Women of Jazz at Elks

The Georgia Straight Jazz Society is once more presenting Women of Jazz.

This fourth Women of Jazz concert takes place this Thursday — International Women's Day – and is again a fundraiser for the Comox Valley Transition Society.

This evening's featured guests are up-and-coming high school vocalists Alyssa Dawe and Christina Demeo of Mark Isfeld, and Kaitlyn Card, Tonja Maslin and Jenna Spowart of Vanier. All five young women already have extensive musical backgrounds but this is the first time they will grace the stage at the Elks.

Joining the young women on stage are four of the Valley's most talented and exciting jazz musicians — Jenn Forsland, Rachel Fuller, Dale Graham and Wendy Nixon Stothert.

During the course of the evening, each featured musician will perform a solo number. Then, each of the young women will be teamed up with a "veteran" to do a duet. The results won't fail to be fun, fresh and exuberant. Some of the pieces you will hear — At Last, Summertime, Straighten Up and Fly Right and Peel Me A Grape.

Last, but far from least, is the band, with Rick Husband on guitar, Bill Street on drums and Don MacKay on bass. Wendy and Jenn will take turns at the keyboard.

Arrive early to guarantee a fine seat — particularly if you hope to sit in a group — and hear an evening of fabulous jazz while supporting not one but two good causes.

The Elks is located on Sixth Street in downtown Courtenay and showtime is 7:30 p.m.

— Georgia Straight Jazz Society