Jazz East Big Band goes live onstage in St. John’s Saturday
Jazz East Big Band will take St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre stage for first time in 24-year existence
With saxophone in hand, band manager Natasha Blackwood looked around the First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity where the Jazz East Big Band practices, in awe of her fellow musicians.
“(I thought) I can’t believe every single person in this band right now could go play a solo show, and I would buy a ticket to it,” she said. “The band is stacked with incredibly skilled and also wonderfully friendly people. It’s incredible to see that many skilled people in a room together.”
In 1997, several Gonzaga High School students were determined to continue playing jazz once they graduated. Under the direction of music teacher Dave Smith, they started Jazz East Big Band.
Now, 24 years later, they’re still going strong, Blackwood says.
“It’s really grown from this community of (people who) want to keep playing, to this force for promoting excellence and community and a supportive environment for people who want to get nerdy with music,” she said.
ENDURING SOUND
The origins of big band music can be traced back nearly 100 years to people like bandleader, pianist and composer Duke Ellington.
Bill Brennan has been the director of Jazz East Big Band since 2006. He says the style of music has endured the test of time not only for its artistry and musicianship, but for the response it provokes from the audience.
“People went not just to listen but to move. It affects people in a very visceral way, and I think part of that is the rhythm section. Bass, drums, guitar, piano,” Brennan said. “It’s groove-based music, so I think that’s one of the main reasons … why it’s still with us after its beginnings in the early part of the 20th century.”
Newfoundland and Labrador is not without its history of jazz ensembles, either, he said.
“It really became very popular when the Americans had a base here in Pleasantville,” Brennan said. “There are quite a number of prominent musicians who stayed who were Americans … and created jazz combos, people like Leo Sandoval and Ralph Walker. ... They had dances and music happening at the base every weekend.”
FINE TUNING
They’ve played one show since restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic stuck a mute in their horns. Though they could only perform in sections, the limitations made them stronger as a whole, Blackwood said.
“It really made us tighter … because sometimes when there’s 22 people, you’re listening to the big picture and not necessarily honing-in on your section,” she said. “Then you start sounding like one big machine instead of five different people playing together. When you’re really so locked in with each other that it’s like one sound, that’s when … you just want to fist pump.”
On Saturday, Jazz East Big Band will take the stage at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre for the first time in their nearly quarter-of-acentury history.
The majority of the repertoire for this show was composed by the man known as the Dean of Canadian Jazz, Phil Nimmons, who turned 98 on June 3.
“His music is played all around the world and he’s just (an) incredibly warm and inspiring person, so we thought it would be great to dedicate our concert to him,” Brennan said.
Tickets to the all-ages show can be purchased from the box office at 1-709-729-3900. Because of social distancing measures, seats are limited.
“… The band is stacked with incredibly skilled and also wonderfully friendly people. It’s incredible to see that many skilled people in a room together.” Natasha Blackwood