Though a few of Saturday's clouds sprinkled rain, the 13th annual Pender Harbour Jazz Festival still attracted a big audience to many outdoor events.
The popular choice seemed to be mellow jazz classics, the smooth music of years gone by. One of the nicest surprises was the Company B Big Band. A trio of young vocalists, Shannon Scott, Juhli Conlinn and Emily Lyall, joined with other youthful musicians such as Evan Arntzen on saxophone to bring back the music of their grandparents' era. The Painted Boat Resort fired up the salmon and chicken barbecue for the occasion and a few hundred people crowded into its green space.
Other highlights included nostalgia for Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis by vocalist Don Stewart at the Music School's stage on Saturday evening. Stewart, who can really hold a note, was backed by a consummate team of Ron Johnston on piano, Dave Robbins on drums, Dave Guiney on bass and Daryl Jahnke on guitar.
While crowds packed into the Grasshopper Pub to hear D and the Hot Club of Mars, many more crammed the community hall to dance with Brickhouse. On the dock at John Henry's, local musicians Graham Ord, Barry Taylor and Chris Andersen pushed the boundaries of modern and original jazz.
Sunday's highlight had to be the gorgeous vocals of Canadian Laila Biali who now lives in New York and has just finished a dream job working with Sting. She sang an eclectic repertoire at Motoko's Fine Art Studio along with Jodi Proznick on bass and Morgan Childs on drums.
Plans for next year's festival on the third weekend in September are underway. See www.phjazz.ca for all the details.
