James Brown & Dave Restivo

Trail & District Arts Council’s Jazz at The Griff Series presents

James Brown & Dave Restive

Thursday, October 26, 2023 @ 7:30 pm in the Muriel Griffiths Room at The Bailey Theatre, Trail BC

Single tickets are $22. Or buy a 6-show Jazz at the Griff Series pass for $110. Passes available only by visiting or calling the box office 250-368-9669.
**NEW 2023-24 Patron Membership for $25 and get 20% OFF all Trail Arts Council presentations! More details here.

The Jazz at the Griff series brings you James Brown & Dave Restivo. Enjoy the jazz club vibe as you savour a glass of wine in a setting that is up close and personal with the band.

Composer and guitarist James Brown returns to BC to present a series of concerts with the Juno award winning pianist Dave Restivo. The duo will interpret new and previously recorded compositions from Brown’s catalogue including music from their 2021 Koerner Hall premiere of the “Mosley Street Suite” and Brown’s 2022 release “Song Within the Story”. Guest artists are Rob Fahie on bass, and Joel Fountain on drums.

James Brown is a guitarist, composer, educator and one of Canada’s most talented and versatile musicians.He has preformed and recorded with many leading artists and ensembles and has recorded four critically acclaimed CD’s of original music. His recent full scale composition “The Mosley Street Suite” premiered at Koerner Hall in August 2021 and his fourth studio album “Song Within the Story”, (featuring Clark Johnston, Anthony Michelli and Mike Murley) was released on NGP records in March of 2022.

Other recordings have featured Don Thompson, Quinsin Nachoff, Jim Vivian, Andrew Downing, Ernie Tollar, John Obercian and Christopher Lee. James has also performed with The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (with Eric Idol), Toronto Philharmonia, Sound Streams Canada (with The Hilliard Ensemble), Art of Time Ensemble and CanStage. He also performed in the Canadian premiere of “2X5” a new work by New York composer Steve Reich.

James’ compositions range from solo guitar to symphony orchestra and have been performed and recorded by numerous ensembles and soloists including: Orchestra Toronto, Trinity Chamber Ensemble, Jeffrey McFadden, William Beauvais and The Montreal Guitar Trio. James has a Master of Arts Degree in Composition from York University and is currently on Faculty at The Oscar Peterson School of Music (formerly: The Royal Conservatory School).

“Music that makes you sit up and take notice.” – Jazz FM 91.1 (Toronto)

“…James Brown is exploratory, inventive with a natural fluency and a ton of endless, intriguing ideas.” – Performing Arts magazine

“..one of the foremost contributors to the developing guitar repertoire in Canada.” – Jeffery McFadden (University of Toronto)

David Restivo is one of Canada’s most respected and influential jazz artists. He is a 3-time winner of the National Jazz Awards’ Pianist of the Year Award and is listed in the current edition of Canadian Who’s Who. David is well known for his work with Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass and Tentet, the Mike Murley Quintet, and legendary songwriter Marc Jordan, and received a JUNO Award for his work on the 2001 recording The Rob McConnell Tentet (Justin Time). He has also performed and recorded with Dave Holland, Jon Hendricks, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Mel Tormé, John Pizarelli, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Pat LaBarbera, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, George Garzone, Howard Johnson, Ingrid Jensen, Christine Jensen, Kevin Mahogany, Randy Bachman (BTO/Guess Who), David Clayton Thomas, Molly Johnson, and many other outstanding artists. ​

David can be heard on numerous recordings, including the Grammy-winning Mel Tormé/Rob McConnell collaboration Velvet and Brass (Concord Jazz), Mike Murley’s Conversation Piece (Cornerstone), Marc Jordan’s This is How Men Cry (Blue Note/EMI), and his own lauded debut Prayer for Humankind(ness) (Radioland/Universal). David has served on the music faculty at the Banff Centre for the Arts, St. Francis Xavier University, University of Manitoba, Humber College, and the University of Toronto. In January 2019, David joined the faculty in the Selkirk College Contemporary Music & Technology Program.

“…one of the most burning piano players!” – Kenny Werner, jazz great

Single tickets are $22. Or buy a 6-show series pass for Jazz at the Griff for only $110. Only 100 tickets available to Griff shows.
**NEW 2023-24 Patron Membership for $25 and get 20% OFF all Trail Arts Council presentations! More details here. https://tickets.trail-arts.com/TheatreManager/1/login?pass=0.
All individual tickets available online at tickets.trail-arts.com, by phone at 250-368-9669, and in person at the Bailey Box Office at 1501 Cedar Ave, Trail. Jazz Series passes are available ONLY by calling or visiting the Box Office.

Licensed Event. Seats for all Griff performances are general admission. Two 40 minute sets with a 15 minute intermission. Groups of 4 can reserve a table by contacting the Box Office in advance.

On-line ticket sales end 3 hours before show time (4:30 pm). When available, tickets can be purchased at the door. Griff doors at 7 pm. Show at 7:30 pm.

The Jazz at the Griff series is made possible thanks to funding from McEwan Law, BC Arts Council, BC Touring Council, the Government of Canada, and Tourism South Kootenay. We also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

Shows in the Jazz at The Griff series include:

James Brown and Dave Restivo – Thursday, October 26, 7:30 pm
Composer and guitarist James Brown returns to BC to present a series of concerts with the Juno award winning pianist Dave Restivo. The duo will interpret new and previously recorded compositions from Brown’s catalogue including music from their 2021 Koerner Hall premiere of the “Mosley Street Suite” and Brown’s 2022 release “Song Within the Story”. Guest artists are Rob Fahie on bass, and Joel Fountain on drums.

Rick Lingard Quintet – Thursday, November 30, 7:30 pm
The Rick Lingard Quintet features Rick Lingard as lead vocalist and saxophonist, Juno award-winner Mike Rud on guitar, award-winning pianist David Restivo, Tony Ferraro on drums, and Doug Stephenson on bass. The band’s members have played with great artists both locally and internationally.

A Jolly Holiday – Thursday, December 21, 7:30 pm
A lively and uplifting set of jazz and show tunes with a sprinkle of Christmas dust on top. Take a journey with Erik Mortimer and Nadine Tremblay as this quartet play some piano solos and sing songs from 1940’s onward that are meant to entertain. Playing all covers, they will dazzle you with songs made famous by Peggy Lee, Amy Winehouse, Coco Love Alcorn, Ella, Bing and more.

Melody Diachun Quartet – Thursday, February 15, 7:30 pm
A heartwarming evening of soulful melodies with Melody Diachun, a nominee for Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards. Joining Melody are Doug Stephenson on guitar, Jill McKenna on acoustic bass, and Joel Fountain on drums. Together, they will create a captivating ambiance with a selection of love-themed songs, specially curated for those who understand the true essence of love.

Itamar Erez Quartet – Thursday, March 14, 7:30 pm
Itamar Erez is an internationally renowned composer, guitarist, and pianist, who blends the delicateness of Middle Eastern music, the freedom found in jazz, and the passion of flamenco, to create a unique sound. Erez received the 2014 ACUM Prize for Special Achievement in Jazz and the prestigious 2014 Landau Prize. The quartet also features John Nicholson (sax), Jeff Gammon (bass), and Kevin Romain (drums).

Fawn Fritzen Quartet Thursday, April 18, 7:30 pm
Raised on folk, classical, and musical theatre, Fawn Fritzen embodies Canada’s diversity with her mixed cultural roots of Chinese, French, and German, singing in her three ancestral languages as well as English. Joining Fawn are pianist David Restivo, guitarist/bassist, Doug Stephenson, and drummer Tony Ferraro.