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Join us at St Mary’s for a unique blend of exceptional jazz rooted in the context of meditation and prayer. This month we welcome the Stella White Quartet!
Stella White is an 18 year old Downbeat Award Winning vocalist currently pursuing her Bachelors of Jazz Performance at McGill University. She’s returning to Vancouver Island for the summer and is so excited to bring her quartet to St. Mary’s for an afternoon of jazz!
A collection will be taken in support of this ongoing series. Suggested donation $20.
Check out the full series here
About the Musicians
Stella White is an 18 year old Downbeat Award Winning vocalist currently pursuing her Bachelors of Jazz Performance at Schulich School of Music McGill University. She is a versatile and interactive jazz/soul/RnB vocalist. Stella is an active member of the Victoria and Montreal music scene, and has led her own band many times at many venues like Hermann’s Jazz Club, Upstairs Jazz Club, and Victoria International Jazz Festival, among others. She studies under legends at McGill such as Camille Thurman, Renee Lee, and Ira Coleman. She has also spent time singing with the West Coast Soul Collective, an high energy funk and soul group of young up and coming musicians, and her straight ahead bands in Victoria include well established local musicians. Stella is passionate about authenticity and connecting with others through music. She offers soulful takes on many classic jazz standards and newer tunes written by modern jazz artists. She aims to bring new life to the classic music she plays and to engage her audience with her love for performing. Stella can be found performing regularly in Victoria and Montreal!
Rumi Johnson is a pianist, composer, and arranger from Chicago, Illinois. He is currently studying at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music under internationally acclaimed pianist Jean-Michel Pilc. Drawing inspiration from across the jazz tradition, his primary influences are Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, and Ahmad Jamal. Rumi can be found regularly performing at various venues in Chicago and Montreal.
Rooted in the jazz tradition but drawing influences from all over the map, Josh Warren is an award-winning Canadian bassist, composer, and arranger originally hailing from Victoria, BC. Since moving to Toronto to study with Canada’s finest, he’s shared the stage and recorded with a plethora of Grammy-nominated and JUNO award-winning musicians (including Ingrid Jensen, Jeremy Ledbetter, Rich Brown, Allison Au, and Joaquin Nunez) and performed all across the country, playing at iconic venues and major festivals from coast to coast. Now based in Toronto, Josh is working towards the release of his debut album “The Path” (engineered and mixed by JUNO award-winner Patric McGroarty) - out everywhere on August 22nd!
Miles Fuller is a drummer, improviser and composer from Victoria BC, located on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen People. An experienced performer, he appears regularly as both side-man and leader in venues across Canada. Miles’ playing is greatly informed by the jazz and improvised music tradition and he holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto.
About Jazz Evensong
Evolving out of two ancient services of prayer as the sun is setting—vespers and compline—the service of Evensong is an opportunity to put the events of the past day into perspective, to ground one’s body, mind and spirit in preparation for the restorative night of sleep, when in our dreaming, our subconscious will continue the creative work of making sense of our experiences.
Jazz, as Ken Burns says, is “a profound intersection of freedom and creativity”. So, whether you are a seasoned jazz lover or a newcomer to the genre, you will be sure to find something to speak to you at this unique and moving experience of making sense of your day. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this inspiring and intimate celebration of faith and music. All are welcome!