Jimmy Stahl Big Band back on stage again for veterans
The suits are ironed, the brass is shined and the stage is set. After eight long months, the Jimmy Stahl Big Band is ready to swing again.
Put on ice because of the pandemic, Stahl has corralled his 22-piece band to play a fundraising show for Canadian veterans facing homelessness. It’s at the Greg Frewin Theatre in Niagara Falls Sunday, starting at 3 p.m.
“The last show we did was back in February,” says Stahl. “Right after that show, everything got shut down.
“(The band) is itching to get back out there.”
For Stahl, the shutdown hit him harder than most performers. Even as restrictions for indoor performances lifted, getting 22 people on one stage was no easy task.
“It’s hard enough just for a four-piece rock band.”
Stahl says he lost more than 30 shows over the summer as the pandemic decimated the live entertainment industry. During that time he polished off two albums — “I Just Found Out About Love” with regular vocalist Genevieve-Renee Bisson and the Frank Sinatra tribute “Swinging On a Star” with Michael Vanhevel.
“Fortunately we had these two albums in the can, they just had to be mixed.”
He also spent time “rebranding” the band and bought more equipment for the band’s eventual return to the stage. And a benefit for veterans is the ideal way to start, he says.
Last year, Bisson performed the national anthem at a local VETS Canada event. It led to the entire band doing its own event this year. Both Bisson and Vanhevel will join the band.
“After an eight-month hiatus due to the pandemic, I know this is going to be an emotional show for both myself and the band, as this cause is very dear to our hearts,” says Bisson, who is also membership chair for the Royal Canadian Navy Association — Niagara Branch.
VETS Canada provides support for approximately 3,000 known homeless vets across Canada, including about 23 in the St. Catharines area.
Over the years the group has expanded its mandate to provide support for veterans facing difficulties of any sort. “That could mean the inability to afford groceries or a power bill to dealing with an emotional or mental crisis,” says Jim Tolmie, VETS Canada’s Southern Ontario Manager.
Tickets for the show at the 700-seat venue are extremely limited and can be purchased at www.gregfrewintheatre.com.
Tickets range from $30 to $50.