Milner Gardens & Woodland presents Jazz in the Garden

Malaspina University-College’s Milner Gardens & Woodland will host its annual “Jazz in the Garden” event on Sunday, August 19, from noon to 5 pm in scenic Qualicum Beach.

This event is an annual co-production of Milner Gardens and Phil Dwyer Music. Jazz in the Garden brings many of the best jazz artists in the country to an enthusiastic audience in one of the most picturesque locations anywhere. The line-up this year celebrates the wonderful diversities of jazz music.

Opening the concert will be students from the Phil Dwyer Academy of Musical and Culinary Arts. This week-long intensive course brings many wonderful young musicians to the area to open their minds to the delights of music and food.

Pianist Darrell Grant has worked with many of the greatest names in jazz. Tony Williams and Betty Carter are just two of the legends who called upon Grant. Performing with Grant are the Doxas brothers from Montreal. Chet Doxas (tenor sax) and Jim Doxas (drums) are two of the brightest lights on the Montreal scene and bring a wonderful creative spark to any situation. Rounding out the band is the great bassist Jodi Proznick. Proznick is well known to fans of Hot Air on CBC radio and is one of the most in-demand players anywhere.

Donny Clark and his Quartet will pay tribute to one of the greatest of them all with his “Remembering Louis Armstrong” performance. Clark is a true master who has done it all, from the CBC Orchestra to Pacific Salt. He has enjoyed one of the most enviable music careers.

Jazz in the Garden will also feature Louise Rose, who is a musical icon and national treasure. Her talents as a vocalist, pianist and teacher have been an inspirational force on the West Coast music scene for over 3 decades. At the 2007 Jazz in the Garden, Rose will share the stage with Juno Award winning jazz greats Phil Dwyer and Ken Lister, both Qualicum residents.

Winding up the concert will be a performance of Phil Dwyer’s Sax Summit Version 4.0. First launched in 2002 with the release of Sax Summit on CBC Records, this has

become a repertory vehicle for many of the country’s top saxophone talents. Rounding out the group this year is saxophonists Roy Styffe, Dan Craven, Dave French, Phil Dwyer, Gord Clements, and Chet Doxas. Juno award winning saxophonist Campbell Ryga will be joining the Sax Summit crew in place of PJ Perry.Ryga is one of the most widely recognized jazz artists in the country. As a founding member of the Hugh Fraser Quintet and the Sax Summit, Ryga has toured both in Canada and internationally since 1987. The Sax Summit Version 4.0 will be ably supported by the Tilden Webb Trio, with Jodi Proznick and Jesse Cahill.

Come and enjoy this wonderful day of jazz accompanied by a fine bistro at Milner Gardens. Tickets for Jazz in the Garden are $35 for non-members or $25 for members, available in Nanaimo at Turley’s Florist and the Malaspina University-College bookstore. In Parksville/Qualicum, tickets can be purchased at both Mulberry Bush book stores and Milner Gardens & Woodland which is located at 2179 West Island Highway, Qualicum Beach. All proceeds from this event will go to support the continued operation of the garden and preserved woodland.

For more information about the event or Milner Gardens please call (250) 752-6153 or visit www.milnergarden.org .