10th Annual Gibson’s Landing Jazz Festival

Growing from a one-day Saturday afternoon festival to 10 full days of live music filling restaurants, parks and venues throughout Gibsons and Roberts Creek, the Gibson’s Landing Jazz Festival showcases outstanding local and touring performers. There is something to appeal to the whole family at this festival.

In collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Film Society, the Festival presents the documentary ‘Living in a Great Big Way’, celebrating the life of dancer Jeni LeGon, the first black woman performer to sign a contract with a major Hollywood studio. Now in her eighties, Jeni will be in attendance at the screening and perform with the Cedar Groove Quartet. She will also recount her amazing life singing and dancing with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and many other jazz luminaries.

The main festival weekend heats up on Friday June 10th at ‘The Club’ in Gibsons, with the Gypsy-Jazz stylings of The Hot Club of Mars featuring former Coaster Michael Dunn. (Check out www.theclubgibsons.com for details).

The big outdoor festival in Dougal Park on Saturday, June 11th begins at noon and fills the air with music until 6:00pm. This year, a very special guest band from Holland - Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio - will pay tribute to Canadian veterans and the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. Gibsons has been selected as one of the stops on their cross-Canada ‘Tulips 2005’ tour, with a concert and a gift of 600 tulip bulbs to the Town of Gibsons. This is a thank you to Canadians for providing a safe haven for members of the Dutch Royal Family in Ottawa, and the important role of the Canadian Army. The band is touring with a 40 foot ‘Stage Bus’ totally covered in tulips, which opens into its own stage complete with grand piano, drums, sound and lights. A sight not to be missed!

For the festival opening at noon, Berni G and the 69ers will sing jazz tunes from the war era. (Many of them are veterans themselves, and musicians have to be 69 years young to join the group!) Next up is Luci Herder and Friends from the Sunshine Coast; followed by the fabulous the Bill Coon Quartet from Vancouver, then the Dutch group Luluk Purwanto & the Helsdingen Trio; local resident Celso Machado playing his magical style of Brazilian rhythms joined by multi-instrumentalist Estanislau Gubiotti; and closing the day with Brass Roots, a jazz brass band with some of Vancouver’s finest players. They played at the very first Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival and promise some high energy dancing tunes to celebrate.

This wonderful day in the park also includes “Jean-Pierre Makosso’s Village’ with his dance and drum troupe of kids that just love to play music; the MythMaker Stiltwalkers; a craft market, a kids ukulele making workshop, lots of good food, plenty of surprises, and four big tents to cover the audience for all kinds of weather. A great place to bring the family, as kids 12 and under are free.

Saturday night is the time to get out your dancing shoes and either ‘get down and funky’ with the hot hot 10 piece band, SOULSTREAM at Roberts Creek Hall; or, swirl your partner on the more elegant dance floor of ‘The Club’ in Gibsons to the Big Band sounds of the Creek Big Band.

Sunday morning enjoy a ‘Jazz Brunch’ at Café New Orleans with the smooth jazz tunes of ‘Glenda Rae’s Acoustic Groove’ featuring Michael Taylor and Tony Chamberlist, plus delicious music and tasty treats, Two years ago Glenda wowed the festival, (and together with Michael’s great voice they are not to be missed!)

Sunday afternoon is a free concert in Winegarden Park featuring 3 great local bands; MG2M, Definitely Divas, and the Bayou Dixieland Jazz Band. Plus the rhythm group ‘the Drumheads’ to entertain at the breaks and the Gibsons Sunday Market in Holland Park on the street above.

For more information about performances, ticket prices and vendors, visit www.coastjazz.com