Montreal’s swinging, bop-based jazz guitarist Sam Kirmayer brings a quartet to Pat’s House of Jazz at the Osborne Bay Pub in Crofton on May 27 at 2 p.m. to perform music from his 2017 CD Opening Statement.
It’s an appealing mix of tunes that cover the classic mainstream-jazz bases — blues, bop and ballads, with a side order of straight-eight music too.
The CD drew rave reviews. It recently won the Julian Award from Simon Fraser’s CJSF 90.1 FM and All About Jazz’s four-star review called it “strong-minded, well-spoken and worth relishing.”
In the CD’s liner notes, Katie Malloch, former host of CBC’s Jazz Beat and Tonic, said “Sam’s dexterity, his love for the richness of jazz and his sheer joy at making music are all over this, his first CD, a great introduction to Sam’s solid sense of swing. Get ready to groove!”
Named as one of the “35 best Canadian jazz musicians under 35” by the CBC last year, Kirmayer completed an undergraduate degree in Jazz performance at McGill University in 2016 with Outstanding Achievement and Dean’s Honour List standings.
He has also been the recipient of several awards and scholarships, including the Oliver Jones Jazz Scholarship from Vanier College, the David Moyse Guitar Scholarship from McGill and an Artist Development Grant from FACTOR.
Drawing inspiration from masters like Wes Montgomery and Grant Green, Kirmayer eschews effects in favour of clear, direct tone and maintains firm roots in the blues and hard-bop traditions.
Kirmayer’s star is clearly on the rise. Joining him on this gig are pianist Sean Fyfe, bassist John Lee and drummer Valérie Lacombe.
The show is one of a Sunday afternoon jazz series presented by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society. It runs every Sunday from 2 p.m. in the Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave. in Crofton, a stone’s throw from the Salt Spring Island ferry terminal. Admission is $15.
Reservations are recommended. Tables will be held until 1:30 p.m.
Phone 250-324-2245 or visit http://osbornebaypub.com.