You’re invited to experience an evening of jazz music, grace and contemplation.
Jazz Evensong has returned to The Sanctuary at Brentwood for the new year, every Wednesday at 8 p.m.
A write-up on the church website notes that the evenings are mostly music, with seven pieces in all. There are also prayers, inspired by the Iona Community tradition of Trinitarian thinking about the blessings of God that flow to us, moment by moment, in the most ordinary of things.
The Jazz Vespers evenings grew out of a love of jazz shared by many in the congregation, especially the minister and director of music.
“Vancouver is blessed with a rich pool of amazing talent in its jazz musicians, complemented by musicians on tour coming through town,” the write-up says. “Churches are looking to offer an alternative time and form of worship in which people can be nourished by the grace of Jesus Christ to flourish.”
Combine that with Brentwood’s warm ambience and acoustics, and it seemed a perfect fit, so the church launched Jazz Evensongs in 2013.
The 2019 schedule includes an array of vocalists and musicians, many of whom will be familiar to fans of the Vancouver jazz scene.
On Jan. 23, audiences will hear from Susannah Adams, a Victoria-based singer known for her daring vocals and bold improvisations. The Jan. 30 session will feature Emilio Suarez, a Calgary-born musician and composer who came to Vancouver in 2015 to pursue a music degree at Capilano University. Trained in double bass, his style ranges from jazz and bebop to contemporary, classical and pop.
On Feb. 6, audiences can enjoy the vocal stylings of Vancouver-based blues singer Dalannah Gail Bowen, while Feb. 13 will feature a Valentine’s celebration of love with vocalist Maria Ho, along with pianist Bob York, Noah Gotfrit on bass, Brendan Steele on guitar and Buff Allen on drums.
Feb. 20 will feature the funk-soul-gospel sounds of Dawn Pemberton, hailed as “the new queen of Canadian soul.” Feb. 27 continues with powerful female vocals, as Candus Churchill sings the music of Nina Simone. (See below for a complete list of this season's performers.)
Those who attend a Jazz evensong are invited to put money into the “thanks bucket” – a tradition borrowed from New Orleans street bands and jazz clubs – that’s passed around during the service in support of the musicians.
The Sanctuary at Brentwood is at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, 1600 Delta Ave., Burnaby. See www.brentwoodpc.ca for all the details.
FEATURED MUSICIANS
Jan. 23: Susannah Adams
Jan. 30: Emilio Suarez
Feb. 6: Dalannah Gail Bowen
Feb. 13: Maria Ho
Feb. 20: Dawn Pemberton
Feb. 27: Candus Churchill sings Nina Simone
March 6: Nancy Newman
March 13: Wild Blue Herons
March 20: Doe Bender
March 27: Ilhan Saferali
April 3: The Hot Mommas
April 10: The Milk Crate Bandits
April 17: Miles Black plays Oscar Peterson’s Easter Suite
April 24: Dylan Cramer
May 1: Adele M. Wilding
May 8: Saul Berson
May 15: Cecile Larochelle
May 22: Bill Runge
May 29: Glenn Chatton
June 5: Angela Verbrugge
June 12: Bryn Kinders
June 19: Neil Gray
June 26: Conrad Good
