A few new venues, a new group of organizers, and old, familiar magic surrounded the Pender Harbour Jazz Festival this year as it celebrated its 12th annual event.
Last Friday evening, the Performance Centre in Madeira Park was packed to hear the mellow Jodi Proznick Quartet, and yes, we all wanted to see how Proznick would wrap herself around a big bass fiddle when she is nearly nine months pregnant. With ease, apparently. She and her husband, pianist Tilden Webb, set the pace for the other two musicians, a stellar sax player, Steve Kaldestad, and drummer Jesse Cahill, all of whom met at the McGill University jazz program a decade ago.
They opened with an easy listening number, performed an original composition inspired by their 28-pound cat York and segued nicely into a song that Webb wrote for Proznick for their wedding day. A Peter Gabriel composition arranged by Webb was a highlight - a delicate melody that demonstrated the quartet's harmony and polish. A National Jazz Award winner in 2008, Proznick told the audience that she was most proud of the award for Acoustic Group of the Year since it put her on stage with three of her favourite people.
Over at the Grasshopper Pub, two members of the Sweet Pea Swing Band were sweating a little on stage while waiting for another two musicians who had taken a wrong turn at the ferry line-up. Andrew Smith on guitar and vocals and Derek Difilippo on bass did an admirable job on old favourites such as All of Me, inspiring dancers and earning applause before a handsome saxophonist and drummer showed up at 10 p.m. There Will Never Be Another You has never sounded better.
Saturday was a difficult choice between the Dylan Cramer Quartet at the Sunshine Coast Resort and the Sibel Thrasher concert at Motoko's Art Gallery. It's hard to resist Thrasher, the consummate entertainer. Apparently, 600 people agreed as they crowded into the natural amphitheatre setting outside the art gallery in Garden Bay. The curious deer looked on while Thrasher opened with the song greeting: "There's a smile on my face for the whole Pender race," then dazzled the crowd with old jazz favourites, plus a samba and brief gospel rendition. Chris Nordquist joined her on drums, Dave Guiney on bass and the excellent Tom Keenlyside on sax. The best moment was when Thrasher sang a Billie Holiday tune, God Bless the Child, perhaps inspired by the many kids in the audience. After she delivered the vocals with passion, Keenlyside sang it again with his articulate sax - two instruments, voice and saxophone, each powerful. Les Fowler, a Jazz Festival founder, was in the audience and graciously acknowledged the current festival's success. A new festival venue, Rockwater at Secret Cove, also reported success. General manager Darren Pound said the audience had a great time with the sounds of the Ken Johnson Duo and the event attracted a mixture of locals and resort guests. The new Painted Boat Resort in Madeira Park also jumped in this year to host three events.
One of the most unusual venues probably won't be around for long. The Pender Harbour Landing location consists of raw home sites in the forest, and the Jill Townsend Big Band, 14 strong, took over an asphalt parking lot that will likely become a subdivision road. Under the direction of conductor Townsend, Bill Coon opened with a guitar solo and many well known names turned up: Keenlyside and Proznick again, Phil Dwyer on tenor sax and a four person strong 'bone section that rang out jazz standards to an appreciative crowd.
