Shows in February Continued – Nick La Riviere, Flora Ware, and More
Trombonist Nick La Riviere is back at Hermann’s next Friday with a string-loaded septet that promises a great show. Adrian Dolan, Karel Roessingh, and Damian Graham are just three of the musicians who will help La Riviere serve up his lively sound. He also promises “a very special guest” who usually only plays big theatre gigs. Friday, Feb. 24, 8pm, Hermann’s, Tickets $16 at the door. 250-388-9166 for reservations.
Vancouver vocalist and pianist Flora Ware returns to the Island next week with her unique brand of hip jazz and original soul/pop. I recently
Vocalist Flora Ware appears in Courtenay, Duncan and Victoria
listened to her debut album Insight produced by Rick Kilburn and Peter Berring and I can tell you this lady is good. She’s been compared to Nora Jones but frankly Ware is better, at least on record, with more power and intimacy in her voice. She’s at the Elks Hall in Courtenay on Thursday, Feb. 23, the Duncan Garage Showroom on Friday, Feb. 24, and Hermann’s on Saturday, Feb. 25. All shows are at 8pm. For the Victoria show at least, she’ll be joined by John MacArthur on guitar, Damian Graham on drums, and Victoria-born-and-raised Sam Shoichet on bass. I’d reserve for this one. More info and music samples at her website.
Jazz at the Gallery presents the Tony Westlake Trio in concert on Sunday, February 26 at 2 pm at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. The Spencer Mansion offers a beautiful setting for the kind of intimate piano jazz that Westlake will deliver . As Joe Coughlin remarked following his appearance there in January, it’s like attending one of the old salon concerts in the homes of the wealthy. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and you can take in the art as well. Tickets are limited and so get them early. $30/$25 for U-JAM and AGGV members. (250) 384-4171
If you like your jazz with food, a number of weekly restaurant and lounge shows are also happening this month. U-JAM has an excellent calendar on their site listing the venues. Check it out here.
If you are in Nanaimo tonight (Friday, Feb. 17) take in The Marty’s at the Front Street Grill with vocalist Joan Wallace. The Marty’s are Marty Steele on keys, Marty Howe on flute and jazz chromatic harmonica and James McRae on drums. They promise a lively mix of standards, bossa nova, and hot Latin. 8 – 11:30 pm. No cover. If you can’t make it this Friday, or you would like to sit in with the Marty’s, go down to Diners on Tuesday Feb 21st 8:00 to 11:00pm, where they’ll open with a Gershwin set and then host a “Master Jam” at Rendezvous.
