Jazz by the Bog by Susan Smythe When planning the celebration of the 20th successful year of Jazz by the Bog (JBTB) concerts, which benefit the work of St. Aidan’s Anglican Church on Oxford Street West, Steve Holowitz was asked to be the coordinator of this GALA year. Steve’s involvement has been an important element in the success of this venture, particularly in the early years as we endeavoured to invite audiences into the church sanctuary, an acoustically wonderful room to hear some of London and area’s best musicians perform. With much thought and collaboration, the 20th Season GALA was created and what a party this has been! The last concert, THE FINALE, was presented on Friday, April 26 and featured The Antler River Project – A Reunion . The name is derived from the aboriginal name of the Thames River. This band’s sound is Jazz World Beat, blending contemporary and roots genres which suggest a rhythmic, harmonic or textural contrast between its modern and ethnic elements. All of this creates a sound which can be complex, yet makes the listener want to get up and move. The popular Antler River Project entertained at JBTB several times between 2006 and 2012. However, since Fiona Wilkinson left the group, her brilliant flute playing is sadly missed and they have not performed for about ten years. It was now time to breathe new life into the music by incorporating violinist Jonathan de Souza and sax player Aaron MacDonald, who shared the flute parts, to join original members Steve Holowitz (piano), Oliver Whitehead (guitar), Alfredo Caxaj (percussion), Rob Larose (drums), and Mitch Tyler (bass).
Keeping the beat going all evening, Rob Larose is well-known for his percussion versatility, fitting comfortably alongside Sunfest’s Alfredo Caxaj who provided the auxiliary World Beat sounds and contributed vocally on three songs, including an upbeat Celebracion which he wrote to convey appreciation for cultural opportunities in Canada to come together to celebrate. As the audience members filed out of the church, there were smiles and a happy buzz of excitement for the music that was still swimming around in their minds! They had just been party to the one of the finest collaborations of musical talent in this city and a celebration that could not have been imagined 20 years ago. Thank you to all who have participated in, volunteered for, and supported Jazz by the Bog . Let’s see what the 21st Season has in store for 2024-2025!
To advertise here, please contact Cathy@VillagerPublications.com Several of the original compositions the band plays have been composed by Oliver Whitehead, a Jazz Album Juno Award nominee, whose works span a host of musical genres from orchestra and choir to theatre and TV. Mitch Tyler’s beautiful Under the Aztec Sky, and Gable Green by Steve Holowitz (for a Grand Theatre production) prove that this group has no shortage of material or composing talent to draw from. Altitude , the first tune played and featuring violin and saxophone, set the pace for the heights we were to experience throughout the evening. Oliver’s composition Antler River Tango again with violin and saxophone but also string bass punctuations, had us wanting to get up and dance! Two selections from The River Suite transported us to the banks of the Thames where one could imagine the rush of the water as the two branches come together at The Forks while The Black Current , written with a time signature of 7/8, gave the urgency of the swirling waters.
Hyde Park – Oakridge Villager • June 2024 • Page 5
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