Sunday Jazz Matinée Presents The CANUS Traditional Jazz Band!
Featuring Toni Blodgett, with special guests Jim Armstrong and Al Pease — and more.
Join us at 1:30 pm for a special introductory swing dance lesson! No experience is necessary, and no partner is required.
Sunday, September 6
Dance lesson at 1:30 pm
Show at 2:00 pm
Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon featuring some of the city’s most beloved traditional jazz musicians: pianist and vocalist Toni Blodgett, clarinetist extraordinaire Al Pease, special guest trumpeter and trombonist Jim Armstrong, bassist Joey Smith, and drummer and vocalist Lauri Lyster.
Pianist Toni Blodgett has been a vital proponent of ragtime and traditional jazz piano in Victoria for over 30 years. Hailing from the Canadian Prairies, Toni developed her sound through a deep love and appreciation for the great early jazz pianists, including Teddy Wilson, Erroll Garner, and Jelly Roll Morton. After relocating to Victoria, she turned her passion into her profession, becoming one of the region’s most sought-after pianists, vocalists, and bandleaders. She has performed at festivals across North America, including a featured performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Clarinetist Al Pease has been setting the bar for jazz clarinet on Canada’s West Coast for over 40 years. A former member of the prestigious NORAD Band, Al has performed around the world and remains a favourite among jazz audiences and musicians alike. In Victoria, he has performed with Toni Blodgett’s CANUS, Lloyd Arntzen’s Blackstick, Kelby MacNayr’s Swing Rhythm Kings, the Dixieland Express, and many more.
Trumpeter and trombonist Jim Armstrong has been a beloved figure in traditional jazz on the West Coast for many years. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Jim returns for this rare opportunity to hear one of the founding members of Toni Blodgett’s CANUS Dixieland Jazz Band in a very special performance.
Bassist Joey Smith has toured the world with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Marc Atkinson Trio and has performed with countless leading artists throughout Canada and the United States. A renowned guitarist, arranger, bassist, and educator, Joey brings phenomenal wisdom and eloquence to his musicianship.
Drummer Lauri Lyster is a classically trained percussionist who has made a name for herself on the Victoria, Vancouver, and Australian jazz scenes, working with numerous top performers at home and abroad. She is a regular collaborator of beloved pianist and bandleader Toni Blodgett, as well as prolific multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Simon Stribling.
Admission by donation ($20 suggested donation, but all are welcome)