One of Vancouver’s finest jazz vocalists is in town this weekend for the 2011 autumn series of Music on Sunday at The Old School House (TOSH).
Laura Crema is a vocalist who possesses a lush, unique instrument with great depth and resonance. Her influences are broad and diverse as she blends jazz with popular music and improvisation. The Laura Crema Trio which includes Ron Hadley on piano and Rick Kilburn on bass will be performing on October 16.
Crema graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in Fine and Performing Arts, and Economics. She has studied at the Banff Centre for the Arts with legendary jazz vocalists Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton and in Washington State with Nancy King and Kurt Elling. She has trained in extended voice with master teacher Richard Armstrong and studied music at Vancouver Community College. Her CD Almost Blue has received excellent reviews and radio airplay in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Her latest recording, Spring is Here, was released in the fall of 2007 and was named Vocal Jazz Recording of the Year by Jazz Journalist James Hale (Downbeat, Coda) in the Annual Village Voice Jazz Poll Ballots.
Rick Kilburn has enjoyed a 40-year career as a jazz bassist working with some of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet. He has played at many famous jazz clubs in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Ron Hadley is originally from the Boston area, where he took private lessons at the New England Conservatory with jazz piano legend Jaki Byard while studying theory and jazz improvisation at Berklee College of Music. He has performed throughout North America and Japan.
The Old School House is located at 122 Fern Road West in Qualicum Beach. All concerts are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and admission is $16. You can find a list of all the concerts scheduled for the 2011 season of Music on Sunday at www.theoldschoolhouse.org.
— The Old School House