Thursday October 25th 2018 at 7:30pm

The Milk Crate Bandits

Members $10 , non-members $12

The Milk Crate Bandits make music to make you dance, smile and party. Its music born on the streets. Walking down the streets of Vancouver you'll see them on their stolen plastic thrones and playing the sounds of New Orleans. Yes, some may say they're crooks but the petty theft of a milk crate from a back alley is surely absolved by the love they'll give you if you come and listen.

The band is made up of a cosmopolitan lot - from Australia to New York to Comox Valley.

Jennifer Hodge, a busy Courtenay-born bass player, bandleader, and arranger, is a versatile musician who can be found playing with a wide variety of artists all over the world. Jen's particular expertise in the arena of traditional jazz has taken her to stages all over Canada, the USA, China, Spain, France, the UK, and the Caribbean. Jen is a well-known perennial favourite with the Jazz Society.

Jack Ray is an Australian banjoist, guitarist and vocalist who has performed and recorded with some of Australia's and the world's finest musicians. Jack is currently based in Vancouver where he leads The Milk Crate Bandits as well performing regularly with The Jen Hodge All Stars, The Phoenix Four, and The Rossi Gang.

Trombonist Brad Shigeta moved to New York City in the Fall of 1990 via Montreal. Brad has returned to the roots and the music that originally attracted him to become a musician: Traditional and Swing music. He is currently in a Duke Ellington alumni small group under the direction of Barrie Lee Hall, as well as a regular member of Vince Giordano's Nighthawks (music of the 10's, 20's), John Gill's Jazz Kings (traditional New Orleans music), and the Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra in New York City.

Chris O'Dea is a saxophonist and clarinetist from Sydney, Australia. He is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he studied with legends of the Australian jazz scene including: David Theak, Dale Barlow, Matt McMahon, Col Loughnan, and Mike Nock.

Browse the Calendar page of our website for more information about the 2018 fall season's 16 jazz performances, and the 38 scheduled concerts in the forthcoming year 2019. That way, you will quickly realize why Courtenay has become a significant performance destination on the Canadian jazz scene.

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