.png)
Join us at St Mary’s for a unique blend of exceptional jazz rooted in the context of meditation and prayer.
Featuring the Kim Greenwood Quartet:
- Kim Greenwood - Vocals
- Karel Roessingh - Piano
- Joey Smith - Bass
- Kelby MacNayr - Drums
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!
There will be an opportunity to donate in order to support this ongoing series.
About the musicians
Kim Greenwood is a multi-faceted singer who spans genres including jazz, pop, musical theatre and classical. She's an actor at heart and this comes shining through in all her repertoire, engaging audiences at every turn; her warm, eloquent vocals elicit images of singers from bygone eras. Since starting her professional singing career in 1994, Kim has performed many genres with many ensembles from jazz duo to classical soloist with full orchestra. Over the past few years, Kim has formed her own ensembles and collaborates with many of the fine jazz musicians on the west coast of Canada. In 2017, Kim created and produced the highly successful Ella at 100 tribute show that sold out Hermann's Jazz Club and the Osborne Bay Pub in Crofton. She followed that up with her new show, All About That Verse, to resounding success and capacity crowds in the fall of 2019. In the fall of 2020 Kim debuted The Carpenters & Burt Bacharach; Karen Carpenter has been a huge influence on Kim since she was a little girl, and she was thrilled to present The Carpenters’ material with a distinctly jazzy flavour. In 2022 Kim ventured into new territory as music director for the very successful Attitude Theatre production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, with Rosemary Jeffery as Billie Holiday, internationally renowned pianist Attila Fias as Jimmy Powers, and the exceptional Joey Smith on bass.
Pianist Karel Roessingh is a composer, arranger, producer and musician who has written scores for over five hundred television episodes, and many award-winning films, documentaries, and promotional videos. He has recorded and produced more than fifteen of his own CDs, including several for the Canadian Naturescapes series distributed world-wide, two jazz trio CDs and many solo piano CDs. His latest solo project, Birdsong in the Parkade, was recorded with a Steinway grand piano in a Victoria parkade, with original music based on birdsongs collected across Canada. He has performed with symphony orchestras and rock, jazz, folk, show and country bands throughout the world. He’s recently recorded with Edie Daponte, Garnett Betts, Maureen Washington, and many others, and produced and performed on an album with Canadian folk legend Valdy. Karel has served for two terms as mayor and now serves in his sixth term as a municipal councillor in the Highlands.
Joey Smith, bassist, guitarist, and arranger, has spent the greater part of his life as a professional musician working with many unique and well-known talents. He has written numerous arrangements for such groups as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony, and arranged some of the music for the Commonwealth Games in 1994. Joey has played theatre many shows for VOS, CCPA, and the Belfry Theatre, as well as performances with the Victoria Symphony Pops series since 1994. Since 2004 Joey has been a faculty member at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and he is currently busy working clubs, restaurants, and private gigs with local groups in Victoria.
Drummer / composer / band-leader Kelby MacNayr performs ground-breaking original music, soulful swinging jazz, reaching contemporary music and traditional music from around the world. A dynamic and creative musician MacNayr performs in Canada and abroad with leading musicians from New York, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto & Europe. A faculty member of the renowned Jazz Port Townsend Festival under director John Clayton, staff at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, Kelby follows his passion to create and collaborate, teach, and learn. The Kelby MacNayr Quintet released The Measure of Light featuring Phil Dwyer, Dan Lapp, Miles Black & Tom Wakeling. Other projects include the Great American Songbook Trio featuring Louise Rose, the Swing Rhythm Kings and the SoulTet! MacNayr has performed with Phil Dwyer, Neil Swainson, Regina Carter, Jeffery Clayton, Marianne Trudel, Ingrid Jensen, Larry Fuller, John Clayton, George Colligan, Geoffrey Keezer and more.