Gordon Lightfoot’s everlasting contribution to Canada’s musical culture and heritage is honoured in a jazz context by the Lister/McRae/Rhodes Trio on April 8 at Pat’s House of Jazz in Crofton’s Osborne Bay Pub.
Nanaimo drummer and composer James McRae is behind the tribute, Impressions of Lightfoot, which was begun in anticipation of Lightfoot’s 80th birthday. He calls it “a re-envisioning of Lightfoot’s iconic songbook with fresh jazz interpretations of his music without vocals.”
“Lightfoot started out with aspirations to be a jazz drummer,” McRae says. “However, for over half a century he’s become best known for his gentle guitar accompaniment to his melodic stories of life.”
The band features McRae and two of Canada’s most highly regarded and sought-after musicians, Nico Rhodes on keyboards and bassist Ken Lister.
Rhodes, a studio musician, music director, orchestral arranger, composer, pianist and woodwind player, is at home in almost any musical environment.
Starting his career at the age of 16, Rhodes has written for symphony orchestra, jazz ensemble, big band, choir and theatre. Most recent credits include music director for a number of Chemainus Theatre productions, a CD with Rick Scott of Pied Pumpkin fame, and arranger with McRae of the Impressions of Lightfoot material.
“Breathtakingly fresh sounds and style radiate from this young musician whose hands effortlessly fly across a keyboard leaving us in utter amazement and jumping to our feet at the end of a solo,” says promoter Valley Hennell.
Lister has been a professional jazz bassist since 1983, winning accolades and Juno awards along the way. He currently performs and teaches in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, and has toured across Canada and internationally to Australia, the British Isles, Cuba and South America.
McRae has been playing the drums and making music professionally since 1980. Aside from being a musician, he delights in writing songs, teaching others, arranging and always offering something creative in the music he is involved in.
As well as the CD Impressions of Lightfoot, McRae’s recent credits include the July 2017 Chemainus Theatre production of Rock Legends, and performances with A Cappela Plus, Ken McDonald, Blue Dog Ramble, Mac and McRawfish and Get Rhythm.
The trio’s performance is part of a regular Sunday afternoon jazz series at the pub, presented by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society.
It runs every Sunday from 2 p.m. at the Osborne Bay Pub, 1534 Joan Ave. in Crofton. Admission is $15.
Reservations are recommended. Tables will be held until 1:30 p.m.
Phone 250-324-2245 or visit http://osbornebaypub.com.