by Russ Hunt
During the second week of September in Fredericton jazz is king. Or at least a co-regent, reigning along with the blues. It's Harvest time. But for 51 weeks of the year Fredericton's living, vibrant jazz community goes almost entirely unnoticed.
Why is it that everybody comes out to hear and see jazz for that one week, but mostly stays at home the rest of the year? It's a mystery that's puzzled many musicians, and not a few diehard jazz fans, for a long time.
It may well be just that there's almost no publicity the rest of the year. CBC is always enthusiastically on board for Harvest Jazz and Blues, and even the Daily Gleaner drags its weary head up out of the trough every September long enough to look around and notice that something's going on, and print a few press releases. The rest of the year, though, it's pretty difficult to know when and where things are happening in the good old Beach.
We hope Fred can contribute to breaking that conspiracy of silence. But right now, you have a chance to hear some of what you may have been missing the rest of the year. Amidst the hype about the international and national star acts brought in at great expense, you might not notice that a substantial amount of the music that's going to spill out into the streets of Fredericton during the Festival is actually made by folks who are here making it all year long, and can be heard at venues like MacPhail's, Purdy's, the STU Black Box, and others. If you know where to look and who to look for.
Here's an informal -- and probably incomplete -- guide to some of the local acts you might not otherwise hear much about. You can find out more about any of these local groups on the HJB Web site.
We're especially looking forward to some new sounds -- Dub Antenna (reggae influences, by a group that includes Mike Doherty, who brought us all those wonderful keyboard riffs and horn charts with Ujamaa) and Barriomatic Trust, with the new drummer in town, the amazing Mark Adam (watch for him anywhere during the week). And some tried & true ones: Hans Martini and Lloyd Hansen, or the Nick DeVries Quartet, with Nick channelling Paul Desmond. And some who are making a mark locally these days, like Breen, with the ubiquitous Mike Doherty and Mark Adam, and Tom Easley for good measure. And speaking of Easley, don't miss Hot Toddy, either. Don't miss any of these people, hear?
Stop by the gig, check them out, and then watch for hints that
they're playing around town next November or March, when it's dark and
dull and you're looking for a lift.
Note: most times (especially in pubs & clubs) are approximate. These are musicians. They keep time; they tell it less well.]
| Wednesday |
||
| 9:30 |
Dub Antenna (Mike Doherty, Tania Breen, Michael Sutherland, Jason Arnold, Mark Adam and guests) |
Blues Tent |
| Thursday | ||
| 7:30 |
Breen (Tania Breen, Mike Doherty, Evan Shaw, Tom Easley and Mark Adam) | the Playhouse |
| 8:00 |
Hanson and Hans (Lloyd Hanson and Hans Martini) | James Joyce Pub in the Beaverbrook |
| 9:30 |
Nick deVries Quartet (with Chad Ball, Andrew De Merchant & Vanessa Kilburn) | James Joyce Pub in the Beaverbrook |
| Friday |
||
| 3:00 |
Uptown Jazz Quartet (Ron Doiron, Don LeBlanc, Garry Hansen and Jean-Marc Leger) | Barracks Square |
| 5:00 - 8:00 |
Hans Martini Band (with Lloyd Hanson and Paul Mason) | Terrace Room in the Beaverbrook |
| 6:00 |
Hot Toddy (Thom Swift, Tom Easley and Joel Leblanc) | Mojo Tent |
| 7:30 |
George Street Project |
Blues Tent |
| 8:00 |
Breen (Tania Breen, Mike Doherty, Evan Shaw, Tom Easley and Mark Adam) | Wilmot United Church |
| 8:00 |
Fat Jebus (Nick Cobham, Pat Lewis, Ryan Mercier, Tayce McAvity and Marc Lulham) | Barracks Square |
| 8:00 |
Uptown Jazz Quartet (Ron Doiron, Don LeBlanc, Garry Hansen and Jean-Marc Leger) | James Joyce Pub in the Beaverbrook |
| 9:00 |
New Moon (Nick Vipond, Kyle Cunjak, TC Richards & Matt Fitzgerald) | MacPhail's Taproom |
| 9:30 |
Bill Stevenson | D. J. Purdy's in the Sheraton |
| 11:00 |
The Barriomatic Trust (Mark Adam and lots of friends) | MacPhail's Taproom |
| 11:15 |
Bill Stevenson, Tania Breen, Tom Easley, Evan Shaw | D. J. Purdy's in the Sheraton |
| Midnight |
Downtown Blues Band | Hoodoo House |
| Saturday |
||
| 7:00 |
Triology (TC Richards, Garry Hansen, Chad Ball) |
Beaverbrook Gallery |
| 7:30 |
Dub Antenna (Tania Breen, Michael Sutherland, Jason Arnold, Mark Adam and guests) | Boyce Farmer's Market |
| 8:00 |
Grand Theft Bus | Barracks Square |
| 9:00 |
New Moon (Nick Vipond, Kyle Cunjak, TC Richards & Matt Fitzgerald) | MacPhail's Taproom |
| 9:30 |
Bill Stevenson | D. J. Purdy's in the Sheraton |
| 11:00 |
The Barriomatic Trust (Mark Adam and lots of friends) | MacPhail's Taproom |
| 11:15 |
Bill Stevenson, Tania Breen, Tom Easley, Evan Shaw | D. J. Purdy's in the Sheraton |