Andrew Homzy's NOLA NightHawks Presents: A Tour of the Blues - Two Nights in Nanaimo

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Friday, December 16th, 2016
7:30 PM

Nanaimo’s Andrew Homzy, musician, arranger, jazz scholar and Grammy nominee, is so fond of W.C. Handy's compositions that he has created a revue of some of his best-known tunes: A Tour of the Blues: Celebrating the Music of W.C. Handy.

Known as the Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy was one of the most influential American songwriters in the early 20th century. He penned such classics as St. Louis Blues, Memphis Blues, Yellow Dog Blues and Beale Street Blues

Among the earliest blues musicians, W.C. Handy is credited with giving blues its contemporary form, taking it from a regional style - Delta blues - with a limited audience to one of the dominant forces in American music.

Homzy has infused a New Orleans jazz flavour into his arrangements of each Handy tune, scored for three vocalists and his 10-piece NOLA NightHawks band. Homzy’s NightHawks have performed regularly up and down Vancouver Island since the group was formed three years ago.

The revue features vocalists Robyn Fortunat, Layla Hansen and Dominique Pashley. The band includes some of Nanaimo’s best professional musicians: Trumpeters Greg Bush and David Herman, trombonists Darren Nilsson and Craig Burnett,
clarinetist Claudio Fantinato, baritone saxophonist Rod Alsop.
On guitar Jesse Marshall, bass Rob Uffen, drums Graham Villette, and musical director Andrew Homzy on piano.

Homzy, who moved to Nanaimo in 2009, was a key figure on the Montreal jazz scene for more than 40 years. His 16-piece Jazz Orchestra played regularly at the Montreal Jazz Festival and was featured on many Radio-Canada broadcasts.

Best Western Dorchester Hotel - 70 Church Street, Nanaimo

Tickets: $25 advance, $15 student, $30 at door
Buy on-line at www.porttheatre.com
The Ticket Centre. Call 250-754-8550
Fascinating Rhythm (51 Commercial St. Nanaimo)

Website: www.homzy.ca