As summer cools down, the Sunday Jazz Series at Osborne Bay Pub is heating up for another season of live music in Crofton.
The fall series launches Sept. 14 and runs until Dec. 14. All performances take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with cash only admission at the door. Reserved seating is available by calling the pub at 250-324-2245.
This fall’s lineup kicks off Sept. 14 with Lady O and the Omen, a Nanaimo-based group led by bassist and vocalist Orith. Known for blending jazz, pop, blues and R&B, the band delivers an eclectic and uplifting sound.
On Sept. 28, guitarist Andrew Janusson leads a quartet in a program of jazz classics from the swing and bebop eras. Janusson has built a strong reputation among Island musicians for his expressive playing and deep-rooted influences, including jazz greats Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell.
October begins with a tribute to Frank Sinatra, as Ralph Barrett joins the Tom Vickery Trio for the Oct. 5 show. Sporting his signature fedora and classic vocal stylings, Barrett brings audiences back to the era of the Rat Pack.
Later in the month, the long-running Swiftsure Big Band takes the stage on Oct. 26. The group has been entertaining Vancouver Island audiences for more than 30 years, offering a mix of classic big band arrangements, Latin rhythms and modern swing.
The series continues Nov. 9 with a performance by The Palace Band, a returning crowd favourite. Their set list and stage presence promise an entertaining afternoon for listeners and dancers alike. Reservations are recommended to see this popular band.
Saxophonist Cayleigh Borsboom headlines the Nov. 23 concert with her own quintet. Making her debut as a bandleader at the pub, Borsboom is well known to jazz fans for her solo work with the Arrowsmith Big Band and is considered one of the region’s rising young jazz players.
On Dec. 7, Victoria-based group Lust Life brings a lively blend of jazz, blues and pop to the stage. Led by trumpeter and vocalist Bryn Badel, the band is joined by a special mystery guest for the afternoon performance.
The season wraps up Dec. 14 with the Skye Douglas Project, an ensemble led by trumpet player Dean Boland and featuring several top Island musicians. Their set focuses on original compositions and modern jazz that will take the audience on an introspective musical voyage.
With seasoned performers and new voices on the roster, Sunday afternoons in Crofton promise good company and great music.
