It Takes a Valley: Pacific Blue Big Band Plays to Support the Next Generation of Jazz
The Georgia Straight Jazz Society is bringing together some of the finest musicians of today with the jazz artists of tomorrow for a very special evening on Saturday, November 7, from 7–9 pm at St. George’s United Church in Courtenay.
Taking centre stage is the Pacific Blue Big Band of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Naden Band, an energetic 18-piece ensemble traveling from Victoria for the occasion.
Pacific Blue’s repertoire spans the decades, from the great Big Band Swing Era to the funk hits of today — and just about everything in between. In concert, the band draws from both classic and contemporary big band repertoire, with a special emphasis on works by Canadian and local composers and arrangers, including original music from members of the band itself. With 18 musicians filling the stage, expect the full-throttle sound of saxophones, trumpets and trombones backed by a driving rhythm section — big band music as it was meant to be heard.
But there’s another reason this promises to be an exceptional evening.
The concert launches the Georgia Straight Jazz Society Award at Capilano University, a new initiative designed to help young musicians pursuing post-secondary studies in jazz.
And there’s a remarkable Comox Valley connection. This September, five young musicians from the Valley are enrolled in Capilano University’s Jazz Studies program — one entering first year and four continuing into their second and third years. On November 7, all five will return home to take part in the concert, sharing the stage with the professional musicians of Pacific Blue.
For years, the Georgia Straight Jazz Society has helped young musicians take that first step through the Liam Grimm Music Scholarship, providing $1,000 awards to graduating high school students pursuing post-secondary jazz studies. The scholarships have supported students from the Comox Valley, Campbell River and as far south as Qualicum. But as tuition and housing costs continue to climb, the Society saw an opportunity to do more.
The new Georgia Straight Jazz Society Award at Capilano University extends that commitment — helping young musicians as they undertake the demanding work of turning their talent and passion into a career.
The November 7 performance will be the Society’s first annual fundraising concert for the award.
It’s a wonderful circle: established professional musicians taking the stage alongside five young musicians who are just beginning their own professional journeys — while an audience from back home helps make those journeys a little more possible.
Pacific Blue Big Band – In Support of the Georgia Straight Jazz Society Award
Saturday, November 7 | 7–9 pm
St. George’s United Church, Courtenay
Tickets are available through Eventbrite. Those wishing to contribute directly can also donate at the Capilano University website: capilanou.ca/donate, designating their gift to the Georgia Straight Jazz Society Award. Donations made through the university receive an official tax receipt.
Come for a powerhouse night of big band music. Come to cheer on five of our own. And come help build the future of jazz in the Comox Valley.
Because it takes the Valley to build a dream.