Colwood’s Church of the Advent brings Victoria Jazz Orchestra for its vespers this month. The full-size jazz big band will feature special guest Bill Runge, one of Vancouver’s most renowned tenor saxophonists.
In May, the Victoria Jazz Orchestra rose from the ashes of the defunct Monday Night Big Band co-led by saxophone sensation Monik Nordine and trumpet wizard Bruce Hurn.
The ensemble is establishing itself as a monthly staple at Hermann’s jazz club while including as guest artists some of the West Coast’s best jazz musicians.
Runge, a successful performer, composer, arranger and orchestrator for more than 30 years, has performed and recorded on saxophone, flute, clarinet, electric and string bass, piano and keyboard, guitar, penny whistle and accordion. His saxophone style amalgamates the influences of John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker and Steve Grossman with his own compositional approach: a modern player firmly rooted in jazz tradition.
The VJO will perform original music from the Boss Brass and Ian McDougall libraries.
The jazz vespers are Sunday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in Colwood’s Church of the Advent, 510 Mt. View Ave. Take a sneak peek at billrunge.com.
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