Serious and live musicians have to break through walls for this to work at its best.
The past two years have not been the best.
So, despite a case of the pandemic blues, Cory Weeds made lemonade with the lemons he was given.
The longtime Burnaby resident is spearheading the upcoming Jazz @ the ‘Bolt Festival February 11-13, 2022 at the Shadbolt Center, a weekend exhibit featuring more than 75 jazz players from across America North.
This will be Weeds’ first serious musical kickstart since the festival’s first edition two years ago.
“If we have people out there who like it, that’s a win, especially given what we’ve been up against over the past 20 months,” said Weeds, a horn player who also serves as manager. artistic festival. “It will be a colossal collection of musicians from across British Columbia, New York, Toronto and across Canada under one roof making great music. “
Weeds kick off the festival’s opening night with Mike LeDonne and the Groover Quartet as well as a Big Band. From there, he’ll connect with over a dozen other musicians across a handful of other bands over the three-day festival.
He will wear, as seasoned musicians do, many different caps, with many different people.
“It’s probably a bit too much, but I just have to do it,” Weeds said. “I’ve always had a knack for multitasking.
Multitasking has been the order of the day for anyone with a musical inclination during the COVID era. Weeds took care of the organization of live broadcasts, participation in live broadcasts and management of his jazz label, Cellar Live.
Provincial and federal grants also helped keep the boat afloat.
“I just tried to keep my head above the water and managed to do well. I’m very grateful because not everyone was so lucky, ”Weeds said. “I feel like over the past 20 months the music has taken care of me. Not that I think the music owes me anything, but it certainly paid me back during that time. “
Like Weeds, New Westminster drummer Jesse Cahill has been a COVID musical exception in that his career hasn’t fallen off a cliff. He continued financially through live broadcasts, grants, teaching classes, and obtaining the odd recording gig that fell to his knees when musicians from overseas couldn’t travel.
There is a bit of survivor guilt in there.
“I feel a little guilty, but I did pretty well,” Cahill said.
And just like Weeds, Cahill will be multitasking like there’s no tomorrow in February. He will perform six sets on February 12 and 13 alongside the Jesse Cahill Trio with Nicole Grover, The Tilden Webb Trio and the Nightcrawlers, among others.
Drummer for more than 30 years, Cahill will undoubtedly pull on his chops to see him perform so many sets. But the free nature of jazz doesn’t hurt either.
“I was drawn to improvisation and not having to do the same thing all the time,” Cahill said. “It’s a special kind of music, it’s music that’s kind of in everything. Especially with the drums, if we go back far enough, we always talk about a jazz drummer.
Some of the other acts included in the three-day bill include The Ostara Project, a septet featuring some of Canada’s best female musicians; the Mike LeDonne and the New York Groover Quartet; Blue Moon Marquee Aboriginal group and dozens of others.
The complete list of the festival, as well as the fixed times, are online here.
Buy tickets online or dial 604-205-3000.
