Toronto-based drummer Chris Wallace’s band epitomizes the modern contemporary jazz quartet, performing original compositions in the styles of bassist Dave Holland, saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Brian Blade.
Wallace and company will play such diverse tunes as Alone Together, The Way You Look Tonight, Benny Golson’s Stablemates and Joe Henderson’s Inner Urge when they visit Pat’s House of Jazz at the Osborne Bay Pub on Sunday, March 17, all in their own unique style.
Joining Wallace will be Juno Award-winning saxophonist Jeff King, guitarist Graeme Stephen and bassist Artie Roth, all internationally-lauded musicians.
King has performed all over Canada, the United States and internationally.
Along with running his own band, he has played and recorded with the likes of Paul Shaffer, Tony Bennett, Randy Brecker, Paul Anka, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jeff Healey, Joey DeFrancesco, Hilario Duran, Wayne Newton, Doug Riley and pretty much everyone else in the Canadian jazz scene.
Drummer and composer Wallace, originally from Regina, formed the band in 2015 after moving to Toronto from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he had been a central figure in the Scottish jazz community since 2002, performing with many of that nation’s top players.
During that period, he toured Spain and Denmark with Scottish Celtic rock legends Wolfstone and became a member of jazz/hip-hop crossover group Live Sciences, recording the album Bohemian Raps.
Music reviewer Gerrod Harris, reviewing Wallace’s 2016 album Somewhere Sacred, writes that “Wallace dives deep into a creative well over the course of the record’s ten tracks, the level of sophistication and skill is simply incredible,” adding that the “fusion of old and new (makes) Somewhere Sacred such a thrilling jazz album.”
Toronto-born jazz bassist Roth has been an active composer, bandleader, performer and educator in the national and international jazz communities, since his graduation from York University in 1992 with the Oscar Peterson Scholarship.
After two Canada Council-sponsored study tenures in New York City (1993 and 1997), Roth returned to Toronto establishing himself as one of the busiest, full-time composer/performers in Toronto.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, guitarist Stephen leads and contributes to a multitude of musical projects in Scotland and overseas, playing a wide array of styles from free improvised jazz to Scottish folk.
Sunday’s show is part of the Pat’s House of Jazz series, presented each Sunday at 2 p.m. by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society in the Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave. in Crofton.
Reservations are recommended for this show. Call 250-324-2245 or visit http://osbornebaypub.com for more information. Tables will be held until 1:30 p.m. Admission is $15.