The organ-based incarnation of the Jon Miller Quartet, driven by the powerhouse drumming of bandleader Miller, debuted two years ago and the band has never looked back.
The Victoria-based group replaced its acoustic bass with the Hammond B3 organ sound of Dr. Tony Genge, who joined regulars Monik Nordine on saxophones and Rob Cheramy on guitar.
The band makes its annual visit to Pat’s House of Jazz in the Osborne Bay Pub in Crofton on Sunday, March 31.
“It’s been just a ton of fun bringing this Hammond organ sound to audiences, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Miller says.
“Tony Genge is a great musician who has really dug deep in the organ jazz tradition while at the same time keeping up with current trends.”
The band will perform material from Miller’s latest release, 3 Days in Winter, along with a soulful organ-jazz repertoire in the vein of giants of the genre Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff and Larry Goldings.
Selections range from Golding’s arrangement of Irving Berlin’s Puttin’ on the Ritz to Wes Montgomery’s Full House.
Miller has performed throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe in a variety of genres with many renowned artists including Charlie Hunter, Vic Vogel, Hugh Fraser and members of the Sun Ra Arkestra.
Along with leading his quartet, Miller held the drum chair for the Victoria Jazz Orchestra from 2013 to 2016.
Guitarist Cheramy is an extremely inventive, technically impressive jazz guitarist with a highly individual style, celebrated both for his exciting solos and for his inventive accompaniment, Miller says.
As one of B.C.’s top jazz saxophonists, Nordine has a powerful, lyrical and impressive command of the saxophone, Miller says. Her playing and writing has been celebrated in the pages of DownBeat and Jazz Improv Magazine.
In addition to playing in the Jon Miller Quartet, Nordine leads her own groups as well as directing the Victoria Jazz Orchestra.
She has shared the stage with Michael Bublé, P.J. Perry, Paul Horn, Hugh Fraser, Tommy Banks, Brad Turner, Phil Nimmons and Pat Coleman.
Sunday’s show, presented by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society as part of its weekly jazz series, begins at 2 p.m.
Admission is $15. For reservations, call 250-324-2245. Tables will be held until 1:30 p.m.