Forbidden Jazz headlines the Royal Coachman Pub this Sunday afternoon.
Featuring Jake Masri on trumpet, flugelhorn, and vocals, Michael Eddy on keyboard, Grahame Edwards on bass, and Tom Tinsley on drums/vibes, these seasoned musicians will appeal to audiences of all ages by showcasing a wide variety of timeless jazz standards plus originals.
Representing more than four decades of experience, their unique blend of voice, brass, and strings will weave their collective magic through three sets of entertaining music.
Keyboard master Michael Eddy is one of the hardest working and sought after pianists in the Comox Valley. Although relatively new to the area, he has been fortunate enough to collaborate with many fantastic musicians over the past few years, including those in the Lensmen, Jazztet, SwingStreet, DMN, and the CR Big Band.
During a long and distinguished career, he has performed with a multitude of groups and was Musical Director for Keyano College Theatre in Fort McMurray for ten years.
Talented multi instrumentalist Grahame Edwards, aside from both acoustic and electric bass, also plays percussion and trumpet. He has appeared with countless local ensembles and productions in every genre from choral to musical theatre, big band jazz to classical. His first musical love, however, lies with improvised music and he enjoys playing and composing his own jazz tunes. In addition to performing, Edwards has taught both privately and in School District 72, and enjoys sharing his music by conducting workshops and clinics.
Joining the trio on vibes and drums is Tom Tinsley.
Don’t remind him he has played percussion for almost half a century, because deep inside he still feels like a teenager.
In addition to teaching drums at various points in his life, Tinsley has appeared in a variety of groups performing genres of music such as Jazz, Rock, Latin, Pop, Big Band, Musical Theatre, Symphonic (with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra), Choral, and Modern Dance. Aside from drums, his passion remains the vibraphone (played with four mallets), both as a solo instrument and in small group settings.
No stranger to the local music scene, Jake Masri draws his inspiration from classical repertoire to musical theatre to Afro-Cuban/New Orleans, and Bebop styles.
His passion for jazz is directly linked to artists such as Herb Alpert, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Arturo Sandoval. Masri studied trumpet with Boyd Hood, Gerald Gerbrecht, and trombonist Dave Robbins.
His studies in jazz exposed him to pros such as Mike Herriot, Bill Clarke, and Hugh Fraser during the local CYMC summer program. Since moving to Comox in 2002, Masri has appeared with Quintessence Brass, 6th Street, Jazztown, and Jazz Noir combos, Sounds of 17, Georgia Straight, Arrowsmith, CR Big Bands, Zandhunga and Luzna Latin Bands, Strathcona Symphony Orchestra, and Just in Time Jazz Choir.
The Coachman invites you to join in a casual, entertaining afternoon of jazz. Music begins at 1 p.m. and admission is by donation.
The licensed kitchen will offer a lunch menu of chef inspired cuisine along with a wide selection of beverages.
For more information contact the Royal Coachman Pub at 250 286-0231, or simply drop by 84 Dogwood Street.