JIM DIGGITY

As an admitted freak for straight ahead swinging jazz I have to say that I have been really impressed with some of the great original music that has been coming from musicians in this city. I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise and really it isn't but after doing my 3 hour radio show yesterday where I featured 100 % Canadian composed and performed music it inspired me. Following the show I went to the club where my good friend James Danderfer was debuting a brand new sextet as well as new tunes. I could only stay for the first set as I had to catch a bus back to Burnaby....did I just say that? Anyways what I heard in the first set was absolutely beautiful and Danderfer displays some very very beautiful writing chops. I have always given him a rough time for playing the clarinet but I really have to stop as he has really found his voice on that instrument and to be able to write successfully for a front line consisting of Baritone Sax, Trumpet and Clarinet is really something. Judging by what I heard from Chad (bari) and Brad (trumpet) they two were digging the music as they simply played their asses off! Joe Poole (drums), Paul Rushka (bass) and Chris Gestrin (piano and rhodes) really layed it down beautifully. You couldn't pay me enough money to try to improvise on Danderfer's tunes but these guys made it seem so easy. Danderfer writes complex tunes, with complex melodies and harmonies yet the average person still walks away humming the tunes! Great work and the album is going to sound really amazing!