The newly-minted Campbell River Jazz and Blues Festival debuts Wednesday, July 24, and runs through Saturday, July 27.
The festival will feature 16 performances by 14 different artists at six locations around town co-presented by the City’s CR Live Streets and Highway 19 Concert Society.
The festival begins with the CR Live Streets Blues Night event on Wednesday, July 24, featuring 23-year-old blues rock phenom Garett T. Willie. Originally from Kingcome Inlet and Alert Bay, Willie’s career has taken off with the release of his album Same Pain, taking him across the country and beyond, and back again for this special hometown concert with his band. Opening the show will be a solo set by local favourite Luke Blu Guthrie.
Guthrie performs again on Thursday, July 25, this time as a duo with American fiddle virtuoso and new Comox Valley resident Matt Menard at SoCal Restaurant from 6 to 9 p.m., while jazz quintet Vintage Velvet, led by vocalist Mel McCutcheon will play a mix of elegant standards and innovative contemporary tunes from 6 to 8 p.m. at Match Eatery & Public House. Ambitious music fans can catch a set and a bite to eat at each.
On Friday, July 26, the music starts at 3 p.m. with Doc Fingers and Blaine Dunaway on the fabulous Discovery Deck at the Anchor Inn, followed by Ali Romanow at 5 p.m. Guitarist Tony Wilson’s Longhand Trio play in Spirit Square at 7 p.m., joined by Berlin-based pianist Tyson Naylor, who has family ties to the Discovery Islands. Also starting at 7 p.m., but running later into the night, the Ralph Barrat Trio will be hosting a jazz jam at the Eagles Lounge, and the late set at Match features Quadra Island quartet Blue Kats playing from 8 until 10:30 p.m.
There are two chances to catch Ontario’s old-time blues multi-instrumentalist Danny Boy Phelan when he visits the Island: at SoCal at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 26, and at Beach Fire Brewing at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 27. Phelan plays the banjo, harmonica, guitar and piano, specializing in delta blues, old time roots and ragtime jazz that takes listeners back to a golden era of American song.
Saturday, July 27, the final day of the festival, begins with a special 2 p.m. performance at Match by Campbell River’s teen jazz sensations the Rivercity Sidemen, joined by their teacher and mentor, Nanaimo pianist and saxophone player Nico Rhodes. Meanwhile, on the Discovery Deck at the Anchor Inn and Suites, Canadian jazz veterans Barbara Fisher and John Hyde play a duo set at 2 p.m., followed by Quadra Island quartet Jazz on the Rocks at 4 p.m.
The festival wraps up back at Spirit Square at 7 p.m. with the brooding grooves of King Cardiac, a six-piece band led by songwriter and guitarist Gabriel DeSantis, backed up by Toronto heavyweights on bass, drums, keys and horns. A final blues jam will also take place Saturday night at the Eagles Lounge beginning at 7 p.m., hosted by local favourites Tightrope.
All performances are free to attend, although food and beverage minimums apply at pubs and restaurants. All shows are all-ages, with the exception of the shows at the Eagles Hall and the late show at Match. The CR Jazz and Blues Festival is funded by the Province of BC and the City of Campbell River, with support from the Anchor Inn and Suites and Long & McQuade (the Music Plant). For the full schedule and performer and venue information, go to www.highway19.ca/CRjazzandblues
