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Friends and fans remember musician

Nanaimo - Gathering Sunday (Nov. 4) held in honour of Vancouver Island Latin jazz musician Jenna Flor
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Friends and fans are gathering to celebrate the life of Jenna Flor Sunday (Nov. 4) 2-4 p.m. at Demeter’s Coffee Vault.

Friends and fans are gathering Sunday to remember Vancouver Island musician Jenna Flor during a memorial birthday celebration.

Flor died last year in September after a short battle with cancer. She performed on Gabriola Island and Vancouver Island and worked with many groups over the years, including Bossa Breeze, Bossa Loca and TerraZetto.

“She was a very gracious and vivacious musician and person. She had a lot of life in her,” said Ken Brault, a member of the Latin jazz duo TerraZetto. “She had so much expertise as a musician. She far exceeded my level of musicianship but she always made you feel like an equal.”

Brault said Flor had a way of drawing people out and engaging them in music.

“You never felt like she was playing down to you,” said Brault.

He said she performed with many Vancouver Island musicians over the years and travelled across Europe and England to share her songs.

Flor was also a member of TerraZetto and Brault said it was “quite a blow” to the band when she passed away.

The band was in the middle of finishing its album when she died. Before passing away Flor had recorded guitar and violin tracks that they re-tweaked and used in the songs.

Flor was born in England. She started busking in Paris at 17. She played across Europe and eventually came to Canada.

In Montreal Flor spent eight years performing with various Brazilian and Latin groups and was part of several Island bands.

The celebration features an open jam for Flor where people can perform, connect and share stories.

It is Sunday (Nov. 4) 2-4 p.m. at Demeter’s Coffee Vault, located at 499 Wallace St.

arts@nanaimobulletin.com