FREE SHOWS - WHERE AND WHEN

SWEET BASIL - VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY FREE NOON HOUR JAZZ SERIES (12noon to 5pm - Sep 13 and 14)

Saturday Sep 13

CHAD MAKELA QUARTET featuring baritone saxophonist Chad Makela - noon to 2pm

Baritone saxophonist Chad Makela's group consists of several top Canadian players namely Rob Hamilton on guitar, Paul Townsend on drums and TBA on bass. The group will play well standards and originals specially charted and crafted for your noon hour enjoyment. Rob Hamilton is an internationally recognized jazz guitarist whose playing credits have included Lionel Hampton, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Jerry Bergonzi, Bobby Shew, Bill Watrous, and Frank Mantooth. Rob studied with Canadian jazz guitar legend Oliver Gannon from age 12 and later went on to study at the prestigious Berkeley College of Music under a full tuition scholarship. Active with groups like the Chad Makela Quartet, Chris Gestrin's Green Eggs and Hammond, Soulstream, and the local party band Famous Players; Rob takes his influences from a broad range of guitar players including Barney Kessel, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson, John Mclaughlin, Pat Metheny, and Kurt Rosenwinkel.

Chad Makela is a unique and enegetic woodwind specialist. His dedication to playing the baritone sax was rewarded with two opportunities while graduating from high school - Berklee, Boston or the Chancellor's Scholarship to University of North Texas. Choosing U.N.T., Chad completed his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies there and was a member of the prestigious One O'Clock Lab Band for three years, playing with renowned jazz trumpter Randy Brecker, tenor player Joe Lovano, trombonist Slide Hampton and drummer Peter Erskine. After leaving Dallas/Fort Worth, Chad lived in the Washington, D.C. area where his musical talents turned towards arranging and writing and playing with well known R&B artists Percy Sledge, Jerry Butlerand Lloyd Price. During this period Chad became the baritone sax/ clarinet player for the Doc Severinsen Orchestra; he stilll tours with them several times a year. After returning to Vancouver, Chad became the woodwind specialist for Northwest Music has played with well know artists Brad Turner, Cam Ryga and Mike Allen. Chad's talent and verstility, coupled with dedication and an aggressive playing style make him a welcome addition to the Canadian music scene.

GORD GORDINA TRIO featuring the legendary François Houle 2pm to 4pm

Gordon Grdina is a Vancouver based guitar player schooled in the Jazz tradition. He is a huge fan of Jim Hall, Miles Davis, Paul Bley and Keith Jarrett but is also equally influenced by musicians like Albert King, Hamza Al Din, Boubacour Troure and Tom Waits. He performs throughout the city as a freelance jazz musician as well as leading an improvising groove trio Loose Acoustic and a free/chamber jazz trio called The Grdina Trio. Two CDs are available on plunge records. Alex Varty (Georgia Straight) writes - the analytical part of my brain shut down and a big grin took over. Currently Gord is studying with jazz great Gary Peacock.

Since Simon Fisk moved from the East coast to Vancouver in 1995, Simon has become a sought-after local bassist with national stature. A protegé of bassist/composer "Gary Peacock" (Keith Jarrett Trio), his playing has lead him across Canada, to many parts of the USA (New York, LA, Boston, Seattle, Kansas City, Dallas, Alabama), as well as to performances in Glasgow, Scotland and Frankfurt, Germany. For the past three years, Simon has been touring extensively with pianist Michael Kaeshammer, Juno nominee, and three-time West Coast Music Award winner. His performances with Michael have produced rave reviews about his musicianship. "...sublime bassist Simon Fisk...for nearly three minutes, carried the audience up, down, back and forth, all through the stand-up bass' incredible range." The Brunswickan (Nov/02)

François Houle - bio to come

Michael Fraser TRIO featuring young violin wiz Michael Fraser

4pm to 5pm (to be confirmed)

Young wiz and protogé Michael Fraser, still studying in high school and tutored by Tom Keenlyside, will perform jazz classics in the style of Stefan Grappelli for your enjoyment. This tight jazz trio, with father Don Fraser on guitar and guest bassist, partly symbolizes Sweet Basil Jazz Festival's commitment to present talented young emerging artists in settings involving the experienced professionals, the young, the old and the restless so to speak.

Sunday September 14

ROSS BLISS GYPSY JAZZ TRIO - noon to 1:30pm

Shelley Park has been active in the Gypsy music scene on the West Coast for over 10 years, both as a musician and a luthier. Her hand built maccaferri style guitars are renowned world wide, and her prowess on rhythm guitar is a rare and beautiful thing. Guitarist Ross Bliss is the music librarian at the Vancouver Public Library and a graduate of Jazz studies at Capilano College, where he studied with Ihor Kukarudza. The trio is rounded out by the solid support of Eric Lipshulz on bass, who also studied at Capilano College. For this show, the group will play solidly in the modern gypsy guitar trio tradition, drawing inspiration and material from the music and genius of Django Reinhardt with selected interpretations from the standard jazz repertoire.

MOREEN MERIDEN TRIO - Hip jazz vocalist - 1:30 to 3:30pm

Considered one of Canada's most interesting jazz singers, Moreen Meriden has been acclaimed as a riveting performer and Diva of Jazz Exploratory music. Meriden is also a composer and lyricist of original works that have been performed, not only by herself, but by other groups such as 'Chelsea Bridge' from Ottawa and 'Garbo's Hat' from Vancouver. Having learned from and performed with the best musicians in Canada, Moreen sets a very high standard for herself. Please enjoy the presentation of her music and appreciate the legacy she has received from musicians the likes of Fred Stone, David Mott and Paul Taylor.