April 2nd 2017 at 7:30pm

Jake Masri & Friends

Tribute to Chet Baker

Members $10 - non members $12

Following the success of their performance last November, Jake Masri and friends will present an evening of jazz by showcasing "The music of Chet Baker". The tribute band features Michael Eddy on keys, Grahame Edwards on bass, Tinsley on drums and vibes, Jeff Agopsowicz on slide trombone, and Jake Masri on trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals.

As a background to the music they will be performing, here's a short bio on Chet Baker:

Born into a musical family on Dec 23, 1929 in Yale, Oklahoma, Chet Baker established himself as a cultural icon of the West Coast Cool School of Jazz during the 1950's. His creative talents as both horn player and vocalist enabled him to collaborate with such world class giants as Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, guitarist Jim Hall, and pianist Bill Evans. Despite his many distinguished achievements, including Top Jazz Trumpeter in 1953/54 (beating out Miles Davis & Clifford Brown), Top Male Vocalist in 1954, and earning a place in the Big Band/Down Beat Hall of Fame, Baker was plagued by a life-long heroin addiction that prematurely ended his career in 1988 at age 58. Savagely beaten outside a restaurant in Sausalito, California, Baker sustained serious injuries to his lips along with broken front teeth which ultimately ruined his embouchure. Forced to wear dentures, he re-learned the trumpet and 3 months later resumed his career in NYC. What followed was his most prolific era as a performing/recording artist. During the 1960's, Baker was photographed by William Claxton, for the publication of his book "Young Chet," and in 1988, an Academy Award nominated documentary entitled "Let's Get Lost" was released - portraying his tumultuous life as both a musical genius and drug addict. This film was followed by a two-act play entitled "Time After Time - The Chet Baker Project" written by Toronto playwright/actor James O'Reilly, which toured Canada in 2001. A successful Hollywood movie about Baker - "Born to be Blue" - starring Ethan Hawke, was finally completed in 2015.

Join us for a memorable evening of cool jazz, composed by one of the 20th century's most influential jazz artists.

Please browse the Calendar page of the website to see the amazing remaining 8 acts in the 2016-2017 calendar. The end of the 2017 season is almost fully booked and we are building the 2018 season.

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GSJS showcases jazz live in the Comox Valley, giving music lovers an opportunity to enjoys local, regional and internationally-known jazz musicians.