that his legacy lives on and Confabulation can really rock a Schroer tune.
Last Saturday (July 16), vocalist Anna Beaumont from Edmonton also wowed a smaller audience with the intensity of her pure, clear voice. Her fascination with the poetry of 13th century mystical poet Rumi and 14th century poet Hafiz, whose work adapts extraordinarily well to contemporary lyrics, made for some strange repertoire. Beaumont was equally at home singing jazz or gospel: God Bless the Child or a Gershwin tune. The switch from jazz to Rumi and back again happened almost seamlessly.
Beaumont was assisted by three of the Coast's finer musicians: Anna Lumiere was priceless on piano, Barry Taylor on drums and Paul Steenhuis showed several variations on bass. A few chants and hums from the audience helped make the show a fascinating experience.
Don't you wish you had been there? Well, it's not too late to catch more SOPA events. Virtuoso Brazilian guitarist, percussionist and composer Celso Machado, performs tonight (July 22) at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $18 at SOPA outlets.
Then on Saturday Miss Berni G takes to the stage in Frenz, Foolz 'n Fun. You can guess what antics might ensue when you learn that her special guest is Miss Vaudeville, the comical Susie Francis. Michael Gifford also performs; he's a key player in the Kootenays' klezmer group Heavy Shtetl and he plays the tuba, cornet, string bass and guitar. And Miss G never goes anywhere without her loyal back up crew: Ian McLatchie, Gary McGuire and Alan Burns.
This is the concert that closes SOPA for another year. Tickets are $15 sold at Gaia's Fair Trade and Laedeli (formerly Hallmark Cards) in Gibsons and Sechelt Visitor Centre.
The money raised from SOPA events goes to the theatre. Audiences have applauded the foresight of the Gibsons Landing Heritage Society in converting this much loved building into today's super venue. For event information, see www.heritageplayhouse.com.
