-websitebanner.png)
Join us at St Mary’s for a unique blend of exceptional jazz rooted in the context of meditation and prayer. This month we welcome Women in Jazz.
What a fun & elegant way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friend or family member you’re overdue to see! Top-notch touring jazz singer Angelea Verbrugge (Western Canadian Music Awards Jazz Artist of the Year 2024 nominee), with exceptional pianist Ashley Wey, and rising star bassist Bella Fedrigo will entertain you with material from female songwriters. Joining them will be special guest Stella White, an up-and-coming young vocalist from Oak Bay High School. They will be presenting songs rooted in the Great American (and Canadian) Songbook.
A collection will be taken in support of this ongoing series. Suggested donation $20.
SWING, CHEMISTRY AND CHARISMA
Vocalist Angela Verbrugge and pianist Ashley Wey reunite after their big autumn Atlantic Canada tour that saw them share music in concert space, festivals and venues from Newfoundland to Cape Breton, Halifax to PEI.
Oak Bay-based Angela, has been touring the world since 2021 (Taiwan, Japan, France, UK, Germany, Türkiye) singing about love gone right (or very wrong!). Her lyrics range from humorous tales of romance while trying to eat buttery corn at a summer picnic, to the mad dash panicked adventure of being late, to sweet reflections newfound infatuation, to sour reflections on feeling wholly unloveable.
The whimsical style takes inspiration from vintage movie musicals (such as those with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers), traditional swing era pop and American songbook (such as those sung by Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Julie London), and jazz standards (such as songs performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé and Newfoundland vocalist Heather Bambrick).
Born in Kingston, Ontario, Angela has a penchant for drama having studied theatre in Toronto (and just generally being a dramatic person!) before moving to western Canada in 1997. Verbrugge has released three critically-acclaimed albums, in 2019, 2022 and the latest in May 2024 on USA-jazz labels. She won the JazzTimes’ Magazine poll for Best Female Vocalist, and was nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Rave reviews of her recordings have resulted in performance opportunities in far-flung places including Japan, Türkiye, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Taiwan, UK and many Canadian provinces, all in the last four years. Her music has been played on radio around the world including CBC, NPR, and she took the number one spot of the Earshot charts multiple weeks.
Angela is joined by Ashley Wey, a red-head, born-and-bred, infrared west coast pianist (yes, we love rhymes!). The vibrant, passionate and swingin’ pianist started at the tender age of 5, and turned pro at age fifteen, never looking back. She attended Humber under mentors such as Don Thompson before setting sail to play jazz on cruise lines and in Australia. Returning to settle in Victoria, she became one of the busiest most in-demand musicians as both a leader and an accompanist on Vancouver Island. An in-demand educators for all ages, Ashley spent several years as one of the captains of the ship at Hermann’s Jazz Club, helping it weather the pandemic storm… curating programming, doing sound and operations. In one moment she will deliver a ridiculously swinging Oscar Peterson tribute. In the next, she is a tasteful interpreter of soul/pop sounds. Ashley's on-stage charisma and joy have built her a huge following in British Columbia.
These two dynamic Vancouver Islanders offer the attendees a lively concert of fun classics with a modern twist.
They are joined by Bella Fedrigo, a rising star on upright bass in the jazz field. She is presently working on compositions and appearing in Vancouver’s series such as Infidels, as well as completing her degree in jazz studies at Capilano University.
Website:
https://www.angelaverbrugge.com
https://www.ashleyweymusic.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/angelaverbrugge/
https://www.instagram.com/ashleyweymusic/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/angelasjazz
https://www.facebook.com/ashleyweymusic
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/AngelaLovesJazz
About Jazz Evensong
Evolving out of two ancient services of prayer as the sun is setting—vespers and compline—the service of Evensong is an opportunity to put the events of the past day into perspective, to ground one’s body, mind and spirit in preparation for the restorative night of sleep, when in our dreaming, our subconscious will continue the creative work of making sense of our experiences.
Jazz, as Ken Burns says, is “a profound intersection of freedom and creativity”. So, whether you are a seasoned jazz lover or a newcomer to the genre, you will be sure to find something to speak to you at this unique and moving experience of making sense of your day. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this inspiring and intimate celebration of faith and music. All are welcome!