The newly-revived Sunday evening jazz socials at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni are drawing a crowd.
The venue recently had a record 64 in the house for the June 4 jazz social with guest vocalist Sara Beslic.
The Sunday jazz tradition dates back to the early 2000s, when Capelli’s had a café on Victoria Quay. The house band called themselves Cathedral Groove and featured Barry Miller (piano), Doug Gretsinger (bass), Cory Miller (trumpet) and Dave Auld (drums). Sometimes the young Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS) student Lauren Falls would join them on bass and Gretsinger would switch to guitar.
READ MORE: Port Alberni’s Lauren Falls nominated for a Juno award
A few years later, a manager at Port Alberni’s Quality Foods decided to have Sunday evening jazz concerts at their newly-opened Step Above coffee and gift shop. Featured were Barry Miller (piano), Cory Miller (trumpet), and two musicians from Nanaimo, Michael Wright (drums) and Marisha Devoin (bass). Occasionally Nanaimo singer Lauren Bush would join them. However, a change in the store’s use of the space ended the undertaking.
Fast forward to today, and Char’s Landing has been presenting a jazz night on the first and third Sunday of each month hosted by retired ADSS music director Barry Miller. The Barry Miller Quartet, with Miller on piano, Gretsinger on guitar, Wally Peterson on bass and Dave Auld on drums, present an array of well-known jazz standards from the Great American Songbook.
The quartet’s next concert is this coming Sunday, June 18, and this will feature selections from well-known Broadway shows, all with a jazz twist.
The concert gets underway from 6-8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. and music fans are encouraged to bring their dinner if they so wish. A voluntary suggested gratuity of $15 (seniors/students) or $20 (adults) is appreciated. The beverage bar is open.