A once-in-a-lifetime ensemble of some of Canada's best jazz musicians has been announced as Nanaimo International Jazz Festival's headliner in a one-time show.
Led by multiple Juno winner and Order of Canada recipient, saxophonist Phil Dwyer, the Canadian All Stars Sextet features Nanaimo saxophonist Christine Jensen, guitarist Ted Quinlan, trumpet player Alexander Brown, bassist Roberto Occhipinti and drummer Terry Clarke.
"It's actually a one-time only group that's specifically put together for the Nanaimo jazz festival so it's literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Dwyer told the News Bulletin.
While it will be their first time playing publicly as a group, Dwyer said he has played with each musician personally. Many of them he's had a professional relationship with for 40 years.
"Essentially, these are all musicians I've worked with for most of my career who all have achieved great things in their own careers. They're all band leaders and well-known recording artists and educators with flourishing careers of their own, and I'm bringing them together for this special concert in Nanaimo."
The reason why he brought them together, Dwyer said, is because he could.
"I'm a local myself, and I saw an opportunity to bring to the community a group of musicians who the local music fans might otherwise not have an opportunity to ever hear play together…" he said. "All of the musicians in the group have different connections to each other in different ways, so there's all kinds of different inter-connectedness within the group itself."
The performance is anticipated to include some Cuban jazz, traditional 1950s-'60s jazz, some pieces from the Great American Songbook, original music from various band members and, according to Dwyer, some surprises.
He said he would like people to leave their show feeling a sense of positivity.
"Come to the Port Theatre and experience it for yourself. Ultimately, it's something that can't really be put into words. If it was something that could be put into words we wouldn't need the music."
The Canadian All Stars Sextet performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Port Theatre, as part of the festival which runs from Sept.12-15. Throughout the festival, evening concerts will be held at various venues in downtown Nanaimo.
Free performances will be held on the Wesley Street stage in the Old City Quarter, creating, what the festival described in a press release, as a chance to "experience live jazz in an open, accessible setting, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds."
On Saturday, Sept. 14, a traditional New Orleans-style parade will take place at 11:30 a.m., beginning at the Lions Pavilion in Maffeo-Sutton Park and ending at McGregor Park.
Leading up to the week is an art exhibition with live jazz at the Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio on Friday, Sept. 6, from 6-9 p.m.
For more information on the festival lineup, schedule and participating venues, visit www.nanaimojazzfest.ca.
