September 14th 2017 at 7:30pm

Edie Daponte and Joey Smith

Members $10 - non members $12

Georgia Straight Jazz Society's live jazz season continues this Thursday with a Victoria-based small group: a duo which includes a polished and charming vocalist who will steal your heart, Edie Dapont.

Edie Dapont regularly appears in the Sidney and Victoria area, and her first Thursday Night Jazz appearance last year was one of the lovely surprises of the season. Her most recent CD release Young at Heart was receiving critical acclaim at that time. In 2016, She was nominated as Vocalist of the Year by Vancouver Island Music Awards. Emotive and passionate, her voice lends itself perfectly to a wide range of jazz standards, seamlessly moving from jazz to Bossa Nova, switching between English, Portuguese, Spanish and French numbers.Edie will be accompanied by the wonderful Joey Smith on bass, to present her two-hour treat.

Always the consummate southern gentleman with his impeccable manners and elegant style, Joey Smith originally moved from the deep south to Rochester, N.Y. to study for his Masters degree at the Eastman School of Music after touring for two-and-a-half-years with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as bassist and arranger. For the past 25 years he has been bassist for many local groups and collaborated with various artists during their stops in Victoria. He has written numerous arrangements for different groups: from the Glenn Miller Orchestra to the Victoria Symphony, to arranging music for the Commonwealth Games in 1994. Currently several of his arrangements appear on The Bills, Marc Atkinson Trio and Edie DaPonte's latest CD. This week, Joey breaks with his bass tradition, and accompanies Edie on guitar.

As a duo Edie and Joey create a wonderful intimate atmosphere, engaging audiences large and small, drawing the listeners in and rewarding them with classic numbers they love to hear. This show will include a special focus on songs made famous by Edith Piaf.

Admission is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Come down a little early if you’re planning dinner or meeting friends; John Lee always attracts a good turnout. For full information about the jazz society and an archive of previous seasons, browse our website.

As well, we're giving a plug for the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival Association regarding nine jazz events they’re presenting on September 15-17. Please visit Nanaimo Jazz Fest for more information.

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