The Nelson Choral Society, Cottonwood Singers and the L.V. Rogers senior jazz band take to the Capitol Theatre stage on Mother’s Day, May 11, for an evening of jazz.
Jazz rhythms are the forte of the 26-member jazz band, of course. The band will showcase pieces it has been preparing for the prestigious Musicfest Canada competition in Vancouver to which it has been invited later this month.
If you’ve never heard this accomplished ensemble, conducted by Tim Bullen, this is a great opportunity.
For the 50-member Nelson Choral Society, which usually performs classical repertoire, performing sacred jazz is a bit of a twist. The choir’s feature selection is A Little Jazz Mass by British composer Bob Chilcott.
Choral Society music director Kathleen Neudorf discovered the gorgeous, soulful music last summer.
“Sacred choral music most often conjures up the masses and requiems of Bach, Handel, Haydn and Mozart,” she explained. “But Chilcott uses the jazz idiom to reinterpret the Catholic mass text in a contemporary context.
“What choral lovers expect is thrown on its ear and we have a completely new way of hearing the text through this music.”
The five movements of A Little Jazz Mass embrace a variety of jazz styles. The Kyrie has real groove, the Gloria swings, the Sanctus sits right back, the Benedictus hums along, and the Agnus Dei draws inspiration from the Blues.
It will be accompanied by a jazz trio, with Doug Stephenson on bass, Steven Parish on drums and Christoph Martens on piano.
The evening also includes sacred jazz selections by Cottonwood Singers.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets are $15, with children 12 and under admitted free. Bring your mother, and enjoy! (Bring your father, too!)