16th Season of Jazz Vespers is underway: Featuring David Vest on November 2 at 7 pm
by Bernadette Greene
Legendary blues pianist David Vest will be joined by drummer Damian Graham and bassist Ryan Tandy for an evening of Jazz Vespers at St. John’s United Church on November 2 at 7:00 p.m. Well-respected as a blues and boogie-woogie player, Vest is equally comfortable playing jazz and country blues ballads.
Did you know that Jazz Vespers began in New York in the 1960’s as a church service of prayer and jazz designed for the city’s jazz musicians who couldn’t make it to Sunday morning services after playing late Saturday night gigs? St. John’s United Church recognizes the strong link between music and spirit and realizes that providing a venue in North Saanich for the multitude of high-caliber musicians in the Victoria area is a benefit not just for the church, but also for our rural community and local musicians. Unlike in jazz clubs or restaurants, the musicians, usually in trios and quartets, have an attentive audience who come just to listen. It’s a great way to wind down from the weekend and feel refreshed at the outset of a new week.
Alabama-born David Vest began playing professionally at age 14, and by age 18, in 1962, was opening for Roy Orbison. Having grown up in Birmingham, Alabama, not far from Tuxedo Junction, he’s had a colourful career that’s included knife fights, being shot at, and playing in moonshine hangouts. Since then he has gone on to play with Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Dorsey Band, Bo Diddley, Jimmy T99 Nelson, Floyd Dixon, Lavelle White and others. He wrote the first songs recorded by Tammy Wynette. In 2012, he was voted Blues Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year by the Toronto Blues Society. With many CD’s to his name, his 2014 CD, Roadhouse Revelation, shot up the Canadian Roots Music charts.
For a taste of Vest’s talent, check out these videos: https://davidvest.ca/video/
Born in New Zealand and raised on the west coast of Canada, Damian Graham’s musical diversity has led to performances with some of the finest musicians in the country and abroad, including Michael Kaeshammer, The Paperboys, David Gogo, Toni Childs, Marc Atkinson, and Paul Pigat. He has also shared the stage with Joshua Redman, Holly Cole, Buddy Guy, and Joey DeFrancesco. He has performed all over Canada, the USA and Europe, and has appeared at jazz festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Germany, Sweden, the USA and Denmark. As well as playing drums, Graham regularly works as a producer, engineer, and composer and has run his own label, Bagel Boy Records, since 1989.
Ryan Tandy has been inspired by bassist Ray Brown and influenced by Christian McBride and others. Born in Auckland, NZ, and raised in Victoria, Ryan played gigs on piano, bass, and drums in high school before going on to establish his career as a bassist. He’s been a member of Lust Life Jazz Band since 2009 and appears on their CD “On Remembrance” (2011). In 2012, Ryan joined Nick La Riviere, Art Booker, and Damian Graham in forming New Orleans-inspired funk group The Hi-Fi, who recorded their third EP, “On Tap”, in 2016. An in-demand sideman, Ryan appears alongside local and touring artists. Recent highlights include performances with Stephanie Greaves, David Vest, and Michael Kaeshammer.
And on January 4th, Jazz Vespers favourite Karel Roessingh will perform jazz standards and originals with his trio.
Jazz Vespers services begin at 7:00 p.m. St. John’s United Church is located at 10990 West Saanich Road, across from Deep Cove School. An offering will be taken to fairly compensate the musicians and cover the Vespers program (suggested donation is $20 per person). Everyone is welcome.
