June 2010
Welcome to the Georgia Straight Jazz Society Newsletter, keeping you up to date on the local and Vancouver Island jazz scene and informed about your Society.
AT THE JAZZ CLUB
Jazz at the Elks
Don't miss the last two Thursdays of the season!
We're "going out big" - Big Band, that is:
June 3 - Arrowsmith Big Band
June 10 - Georgia Strait Big Band
7:30 pm, at Courtenay's Elk's Hall, September through July. No cover.
Watch for a great new line up starting September 2010.
Schedule subject to change.
SOCIETY NEWS
Volunteers
The Jazz Society is fortunate to have an incredible group of volunteers that keep everything running smoothly. If you've attended a Thursday Jazz Club or Sunday concert you've seen some of them - collecting your donations, selling tickets, operating the sound equipment. Many work behind the scenes, schedulng and coordinating the events, setting up the equipment each week, handling administrative tasks, handling memberships, preparing press releases, updating the web site, this newsletter . . . .
On June 10th we're hosting a special event for the volunteers to thank them for all they've done to make the 2009/2010 season the best ever for both the Society and all those who enjoyed the Jazz Club and Concerts. The Society couldn't function without them.
There is always room for others to help out. The Society has no paid employees - it is entirely volunteer-run. If you can contribute a bit of your time, we would love to have you on the team. If you have an applicable skill, we're happy to take advantage of it. If you don't, we're happy to take advantage of that too!
Become a volunteer
Fill out the on-line volunteer form on the Society web site
or
Email our volunteer coordinator at volunteers@georgiastraightjazz.com
or
Talk to any other volunteer at the Thursday Jazz Club
Photographer ~ Review Writer ~ Promo and Publicity ~ Sound Operator ~ Equipment Handler ~ Performance Emcee ~ Performance Scheduler and Organizer ~ Membership Coordinator ~ Web Site Maintainer ~ Newsletter Publisher ~ Money Handler ~ Ticket Taker and Greeter
JAZZ NEWS
The Jazz Singers
Have you ever heard a jazz vocal and wanted to know more about the singer? Look no further than "The Jazz Singers", an encyclopedic guide to the world of vocal jazz. Written by Scott Yarnow, the book includes over 500 singers, from Bessie Smith to Diana Krall, Jelly Roll Morton to Kurt Elling.
It also has a great overview of the art and history of jazz vocalism. He lists "Ten Songs That Should Be Avoided" because they've been "sung to death", and the number of years until they should be heard again, starting in 2008. The quotes are from the author:
- Over the Rainbow (5 years)
- Round Midnight (5 years)
- Love For Sale (10 years)
- Lover Man (15 years)
- Summertime (20 years)
- All Blues ("the world is sick of this song - 25 years")
- Send in the Clowns (30 years)
- God Bless the Child (40 years) (Karen at the Elks would agree! Ed.)
- Stolen Moments ("Why does anyone sing a theme which repeats the same 3 notes 11 straight times? 50 years")
- My Funny Valentine ("Forever").