A well-known trumpeter, arranger and vocalist in the Dal Richards Orchestra will pay his first visit to Music on Sunday at The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) on Jan. 29.
Jamie Croil will join Ron Hadley on piano, Joey Smith on bass and Bill Hicks on drums.
Vancouver born and raised, Croil starting playing trumpet at age 11 and developed as a musician and performer largely through his lengthy association with the world famous Beefeater Junior Marching Band. By 19, he was playing professionally and through the years, has performed at many major venues, theatres and hotels in the Vancouver area with groups such as The Wildroot Orchestra, a famous club band of the 1980’s which released the #3 and #8 songs in Canada in 1984 garnering Croil a Juno award nomination for brass player of the year. He performed in Hugh Fraser’s first well-known big band the Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation; The Toasters and The Butterhorns; The Night Train Revue; The Gary Guthman Orchestra; the Dave Robbins Orchestra and many others.
Aside from the many groups Croil has played with, his most notable contribution to the Canadian music scene has been his 35 year relationship with Dal Richards and the legendary Dal Richards Orchestra where his role has grown to include trumpet soloist, featured vocalist and lead arranger. From time to time, Croil is called upon to organize and lead other renditions of the Dal Richards Orchestra such as a nine-piece group playing by the field at some B.C. Lions games over the last two seasons.
Along with his busy playing and writing schedule with Dal Richards, he also puts his skills as leader and composer to use with his own groups; Jamie Croil and Free Time and The Jamie Croil Trio.
Music on Sunday featuring the Jamie Croil quartet on Jan. 29 goes from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at The Old School House Arts Centre, 122 Fern Road West, in Qualicum Beach. Admission is $16.00. For more information phone 250-752-6133 or visit www.theoldschoolhouse.org. — TOSH