Joyous Jazz is three friends, each with the versatile and
brilliant skills
of seasoned performers, improvising on the jazz standards of the Great
American Songbook. Guitarist Pat Coleman, pianist/drummer Misha
Piatigorsky
and Neil Swainson, Canada's leading jazz bassist, offer an intimate,
exciting experience for all at ArtSpring Friday, July 28 2006 at 8:00pm.
Considered the peak of popular songwriting and characterized by
unforgettable melodies, the Great American Songbook forms a large
influential part of jazz music today. Many of these songs were
specifically
written for Broadway or motion picture musicals by such illustrious
composers as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Rogers and Hammerstein.
Improvising on a treasure trove of tunes, ArtSpring presents three of
Canada's most impressive jazz improvisers, each of whom regularly performs
with the world's jazz elite.
Pat Coleman is one of the finest guitar players anywhere performing with
the
likes of John Gross, Paul Horn, PJ Perry, Pat LaBarbara, Don Thompson, Mel
Tormé, Pete Christlieb and Kenny Wheeler. Also a composer and sound
producer
for movies and other media, Pat's taste and musicality has made an
indelible
impression on everyone who enters his orbit.
Misha Piatigorsky won top honours at the International Jazz Composers
Competition, an annual event held at the Kennedy Center during the
Thelonious Monk Institute's International Jazz Competition. He grew up
listening to his father compose music for the Taganka Theatre, and from
the
age of 5, he studied classical piano. Misha immigrated to the US with his
family at the age of 8, and at 16, he discovered jazz. He has produced,
written and arranged for singers including Mariani Ebert, Barbara Mendes,
Judy Bady, and Ayelet Piatigorsky. He performs worldwide with his
ensembles
Trio Del Sol, AYA, and the Piatigorsky Ensemble.
Neil Swainson was born in Victoria, BC. The bassist got his start in Victoria
and
Vancouver, later moving to Toronto. A very active member of the music
scene,
his associations encompass Herb Ellis, Joe Farrell, Slide Hampton, Pat
LaBarbera, Joanne Brackeen, Ed Bickert, Pat Coleman, Moe Koffman, Woody
Shaw, James Moody, Sonny Stitt, George Coleman and Zoot Sims. In 1986 Neil
began working with George Shearing - a partnership of touring and
recording
that continues to this day.
Neil Swainson has appeared at ArtSpring with the Rob McConnell Trio and with
saxophonist Campbell Ryga and pianist Renee Rosnes.
The Joy of Jazz performance is part of ArtSpring's Sizzling Summer Nights
Festival, which is sponsored by
Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art. For a
special treat, the concession bar features some locally made delicacies
from
Salt Spring Gelato Delizioso.
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