BRIA'S HOT FIVE

Oh, Happy Day! The Hot Five became Six today with the addition of Matthew Bowman on Trombone. His 'promotion' was deserved and the Band played with fire and finesse. Ron Thompson subbed for Josh Roberts on Bjo/Gtr and settled in o.k. Bria is playing all over the world these days. Japan, France,US etc. as a featured guest at festivals. The Band plans to do a CD shortly. The larger group, The Big Bang JB will be at the WRTJS minifest in June but before that there is the Chilliwack Jazz Fest in May. Heigh-Ho!

JAZZ AT CAMBRIAN HALL

So keen was I to laud the Stompin' Hot Jazz Band that I forgot my activities of the previous day! The Vancouver Dixieland Jazz Society has started a series of once a month dances at The Cambrian Hall. This hall was built by a bunch of Welshmen way back and has a nice stage and good acoustics. Anyway Saturday, February 14, it was the turn of The Hollyburn Ramblers to entertain and play for dancers. Good it was! The five piece band was led by Alan Matheson(Cnt/Fl), Rob Mackenzie(Tmb), Jim Lazenby(Bjo), Craig Scott(Dms) and Steve Toren(Tuba)(I think). The music owed a lot to the Bix Beiderbeck repertory and was nicely played. How nice to hear Alan do justice to his passion. The event is the brainchild of Joel & Louise Schwartz to provide a venue for the younger jazz fans who like to do 'Swing Dancing'. The Hall does not have a liquor licence but ...
(Earlier in the day I had attended a Golf Expo at BC Place where I found an Adams Insight Driver for $40.00. This is compatible with my current set of clubs so I'm all set.) Lots to do and so little time! Heigh Ho!

STOMPIN' HOT JAZZ BAND

This photo of The Dixie Nine was taken a couple of years ago at the Dixie Fest presented by the Vancouver Dixieland Jazz Society. The musicians were from Chilliwack High School where they have a dixieland jazz option in their music programme. This was the alma mater of Bria Skonberg. The promise they showed then was amply justified at their recent gig at the White Rock Traditional Jazz Society regular Sunday afternoon dance. Now calling themselves the Stompin' Hot Jazz Band they have reduced to a six member band with a couple of personnel changes. Their performance was excellent. Musicianship superb, arrangements minimal but effective, repertoire and style well within the New Orleans tradition. They had a large Valentines Day crowd crowding the dance floor all afternoon. I was particularly impressed by the trombone of Matthew Bowman which was precise and a propos. Bonnie Northgraves, trumpet, demonstrated a fine command of the instrument with a bravura style. The rest of the band were up to the task - Adam Van Loon, clarinet and a rhythm section of Tristan Martin,Brittany Waslen and Mitch Foster. The verve of the playing and jazz sensibility makes them a joy to listen to. They have a CD available titled 'No Grey Area' which speaks to their attitude of loyalty to the early jazz tradition.
Next Sunday WRTJS presents Bria's Hot Five - could life be better than this!