Jazz Vespers at St. Edmund’s will be held from
4-5 p.m. September 20.
According to a news release issued by Dave Klinger, this is the first in a new series of services which will be held each month on the third Sunday.
It will include small jazz groups playing during a service designed to appeal to those who are “spiritual but not religious.”
In addition to jazz, the vespers service includes poetry and silent meditation.
Jazz vespers began in New York City during the 1940s when a number of club musicians, who worked into the early hours, requested a service they could attend on Sunday evenings.
Due to their work schedules Sunday morning was out of the question. As a result many well-known jazz musicians, including Duke Ellington, played during these special services. Jazz Vespers at St. Edmund’s is being produced by Klinger, with Greg Bush of the jazz faculty at VIU as musical director.
Musicians engaged for the first vespers are: Greg Bush on trumpet; Dave Klinger on piano; Alica Murray on drums; and a new arrival to the area from Montreal, Rob Uffen, on bass.
They will play standards of the jazz and American Songbook repertoire.
The jazz vespers event is free of charge. St. Edmund’s is located at 407 Wembley Road in Parksville. For more information contact Dave Klinger at 250-947-9755.
— Submitted by Dave Klinger