Richard Underhill Quintet in Kelowna

[bverkerk]

For any jazz fans in Kelowna on Saturday, Feb. 25, the Okanagan Jazz and Blues Society is presenting the Richard Underhill Quintet at 8 p.m. at Bunches Bistro, 111-1889 Springfield Rd.

Richard is an alto and baritone saxophonist in Toronto who co-founded the Shuffle Demons. Jazz writer Mark Miller has said the Shuffle Demons may have been Canada’s most successful jazz group of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 2003, Underhill's own debut instrumental jazz album, Tales from the Blue Lounge, won Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year at the Juno Awards. He released his second recording, Moment in Time, in the fall of 2005.

Advance tickets for the Kelowna show cost $20 for the general public, $15 for Okanagan Jazz and Blues Society members and $10 for youths 18 and under. They can be purchased through Bunches Bistro, phone (250) 860-8880. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door for $20.

For additional ticket sale locations and more information, visit the Okanagan Jazz and Blues Society website at www.okanaganjazzblues.org.

[Ryga]

It might be of interest to mention that Rich Underhill is originally a Salmon Arm boy. I believe he graduated high school in '79 the year I did, and he went off to create great things in Toronto not the least of which was the Shuffle Demons. I think Rich's mother (who was affectionately referred to as the Demon mother) still resides in the area. Some great musicians from Salmon Arm - Sandy Cameron for one.

[Nou Dadoun]

For any jazz fans in Kelowna on Saturday, Feb. 25, the Okanagan Jazz and Blues Society is presenting the Richard Underhill Quintet at 8 p.m. at Bunches Bistro, 111-1889 Springfield Rd.

Richard is an alto and baritone saxophonist in Toronto who co-founded the Shuffle Demons. Jazz writer Mark Miller has said the Shuffle Demons may have been Canada’s most successful jazz group of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 2003, Underhill's own debut instrumental jazz album, Tales from the Blue Lounge, won Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year at the Juno Awards. He released his second recording, Moment in Time, in the fall of 2005.



A short followup to note that Richard is at the Cellar this Friday, a great player and a helluva nice guy.

Back in 1986, I was living in a shared house with a friend who grew up in Salmon Arm and who was/is good friends with Richard. The Shuffles were doing the streetnicks playing thing in and around Expo 86 for weeks and staying in a ratty hotel over on the downtown east side. We dragged them all over for a home-cooked couscous meal one evening and then flopped in the living room with some single malt listening to the Brotherhood of Breath Live at Willisau.

I think I still have a copy of the first Shuffle Demons comic book around here somewhere ... N