Calgary Jazz Orchestra A Perfectly Frank Christmas 2011 Review

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra performed a sold-out concert at River Park Church in Calgary, Alberta on Sunday, December 18, 2011. From “White Christmas” to “Long Way to Go”, the CJO presented a wide range of big band jazz, Frank Sinatra classics and Christmas favourites.

The CJO trombone section played a selection of Christmas carols while the audience found seats. Extra seats soon had to be added.

Opening Act William Aberhart Jazz Ensemble Performed Big Band Hits

William Aberhart High School Jazz Ensemble kicked things off with “Idiom 59 – Part II” (Duke Ellington), an upbeat swing number. It was followed by an arrangement of “All of Me” (Gerry Marks and Seymour Simons) a lively number, which Frank Sinatra has recorded.

William Aberhart High School of Calgary is directed by Kevin Wilms. The Jazz Ensemble performs in concerts, competitions and festivals throughout Alberta.

Swing, Call and Response and Impressive Jazz Solos in CJO's Opening Set

Members of the Calgary Jazz Orchestra walked on-stage confidently and in relaxed spirits, sporting festive red ties. The notable exception was the rhythm section, who wore black ties.

The first number was a cheerful arrangement of Sergei Prokofiev's “Troika”. The original theme featured pianist Egor Ukoloff flying across the keys before the music changed to a medium swing. This featured lively exchanges between different sections of the jazz orchestra. Solos were ably performed by Jeremy Brown, Al Muirhead and Sarah Matheson before the music returned to the traditional theme.

An arrangement of “The Grinch” (James Horner) followed. The dreamy opening showcased the piano, flutes and clarinets. The trumpets and saxophones took over, building the excitement until the Grinch theme appeared, played on the baritone sax. This slow swing number featured solos by Muirhead, Matheson and Shane Statz.

Crowd favourite Hazel Proctor sang “Please Come Home for Christmas” (Charles Brown). Wearing a sparkling floral jacket, Proctor dazzled the audience with her soulfulness and wide vocal range. Ukoloff's solo featured numerous runs and tremolos, while Brown's solo mirrored Proctor's earthiness.

Another gem was “Long Way to Go”. Composed by CJO director Johnny Summers, this rousing gospel song was commissioned by the United Way several years ago but was never used. Summers truly shone in this vocal number, delivering the powerful lyrics with a high dose of emotion and skill. Equally moving and impressive solos were performed by Ukoloff, Brown and Rich Harding.

Five more songs were performed in the first set. The CJO played arrangements of “Luck be a Lady” (Frank Loesser), “Just the Way You Look” (Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields), “Ave Maria” (Franz Schubert), “One for My Baby” (Johnny Mercer) and “I Been Lonely” (Johnny Summers).

Sleigh Ride, White Christmas and Louis Armstrong in CJO's Second Set

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra opened with “I Pray on Christmas” (Harry Connick Jr.). This lively gospel song featured Johnny Summers on vocals, Hazel Proctor singing off-stage and rhythmic clapping by CJO members and the audience.

Throughout the evening, Summers asked the audience about their Christmas Wish List and Christmas traditions. Selected responses garnered free concert tickets to an upcoming CJO performance or a jazz CD.

The audience was also polled on favourite Christmas songs. Sinatra classic, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was selected and CJO musicians gamely played while Summers led the sing-a-long. This impromptu addition featured a beautiful solo by Al Muirhead.

Greg Baker surprised new listeners and delighted CJO regulars with his imitation of Louis Armstrong. Exchanging places with Summers, Baker sang “What a Wonderful World” (Bob Thiele and George David Weiss) .

The final number was “I'll Be Home for Christmas” (Kim Gannon and Walter Kent). This medium swing number gave each CJO member a chance in the spotlight. Every musician who could move walked to the front of the stage and played a solo when his or her name was announced.

Five more Christmas classics were also performed, including “Sleigh Ride”, “White Christmas” and “Oh Holy Night”. Sinatra standards, such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “All of Nothing at All” were also featured.

After the last note died away, the audience quickly rose to give the CJO an enthusiastic standing ovation. The jazz ensemble responded by performing “Come By Me” by Harry Connick Jr. for an encore.

The skilled and playful banter – both musically and verbally – made this year's “A Perfectly Frank Christmas” a delightful concert. For instance, a lick played on the piano would later show up in a saxophone solo. Many of the solos drew cheers and whistles from the audience.

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra was founded by Johnny Summers in 2004. Gerry Hebert, Rich Harding, Jeremy Brown, Shane Statz and Sarah Matheson performed on saxophone, flute and/or clarinet. The trumpet section included Johnny Summers, Kim Beachum, Gordon Wilhelm, Al Muirhead and André Wickenheiser. Brian Walley, Tim Embree, Nathan Gingrich and Greg Robertson performed on trombone. The rhythm section included Egor Ukoloff (piano), Kodi Hutchinson (bass) and Greg Baker (drums).

Arrangements by Johnny Summers, Greg Baker, Billy Byers and Paul Ashwell were used. Summers and Baker also sang in several numbers.

Jazz lovers will have three more opportunities to hear the Calgary Jazz Orchestra in the 2011/12 season. On January 23, 2012, the CJO and the UofC Jazz Ensemble will perform with Grammy winner Maria Schneider. Billie Holliday and Chet Baker music will be performed on February 12, 2012 and finally, blues tunes and numbers written by CJO members are on tap for May 6, 2012. Earlier in the year, the CJO presented a concert featuring swing, Latin and Cuban music.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra performed to a full house on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at River Park Church in Calgary. This exciting jazz concert featured big band music, Frank Sinatra hits and jazzy Christmas classics that had the entire audience clapping, singing and cheering.

Originally published December 21, 2011 on Suite101. Updated August 7, 2013.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra ENTERTAINMENT 2011 Concert Review

“Does anyone here remember growing up?” asked CJO director Johnny Summers at the start of the jazz concert which took place in River Park Church on Sunday, January 30, 2011.

The programme for ENTERTAINMENT! was set as a musical trip down memory lane for listeners young and old. The Calgary Jazz Orchestra performed top pop songs by Billy Joel, Sting, Michael Jackson and the Beatles; along with a sampling of video game music and film soundtracks.

The Jazz Band from William Aberhart High School Warmed up the Crowd

The Jazz Band from William Aberhart High School opened the concert with two numbers: "Count Bubba", an upbeat number by Gordon Goodwin of the Big Phat Band and "The Meaning of the Blues", a sultry ballad composed by Bobby Troup.

The Jazz Band has performed in concerts, festivals and competitions throughout Alberta, such as the Vic Lewis Band Festival in Canmore. The group won several awards at the 2010 Alberta International Band Festival. William Aberhart's The Jazz Band is directed by Kevin Willms.

A Pop Culture Buffet and Impromptu Performances Mark the CJO's First Set

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra set a nostalgic theme by opening with the theme from Spiderman. This lively swing number featured toe-tapping solos by Carsten Rubeling on trombone, Shane Statz on sax and Willy Joosen on piano. Incidentally, Joosen is the organist for the Calgary Flames, a post he has held for over 22 years.

The only video game music that was officially on the programme was Koji Kondo's "Bob-omb Battlefield" from Nintendo®'s Super Mario video games. This lively arrangement was done by Brendan McElroy, a Calgary bassist who now lives and works in Toronto.

McElroy is the co-founder of The Runaway Five, a video game band that has opened for the Video Games Live concerts in Toronto. Sarah Matheson on bari sax and Greg Baker on drums performed jaw-dropping solos. Slipping in the "Underworld Theme" was a nice touch.

The impromptu moments were a stroke of genius. When asked what music is played at the Calgary Flames hockey games, Willy Joosen answered by playing several memorable themes on piano, including the "Star Trek Battle Theme" and the theme from the TV hit show The Simpsons. The audience listened in rapt silence to The Simpsons.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra wrapped up the first set with the theme song from the popular TV show, Family Guy. This number featured solos by Kim Beachum on trumpet, Dr. Jeremy Brown on sax and Carsten Rubeling. Other songs featured in the first half included the theme from Tennessee Williams' "A Street Car Named Desire", classic pop songs "Fragile" by Sting and "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel.

More Movie Music and Classic Pop Songs in the CJO's Second Set

The jazz concert's second half began with a snazzy arrangement of John Williams' "Hedwig's Theme" from the Harry Potter movies. It began in an eerie fashion before moving to a lively jazz waltz. Reminisces of the “Song d'une nuit du Sabbat” from Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique came to mind when Gerry Hebert played "Hedwig's Theme" in the highest register for the clarinet. This number featured solos by Gerry Hebert, Shane Statz on tenor sax and Jeremy Brown on alto sax.

The programme included one Michael Jackson hit, "The Way You Make Me Feel". This arrangement featured Johnny Summers on vocals. It started off slowly and then switched to a more upbeat tempo.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra wrapped up the concert with a rousing Beatles medley arranged by Greg Baker. The medley included "Eight Days a Week", "All My Loving", "When I'm 64" and "Hey Jude" and featured solos by Sarah Matheson. Jeremy Brown, Kim Beachum, Carsten Rubeling, Al Muirhead on trumpet, Greg Baker and Johnny Summers on trumpet. No performance of "Hey Jude" is complete without someone waving a cell phone to the music. The cell waving began on stage and was quickly picked up by one section in the audience.

Other songs featured on the programme included Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and the theme from the film The Man With the Golden Arm, which starred Frank Sinatra.

Will Joosen stole the show in several parts, launching in the the theme song from Wheel of Fortune in response to a dramatic “Oh!” from the audience and more VG music, this time, various themes from the Pac-Man® series.

The playing was top notch for this concert. However, there were a couple of “blips”. First, there were no printed programmes (glitch at the printers). Second, for a programme that touted music from video games, the gamer geeks in the audience wanted more than one video game song on the official programme (although Willy Joosen's musical tangents were a great touch). With the sheer volume of pop, VG music and movie music out there, the CJO will have plenty of material to draw from for upcoming concerts.

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra is a 16-piece jazz ensemble founded in 2004 by director Johnny Summers. The music for this concert was arranged by Johnny Summers, Greg Baker, Shane Statz and Brendan McElroy.

The CJO delivered a fun programme featuring mostly classic pop songs dubbed “ENTERTAINMENT!”, held Sunday, January 30, 2011. The band launched its 2010/11 season with music by Charles Mingus and Oscar Peterson and followed up with “A Perfectly Frank Christmas”, which featured music by Frank Sinatra. The ensemble's upcoming concert on April 10, 2011 will feature music by Duke Ellington and Harry Connick Jr. For concert tickets or more information, visit the Calgary Jazz Orchestra's website.

Originally published on Suite101.com on Feb 2, 2011. Updated July 23, 2013.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra Plays Mingus and Peterson Concert Review

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra opened its 2010-11 season on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Calgary's River Park Church. The concert featured big band jazz arrangements of music by Oscar Peterson and Charles Mingus.

An impromptu survey conducted by CJO director Johnny Summers at the beginning of the programme revealed that few people in the audience had heard of Charles Mingus. The group hoped that pairing Mingus with Peterson would attract more interest in Mingus' music.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra Performed The Music of Charles Mingus

The first half of the programme featured the jazz music of Charles Mingus. He was an American bassist, pianist, bandleader and composer who lived from 1922 – 1979. The set list reflected the stark contrasts and moodiness indicative of Mingus' musical style.

The band opened with "Boogie Stop Shuffle", from the Mingus Ah Um album released in 1959. It's a lively boogie that featured breathtaking solos. Each soloist seemed determined to outperform each other by playing faster, higher and funkier. Drummer Greg Baker drew out cries of astonishment and awe with his lightning fast solo.

Members of the jazz band exhibited a fight for virtuosic supremacy in "Haitian Fight Song" from the 1957 album The Clown. It began simply enough but quickly revealed an edgy, punchy groove as members clashed repeatedly for the duration of the number.

During "Moanin'", Sarah Matheson proved on her baritone sax that she can hold her own amidst this male-dominated jazz band. Her solos were fiery and gritty, which matched the angst of this piece from Mingus' 1959 album Blues & Roots.

Two slower pieces rounded out the first half of the concert programme. "My Jelly Roll Soul", an homage to Jelly Roll Morton and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", which is a tribute to Lester Young.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra Performed The Music of Oscar Peterson

The second set was dedicated to Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson (1925-2007). He is considered one of the greatest jazz pianists in the 20th and 21st centuries. The programme featured a premiere performance of Johnny Summers and Greg Baker's arrangement of Peterson's Canadiana Suite.

The eight pieces in Canadiana Suite represent various cities and regions throughout Canada, spanning east to west. In "Peterson, Oscar" in The Canadian Encyclopedia by Betty Nygaard King, Canadiana is Peterson's best-known work. The Canadiana Suite album was recorded in 1964.

Bob Erlendson opened "Ballad to the East" with a sensitive and lyrical jazz piano solo. Johnny Summers on trumpet, Rubim de Toledo on bass and Greg Baker on drums also performed solos.

"Place St. Henri" is a catchy number that captures the hustle and bustle of Montreal, where Peterson grew up. Dr. Jeremy Brown (saxophone) and Johnny Summers (trumpet) delivered rapid-fire solos that spanned the entire range of their respective instruments. Once again, Greg Baker matched their virtuosic velocity on drums.

"March Past", an upbeat number brought Canadiana to an end. This featured lightning fast solos on piano, bass, sax and trumpet. Other numbers in Canadiana Suite that were performed were "Laurentide Waltz", "Hogtown Blues", "Wheatland" and "Land of the Misty Giants".

At the end of the programme, Greg Baker called out the encore. "Can the drummer do that?" asked Johnny Summers. The audience shuffled back to hear a relaxing rendition of "Easy Does It" from the Oscar Peterson Trio's album Night Train.

The audience responded with cheers, applause and gasps of amazement throughout the concert. At the conclusion of the evening, the audience rose quickly to give the CJO a standing ovation.

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra is a sixteen-member jazz band that was founded in 2004. Gerry Hebert, Rich Harding, Dr. Jeremy Brown, Shane Statz and Sarah Matheson make up the saxophone section. Johnny Summers, Kim Beachum, Gordon Wilhelm and Al Muirhead play trumpet. Jim Scott, Carsten Rubeling, Mike Thomas and Dave Reid form the trombone section. The rhythm section is comprised of Bob Erlendson on piano, Rubim de Toledo on bass and Greg Baker on drums.

The band arrangements for this programme were by Johnny Summers and Greg Baker. The CJO is directed by Johnny Summers.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra got the 2010-11 season off to a rousing start with The Music of Charles Mingus and Oscar Peterson on Sunday, September 26, 2010. The performance was filled with rapid-fire solos and "crunchy" harmonies.

This concert review was originally published on Suite101.com . All rights are reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Concert Review: Calgary Jazz Orchestra Plays Brubeck and the Adderley Brothers

Lively music and exciting solos were on the programme at the Calgary Jazz Orchestra's first concert for the 2012/13 season. This concert took place on Sunday, October 21, 2012  at the River Park Church in Calgary, Alberta. The William Aberhart Jazz Ensemble, directed by Kevin Willms took to the stage first, performing three numbers. The first was "Hay Burner" by composer and big band arranger, Sammy Nestico, a mid-tempo number.

This was followed up with Duke Ellington's "Pyramid", which is a medium, Latin-influenced number. This featured some lovely solos on trombone, clarinet, tenor sax, trumpet and bari sax.

The jazz band wrapped up with "Groovin' Hard" by Don Menza. This upbeat swing number featured solos on drums, tenor sax, piano and guitar.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra Performs the Music of the Adderley Brothers

The first half of the CJO's program featured some hard bop by trumpeter and composer Nat Adderley and his brother, alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley.

The jazz ensemble opened the first set with "Hayseed". This lively number featured solos by Gerry Hebert on saxophone, Kim Beachum on trumpet, Egor Ukoloff on piano and Brian Walley on trombone. A highlight was when Jeremy Brown (saxophone) and Greg Baker (drums) were trading fours.

Another highlight wasn't listed on the programme. The late addition was "Tenderly", arranged by pianist Egor Ukoloff. It was performed by Egor Ukoloff, Jeremy Brown, Johnny Summers, Kodi Hutchinson and Greg Baker.

Egor Ukoloff opened with a Gershwin-esque introduction, complete with rolls and waves of blues chords and arpeggiated patterns. A sensitive presentation of the "head" was delivered by Johnny Summers on trumpet and Jeremy Brown. Jeremy's lines were quite varied, one moment, lyrical and wavy and the next, marcato as the melody grew.

In contrast, Johnny's lines were softer with tender motifs that mimicked the murmurings between lovers. This gradually ave way to a more rhythmic part as the rhythm section led the transition to the piano solo.

Egor's featured rhythmic motives and sequences. Truly, the architecture of their solos was simply sublime.

Five other songs were included in the first set. They were: “Work Song”, “Unit Seven”, “Sermonette”, “Jackleg” and “ Spectacular”.

The CJO Performs West Coast Jazz by Paul Desmond & Dave Brubeck

I must come clean, I am a huge Brubeck fan. I guess that makes me a West Coast jazz fan as well. The second half is what I had eagerly anticipated for months! Well, ever since the Calgary Jazz Orchestra announced its 2012/13 season.

The CJO performed the music of the Adderley brothers and Dave Brubeck. Photo by R-M Arca.

Director Johnny Summers shared the story behind his arrangement of “Take Five”. He asked a visiting musician for ideas on how to approach arranging this iconic tune. He was told “Don't bother.”

The result was an exciting arrangement. The punchy 5/4 rhythms prevail but the shaping was exquisite. Gerry Hebert's solo meandered, gradually leading the audience up to Shane Statz's solo on sax. It featured longer rhythms.

The middle section had a distinct “Get Smart” vibe. It also featured Rich Harding on alto sax. His solo started slowly and gradually built up the audience with trickier rhythms.

In contrast, Johnny Summers' solo built up in waves, punctuated by “splats”. Greg Baker's solo also built up in waves with punchy rhythms.

The final number on the programme was “Blue Rondo à la Turk”. Egor Ukoloff opened, followed by Greg Baker and Kodi Hutchinson. Next came the saxes, followed by the trumpets and trombones. The transitions between the swing theme and the Turkish theme was executed marvelously, gradually gaining momentum and energy.

Gerry Hebert marked the first transition to swing, followed by Rich Harding on sax in a lower register. Then, the pair traded fours, then twos, building up the excitement with faster rhythms.

Johnny Summers' solo during the “Turkish” part was slow and steady, at first, then got louder, higher and faster. This was punctuated by blasts of rapid descents to the lower register.

Egor Ukoloff's solo was blues-infused, featuring a soulful melodic line and crunchy chords. The music gained speed and continued to push towards a very energetic ending.

Other songs featured in the second set include “Charles Matthew Hallelujah”, “In Your Own Sweet Way” and “Unsquare Dance”. The CJO performed Cannonball Adderley's “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” as an encore.

Upcoming Events with the CJO

The CJO's next performance is the annual Al Capone Charade. This cabaret features an evening of big band swing and dancing.The Calgary Jazz Orchestra is launching a new series called “CJO Small Group Series”. The opening performance, “From the Plantation to the Penitentiary” is on Thursday, November 22, 2012, and will feature the music of Wynton Marsalis.

To find out more about CJO and the jazz ensemble's upcoming events, visit the Calgary Jazz Orchestra website.

The Music of David Brubeck & the Adderley Brothers was presented by the Calgary Jazz Orchestra on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Riverpark Church. It featured big band arrangements by Greg Baker, Shane Statz, Johnny Summers and Egor Ukoloff. This enjoyable programme showcased several pieces that had heads bopping to the music throughout the evening.

Concert Review: Calgary Jazz Orchestra's "Blues & Our Songs”

Variety, impressive licks and smart big band arrangements were on tap at the Calgary Jazz Orchestra's final concert for the 2011/12 season. This concert took place on Sunday, May 6, 2012  at the River Park Church in Calgary, Alberta.

Sir Winston Churchill High School's jazz band opened with  “Alice in Wonderland” (Bob Hilliard), an upbeat jazz waltz which featured solos on piano, electric guitar, saxophone and bari sax.

This was followed by “Pick Yourself Up” from the musical Swing Time (Jerome Kern). Director Judy L. Wishloff got the entire audience singing the refrain. This featured solos on bass, vocals, saxophone and trumpet.

Humour, Charm and Smart Arrangements Showcased in Calgary Jazz Orchestra's Own Works

The first half of the programme showcased works by Calgary Jazz Orchestra's own, a “ smorgasbord collection,” quipped CJO Director Johnny Summers. The opening number, “For PJ” (K. Hutchinson & G. Bane) was written for a colleague and friend who passed away. This upbeat work contained echoes from classic TV shows in the 1960s (e.g. Spider Man, Get Smart).

“For PJ” featured a driving bass line supported by a shuffling drum beat. The solos displayed a wonderful contrast. There was a fast and rhythmic solo by Johnny Summers on trumpet, followed by a sparkling solo on sax by Gerry Hebert in the high register. Gareth Hughes presented a soaring solo that built up to high-energy wails and shakes, while Brian Walley gave listeners a dramatic contrast with his more subdued solo on trombone. Joanna Borromeo, delivered an explosive and highly syncopated solo on piano, while guest artist Russell Broom presented a softer, yet still rhythmic solo on guitar.

“Father's Time” was a last minute addition to the programme. Gerry Hebert wrote this when his first child was born. The shifting meter shows off his “feeling askew” combined with the excitement of fatherhood. This featured solos by Jim Brenan on saxophone, Johnny Summers on trumpet, Gerry Hebert on flute and Joanne Borromeo on piano. This catchy number is from

Gerry Hebert's jazz CD

,

BeatNiq Sessions Volume 2: Constructive Interference

.Drummer Greg Baker described “Riff Knot” as a “young Count Basie type” tune. This medium jazz-blues number featured driving repeated notes followed by catchy licks on piano. This was followed by the trombone section and then the saxes and trumpets together. Sarah Matheson's solo on bari sax created an adventurous weaving line, while Russell Broom's guitar kicked up the energy a notch. Al Muirhead's trumpet solo weaved a line that was as beautiful melodically as it was rhythmically punchy.  John Gray's energetic bass solo segued smoothly into Greg Baker's punchy solo. Shane Statz's solo brought together all the weaving and pushed the ensemble towards the climax.

Three more numbers rounded out the first half. They were “Sudafed Blues” and “Chance Charm” by Shane Statz and Greg Baker's “Just a Memory”.

CJO Performs Music Made Famous by Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and John Mayer 

From the moment Russell Broom cut loose on his guitar for “Hey Joe”, the entire audience began to bop their heads or tap along to the beat. This arrangement by Greg Baker opened with said guitar solo, complemented by “splashes” from the trumpets, saxes and trombones. Greg Baker was on double duty for this jazz blues number, delivering gritty vocals without missing a beat on percussion. The groove switched to more of a rock flavour, with the ensemble vamping to a climax.

The soundscape leading to the climax of “Hey Joe” featured jaw-dropping guitar riffs and an equally exciting drum solo.  The rhythm section traded bars with each member of the trumpet section before the audience heard one last guitar solo.

“The Thrill is Gone” (R. Hawkins, R. Darnell) is a medium blues number made famous by B.B. King. This arrangement was done by Greg Baker. It opened with Russell Broom on guitar plus the rhythm section. Gradually, layers were added, building up until Greg Baker began to sing. Russell's guitar solo featured beautiful melodies, soulful slides and varied rhythms. This segued nicely into Shane Statz's solo on sax, which shifted the melody to the upper range. The vocals returned with the trombones before being joined by the entire ensemble. The guitar and rhythm section brought the number to a rousing close.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra's Johnny Summers (Photo by R-M Arca)

The CJO ended with a slow number that was high on soul, with a bit of blues, rock and gospel thrown in. This big band arrangement of John Mayer's “Gravity” was done by Johnny Summers. This showcased Johnny's vocal range wonderfully. It featured a dramatic solo by Russell Broom, a strong and an introspective solo by Joanna Borromeo on piano that gradually built up the excitement. The choir walking in from the back midway through the number was a delightful surprise to many.Two other numbers were performed in the second set. These were “Forty-Four Blues” (R. Sykes, H. Wolf, Arr. J. Summers) and “Pride & Joy” (S.R. Vaughan, Arr. J. Summers).

About the Calgary Jazz Orchestra

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra is a 17-piece big band founded by Johnny Summers in 2004. The CJO's “Blues & Our Songs” concert featured Gerry Hebert, Gareth Hughes, Jim Brenan, Shane Statz and Sarah Matheson on saxophones. The trumpet section was comprised by Johnny Summers, Kim Beachum, Al Muirhead and Dave Foley. Brian Walley, Tim Embree, Nathan Gingrich and Greg Robertson make up the trombone section.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra was joined by guitarist Russell Broom. Based in Calgary, Broom has won awards from the WCMA, Junos and AMPIA and has perfrormed in many concerts in Calgary and jazz music festivals.

The rhythm section included Joanna Borromeo on piano, John Gray on bass and Greg Baker on drums. Pianist Joanna Borromeo made her debut with the Calgary Jazz Orchestra at this performance. Her strong playing incorporated a mix of R&B, jazz-blues and rock that meshed perfectly with the ensemble.

“Blues & Our Songs” concludes the Calgary Jazz Orchestra's 2011/12 season. You can buy concert tickets for the 2012/13 season on the Calgary Jazz Orchestra website.

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