Monik Nordine
Mar 8, 2011, 07:41 AM
On Thursday, March 24 Departure will be having their CD released at the Cellar. Departure features Monik Nordine on saxophones, Brent Jarvis on fender rhodes, Phill Albert on bass and Buff Allen on drums. www.departurejazz.com (http://www.departurejazz.com/)
Show starts at 8pm, tix $10
For reservations call 604-738-1959
3611 West Broadway
http://www.cellarjazz.com/
Review
The jazz scene on the west coast is fundamentally different than that in most other regions in Canada, in that it is more spread out, not completely concentrated in an urban centre, as in most places. A large number of musicians have moved out west, attracted by Vancouver's lifestyle, climate, and setting, and many of them have discovered the attractions of the communities on the islands. Home-grown jazz musicians have thrived on the associations that they've formed with these travelers, and this recording is one of the many fine products of these affiliations.
This recording plays like a set on a live club date. It takes us on a journey through some pretty spectacular scenery, and leaves us wanting to drive this road again. The recording quality is warm and alive, the mixes are superb, and the flow of the whole session is wonderful. It feels a lot like like an old LP, which we listened to in its entirety, rather than to a succession of single unrelated tunes on an Ipod set to shuffle. This is a potent bunch of musicians, and their distinctive individual styles have come together in a superbly unique blend.
- Peter Taschuk, musician
About the Band
Departure began as a writing project between saxophonist Monik Nordine and bassist Phill Albert which grew out of a recording session in Nanaimo in the winter of 2008/09. The group is now expanded to quartet format and includes Brent Jarvis on fender rhodes and Buff Allen on drums. The group has been together for a year, and has been featured at the Port Theater’s Random Acts series in spring of 2010, was invited to perform for the Saturna Island Arts and Concert Society, and most recently for the Georgia Straight Jazz Society in Courtenay, BC. In February of 2011 the album Departure rated as the #1 jazz album at CHLY radio in Nanaimo and #16 overall. Their first album “Departure” was released in November, 2010.
Monik led the saxophone section for the Monday Night Big Band in Victoria for many years and is a current member of The Pat Coleman Quartet. She also teaches saxophone at Vancouver Island University and has appeared with artists such as Michael Bublé, Rob McConnell, P.J. Perry, Paul Horn and also on the album Cruel Yet Fair with the The Hard Rubber Orchestra. Buff won a Juno Award for his contribution to the Hugh Fraser album Looking Up and is one of Canada's most sought after jazz players. He has performed with Ed Bickert, Johnny Hartman, Lenny Breau, and Teddy Wilson. Phill is a graduate of Vancouver Island University and is successfully launching his career as a freelancer. Brent Jarvis maintains an active performing schedule in Victoria and other parts of North America, has 3 albums out in his own name and recently opened his own music academy The Brent Jarvis Academy of Music. According to Rick Gibbs of www.islandjazz.ca (http://www.islandjazz.ca%20/) he is "...expressive and lyrical, not to mention technically brilliant..."
Together they are Departure!
Informed by post-bop and modal jazz, the group performs original material and jazz standards.
Show starts at 8pm, tix $10
For reservations call 604-738-1959
3611 West Broadway
http://www.cellarjazz.com/
Review
The jazz scene on the west coast is fundamentally different than that in most other regions in Canada, in that it is more spread out, not completely concentrated in an urban centre, as in most places. A large number of musicians have moved out west, attracted by Vancouver's lifestyle, climate, and setting, and many of them have discovered the attractions of the communities on the islands. Home-grown jazz musicians have thrived on the associations that they've formed with these travelers, and this recording is one of the many fine products of these affiliations.
This recording plays like a set on a live club date. It takes us on a journey through some pretty spectacular scenery, and leaves us wanting to drive this road again. The recording quality is warm and alive, the mixes are superb, and the flow of the whole session is wonderful. It feels a lot like like an old LP, which we listened to in its entirety, rather than to a succession of single unrelated tunes on an Ipod set to shuffle. This is a potent bunch of musicians, and their distinctive individual styles have come together in a superbly unique blend.
- Peter Taschuk, musician
About the Band
Departure began as a writing project between saxophonist Monik Nordine and bassist Phill Albert which grew out of a recording session in Nanaimo in the winter of 2008/09. The group is now expanded to quartet format and includes Brent Jarvis on fender rhodes and Buff Allen on drums. The group has been together for a year, and has been featured at the Port Theater’s Random Acts series in spring of 2010, was invited to perform for the Saturna Island Arts and Concert Society, and most recently for the Georgia Straight Jazz Society in Courtenay, BC. In February of 2011 the album Departure rated as the #1 jazz album at CHLY radio in Nanaimo and #16 overall. Their first album “Departure” was released in November, 2010.
Monik led the saxophone section for the Monday Night Big Band in Victoria for many years and is a current member of The Pat Coleman Quartet. She also teaches saxophone at Vancouver Island University and has appeared with artists such as Michael Bublé, Rob McConnell, P.J. Perry, Paul Horn and also on the album Cruel Yet Fair with the The Hard Rubber Orchestra. Buff won a Juno Award for his contribution to the Hugh Fraser album Looking Up and is one of Canada's most sought after jazz players. He has performed with Ed Bickert, Johnny Hartman, Lenny Breau, and Teddy Wilson. Phill is a graduate of Vancouver Island University and is successfully launching his career as a freelancer. Brent Jarvis maintains an active performing schedule in Victoria and other parts of North America, has 3 albums out in his own name and recently opened his own music academy The Brent Jarvis Academy of Music. According to Rick Gibbs of www.islandjazz.ca (http://www.islandjazz.ca%20/) he is "...expressive and lyrical, not to mention technically brilliant..."
Together they are Departure!
Informed by post-bop and modal jazz, the group performs original material and jazz standards.