The Lethbridge Jazz Festival opened with the Lethbridge Big Band and Friends playing a sold out show at CASA, June 13.
The group played a variety of popular jazz standards which not only featured solos from most of the band members, but also special guests.
Jessica Ens and George Gallant took turns crooning on a variety jazz standards made famous by Sam Cook, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
But the first show of the Lethbridge Jazz Festival also featured performances by some of the stars of the rest of the festival.
Vern Dorge played saxophone on a song with the band and returned to back vocalist Rosana Eckert sing an improvised jazz/ blues number which showed off her vocal range.
The Lethbridge Big Band also recognized local jazz musicians Herb Hicks and Ernie Block, both long time fixtures on the Lethbridge music community, with special awards.
Block did most of the arrangements for the Lethbridge Big Band’s music, so both band leader Paul Walker and Lethbridge Jazz Festival president Don Robb singled him out for praise.
Some of his highlights were their version of W.C. Handy’s blues/ jazz standard “St. Louis Blues.
They also played some George Gershwin and Jessica Ens brought the house down with a sultry version of “The Look of Love.”
George Gallant shone on Van Morrison’s “Moondance.”
Then Rosana Eckert gave her spine tingling rendition of an improvised blues.
They also played some crazy jazz as the band tackled John Coltrane’s “Blue Trane.”
They played a fantastic show featuring lots of horns, plus understated piano and bass.
After playing a lot more jazz music, they made their presentations to
Ernie Block and Herb Hicks, then sent everybody home with “Jump, Jive and Wail.”
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
