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Jazz musicians play for cause
A Canadian jazz master and former Powell River resident is coming home to perform with local jazz-man-about-town Walter Martella.
Don Thompson is a Juno-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer who grew up in Powell River. He plays piano, vibraphone, bass and drums, among other instruments.
Speaking to the Peak from his home in Toronto, in late September, Thompson said he had not had the time to discuss a set list with Martella. "Walter's a really good musician, there won't be any problem getting music together with him," Thompson said. "I've never played with him but I know all about him and I've heard him play so I know what he can do."
By Jonathan Hutchings -- Peak Reporter
Thompson had just returned from a weekend jazz festival in Port Hope, Ontario. The next Friday, September 28, Thompson was set to record a performance of his own music with his group at the Glenn Gould Theatre in Toronto for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
"I've been working on three different really big projects myself, writing music, rehearsing and everything else for things I'm doing here," Thompson said.
As luck would have it, the concert coincided with a unique window of opportunity in Thompson's busy life. "The schedule in Toronto, for me, is very hectic and it's really hard to find time to get away. The timing for this concert was absolutely perfect. It just happened to hit a time when I had three or four days with nothing to do," Thompson said. "I'm really happy it worked out."
Thompson has enjoyed playing different instruments throughout his musical career. In fact, he traced his multi-disciplined nature back to his grade seven days at Brooks Secondary School in the early 1950s.
"There were always instruments laying around," he said. "I just figured out how to play them. I was playing trumpet and cornet and the French horn, but if there were other instruments, around I'd bang around on them. It was just something to do."
Having experiences with different instruments also gave Thompson a more sensitive ear. "You can learn a lot like that," he said. Thompson added that understanding various instruments, from a more personal perspective, improved his awareness and interplay with others, which is what jazz is all about.
The concert will feature compositions by Martella and Thompson as well as some old jazz standards. Thompson may play vibes in addition to piano. Martella, also adept at more than one instrument, will switch between piano and trumpet. They will be accompanied by Martella's regular sidemen, bassist Paul Steenhuis and drummer John Rule, as well as Brooks' music teacher Paul Cummings, who will sing and play trombone.
Martella was clearly looking forward to performing Thompson's material. "They sound quite new and fresh," he said.
Not only does the concert promise to be a great night for music lovers; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Powell River Parkinson's Support Group.
Martella decided he wanted to do something to help. Both he and Thompson have personal connections to the disease. Martella's father and members of Thompson's family have suffered from it, Martella said. "We want to bring some awareness to that society."
The local support group currently includes of 20 to 25 people, made up of patients and caregivers. They meet once a month at the Powell River Recreation Complex to share experiences and information. John Bloxham, the group's facilitator, also brings in medical practitioners and pharmacists to discuss medications and other concerns in dealing with disease.
"I would like to commend him for that," Bloxham said about Martella's fundraising initiative. He said Parkinson's does not receive much funding from the government or attention from the public. Bloxham hopes the concert will also raise awareness about the local support group and boost its membership. He said he is sure there are more in the community with the disease who could benefit from attending the sessions.
Thompson is also planning a Canadian tour with his own group for next year and hopes he will be back to play in Powell River in October 2008.
The concert will be held at 7:30 pm, Saturday, October 13 at the Max Cameron Theatre. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Kelly's Specialty Foods, or by calling Janice Gunn, at 604.414.7139.
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