The Pender Harbour Jazz Festival traditionally takes place on the third weekend in September and has done so for the past 20 years. It’s on hiatus this year, but the Pender Harbour Music Society still wants to mark the weekend with music.
“We wanted to make sure there was still jazz in the Harbour,” said director Marg Penney. A free student jazz clinic on Friday, Sept. 15 at 12:45 p.m. takes place with band leader Scott Robertson. Arrangements have been made with local high schools to bring students to the Community Hall in Madeira Park for the clinic. The public is welcome to attend this event but students and teachers will be seated first.
On Saturday evening, Sept. 16, Jen Hodge and her All Stars perform at 7 p.m. at the School of Music. She is a bassist and band leader as well as a rising star on the jazz scene. Tickets for $25 are at Harbour Insurance, Sechelt Visitor Centre and at pender
harbourmusic.ca/concert-tickets.
Long-time jazz fest co-ordinator Carole Rubin retired last year, and the society is still searching for the right person to replace her in organizing the 2018 Jazz Festival.
“We’re hopeful for next year,” Penney said. Meanwhile a local restaurant that was often a venue for the jazz fest has stepped up with musical entertainment for all three days.
Rock the Dock, a group of musical enthusiasts, who for many years have travelled to various music festivals, will be performing at John Henry’s in Garden Bay. The group is fluid in membership depending upon personal schedules but numbers from about five to nine at any given event. The glue that binds them is their individual love of music, boats and airplanes. They have agreed to perform three different times at John Henry’s because they are also keen to keep the Pender Harbour Jazz Festival spirit alive for the future.
On Friday, Sept. 15, a few members of Rock the Dock will play at the Café at John Henry’s during roast beef dinner time, from 5 to 8 p.m. There is no cover charge. On Saturday, Sept. 16, the entire group will be on the lawn outside John Henry’s from noon to 4 p.m. And Sunday brunch is served from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with music from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reservations for dinner and/or brunch are strongly recommended by calling 604-883-2336, ext. 3.
