Bassment offers stellar line-up
The Saskatoon Jazz Society is coming off an impressive season where 176 shows were produced during a 10-month time frame.
Don Griffith, the artistic director of the society, now has the 2018 fall entertainment line-up in place and is working towards filling the dates from January to the end of june in 2019.
The society stages its shows in what once was the lower hall of Canada Post on Fourth Avenue. The building is blessed with two pianos, a Hammond organ and all of the trimmings that encourage visitors to enthusiastically praise the acoustics. Comfortable seating ranges between 180 and 200.
“Basically the building was designed by the society and developed for a renewal of jazz performances leading into the 2009 season,” said Griffith.
“The bonus for us is that the Bassment not only becomes the home of good jazz but it has been a performance area for roots and folk music, and assorted other music events. That means wider usage of our club and anyone who uses it seems to be very happy about the atmosphere.”
If variety is the spice of life, the September schedule is loaded.
The Stone Frigate Big Band leads off the season on Sept. 8 and although leader Louis Christ pays homage to the great bands of the 1940s, he is constantly finding big band arrangements for more current material.
Big Dave Mclean, the blues legend from Winnipeg makes his annual visit on Sept. 14. Claire Lynch, the queen of bluegrass and three-time winner of international awards, appears with her band on Sept. 27. The Cam Davidson 9 from Toronto is a jazz catch on Sept. 22 and the Cory Weeds Quartet from Vancouver brings some cool jazz on Sept. 28.
The schedule heats up during October. Twice during October, the club doors are open four nights in a row and that happens again in the week as October leads into November.
Jimmy Rankin, a member of one of Canada’s most outstanding folk families, will headline on Oct. 11. He has released six solo albums but over the years, the Rankin family has won five Junos, seven Canadian country music awards and 27 East Coast honours.
Booked on Oct. 24 is The Once, a Newfoundland-based roots group featuring Geraldine Hollett on vocals and Phil Churchill and Andrew Dale on multiple instruments. Their latest album is Time Enough.
Returning again will be Tim Tamashiro on Nov. 3. Tamashiro has been to the Bassment previously with Tommy Banks. He’s a heralded vocalist and has been host of a CBC music program since 2007.
New to the scene on Nov. 9 will be Barbra Lica, a Canadian singer-songwriter; she was a runner-up in the acclaimed Sarah Vaughan International Jazz competition in 2013.
Appearing Nov. 17 will be two noted artists who grew up in American blues and jazz backgrounds and have since settled in Canada. Kenny (Blues Boss) Wayne is one; David Vest is the other. Regina’s guitar master, Jack Semple, follows them into the club on Nov. 22-23.
Three strong Canadian acts arrive in December. Elizabeth Shepherd, a singer-songwriter-pianist plays on Dec. 1. The Sultans of String, a Toronto instrumental group led by Chris Mckool, comes west on another Christmas caravan swing and will appear on Dec. 9. Michael Kaeshammer, the boogie-woogie star, will headline on Dec. 12.
Kaeshammer appeared before a full house at the Broadway Theatre during the Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival but this time, he will be featuring songs from Something New, an album he’s crafted with New Orleans influence.
The holiday favourites will include Solstice, Saskatoon’s vocal jazz group with their Christmas favourites, on Dec. 16 and the New Year’s Eve New Orleans-styled party with Griffith and his three bands. Watch for updates to the performance calendar at thebassment.ca.