Skip to content

North Saanich's Jazz Vespers welcomes David Vest

Legendary blues pianist David Vest will be joined by bassist Joey Smith and drummer Damian Graham for an evening of Jazz Vespers this month.
60296sidneywebsubmitDavidVest_2014PDec0314
Blues pianist David Vest joins Joey Smith and Damian Graham for Jazz Vespers at St. John’s United Church on Dec. 7.

NORTH SAANICH — Legendary blues pianist David Vest will be joined by bassist Joey Smith and drummer Damian Graham for an evening of Jazz Vespers this month.

Well-respected as a blues and boogie-woogie player, Vest is equally comfortable playing jazz and country blues ballads.

Alabama-born, Vest began playing professionally at age 14 and by age 18, in 1962, was opening for Roy Orbison. He has had a colourful career, including knife fights, being shot at in a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style car chase and playing in moonshine hangouts. He has played with Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Dorsey Band and Bo Diddley.

In 2012, he was voted Blues Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year by the Toronto Blues Society. With many CD’s to his name, his 2014 CD, Roadhouse Revelation, has shot up the Canadian Roots Music charts.

Bassist Joey Smith toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as bassist and arranger for two and a half years. He has also played with a long list of jazz luminaries which includes Cleo Laine, Herb Ellis, Rosemary Clooney, Charlie Byrd, John Dankworth, George Essihos, Karel Roessingh, Mark Atkinson and Daniel Lapp.

Born in New Zealand and raised on the west coast of Canada, drummer Damian Graham’s musical diversity has led to performances with some of the finest musicians in the country and abroad, including Michael Kaeshammer, The Paperboys, David Gogo, Toni Childs, Marc Atkinson, and Paul Pigat.

The trio will perform Dec. 7, 7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church in North Saanich.

The Jazz Vespers series continues Jan. 4 with Quinn Bachand and Friends and on Feb. 8 with Edie DaPonte and Company.

All jazz vespers services begin at 7 p.m.  St. John’s United Church is located at 10990 West Saanich Rd., across from Deep Cove School.

There is no admission charge and an offering will be taken to cover the cost of the Vespers program.

For further information, please call Bernadette at 250-656-0875 or email bernadettegreene@shaw.ca to be included on an email list of upcoming concerts.

— Submitted