Pennsylvania born, Victoria based blues/ gospel musician Louise Rose believes in paying it forward.
She studied under Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Leonard Bernstein and many others, so now, among many other projects, she mentors young performers.
“ I worked with a young woman named Diana Krall. She wasn’t sure if she could sing, so she was sent to me and the rest is history. That’s just what you do,” she noted adding as soon as she exhibited an interest in performing and singing jazz music,her family, friends and teachers put her in touch with other people who could help her hone her skills.
“ I grew up in a segregated neighbourhood. White people have money, black people have contacts, so if someone is in a position of success, they need to pass it on,” said Rose, who opens up the Lethbridge Jazz Festival with the Sweet inspiration Gospel Service gospel show at Southminster Untied Church, June 8 at 3:30 p.m. and will also perform a solo concert, June 10 at the Sterndale-Bennett Theatre.
As expected, she considers studying with Duke Ellington an honour and a privilege.
“That was at least 40 years ago and it was humbling. I was young, unexperienced and eager to learn. And New York City was a marvellous place to be for that. Duke Ellington was a tough mentor. He had very high expectations. He was very strict, which was important for a young artist like me,” she said taking a break from working on arrangements for her Victoria Jazz festival performance on June 20.
She has prepared a couple of traditional gospel pieces for the show including arrangements for the choir and for the band.
She has a different program prepared for her solo concert, which will feature herself on piano and vocals.
“There are songs that I really enjoy and to which the audience can connect to. It’s not just negro spirituals,” she described.
There is no cover for the June 8 gospel performance at Southminster United Church. Tickets for Louise Rose’s June 10 concert at Sterndale-Bennett Theatre cost $25.
