Jennifer Scott says she and her husband Rene Worst share a psychic connection, which comes in handy when they write, record and perform music together.
“With Rene and I, there’s the economy of working together and travelling together, but there’s also the depth of that perception and understanding of the music,” the Vancouver-based jazz singer and pianist said of her bass-playing husband.
“It works really well. I know a lot of married couples probably would not be able to be together 24-7 the way we are, but we’re soul mates so we actually really enjoy being together as much as we are.”
The musical couple are heading to Nanaimo for a show at the Lighthouse Bistro on Sunday, June 17. It’s been more than a year since they last played the venue and Scott said she was happy to be invited back. Her last time on a Nanaimo stage was two and a half weeks ago when she sang with the Island Soul Choir at the Port Theatre.
She added that she has a personal connection to the Island, as her mother was born in Nanaimo and she still has cousins living in the city, as well as other relatives in Victoria and Sooke. She’s also considered moving here herself.
At their concert Scott and Worst will be joined by local drummer Hans Verhoeven. He played with them during their previous Lighthouse show. Scott said Verhoeven understands the couple’s musical intuition.
“Playing with him was such a joy because he kind of ‘got’ the connection, if you know what I mean,” she said.
“A lot of musicians might be intimidated by that but he certainly wasn’t and he’s such a great player so it’s always exciting to work with him.”
At the show the duo will be drawing on new material from their most recent records, Arrival, recorded with Vancouver guitarist Bill Coon and released this year, and a duet album that is in the mixing and mastering stage and its release is now in the hands of the “manufacturing gods,” according to Scott. She added that it will be a diverse show.
“Essentially what we have is a real mixture of disciplines, a real mixture of source material because we are definitely jazz musicians but we like to draw our repertoire from a lot of different resources,” she said.
“Anything from, say, The Beatles to Miles Davis to Brazilian music.”
WHAT’S ON … Jennifer Scott, Rene Worst and Hans Verhoeven perform at the Lighthouse Bistro on Sunday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, available at the Lighthouse Bistro (250-754-3212), Fascinating Rhythm or www.quadwranglemusic.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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