White Rock City Orchestra is heralding the arrival of this year's Christmas season with a special performance.
The orchestra's year-end concert, Jazz for the Holidays (Friday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m., Peace Portal Alliance Church, 15128 27b Ave, 性视界传媒) features, as special guest, noted Vancouver-based international jazz artiste Dee Daniels.
Daniels' powerful blues and gospel-influenced vocalizing 鈥� combined with the orchestra's playing of some wonderfully arranged Christmas classics, plus a selection of jazz favourites 鈥� are sure to get everyone in a festive mood, just in time for December.
In the former category will be performances of Silent Night, O Holy Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, Carol of the Bells and Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.
Giving the evening that certain swing will be Daniels' Ella Fitzgerald Medley and her sensitive rendition of Send In The Clowns; plus early jazz and blues classics such as There'll Be Some Changes Made; Bessie Smith's immortal Gimme A Pigsfoot and a Bottle of Beer, and Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey, as well as Duke Ellington's I've Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good); I Can't Give You Anything But Love and The Ballad of John Lewis (Freedom Song).
Possessed of a five octave range, and described as "a crowd pleaser and a musician鈥檚 musician," Daniels 鈥� whether accompanying herself at the piano, fronting a trio, big band or symphony 鈥� is a unique talent who transcends established musical borders.
The stepdaughter of a Baptist minister, Daniels was born and raised in Oakland, California. She graduated from university with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education, but music was always a big part of her life 鈥� although, she didn鈥檛 discover her true calling until after she had laboured as an art teacher in a Seattle high school for a year.
Music has since taken her around the word several times. She has shared the stage and/or recorded with numerous legends of jazz including Houston Person, Monty Alexander, John Clayton, Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Ken Peplowski, and Lewis Nash, to mention a few. Her diverse career has seen her in clubs, at festivals, prestigious music halls around the world, theatre stages, and television and radio performance.
She has also established herself as a jazz vocalist in demand by the classical world, having performed five different symphonic pops programs with orchestras in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Many organizations and institutions in and out of the music industry have recognized Daniels with awards for her contributions to music, education, and community service.
In various forms, the White Rock City Orchestra has been a presence on the local scene for close to 50 years.
Founded by Gladys and Frank Muir in the early 1970s as the 10-member Silver Comets, the organization evolved into the White Rock Community Orchestra and ultimately, in February of 2020, opted to rebrand as the White Rock City Orchestra.
Throughout its history, the organization has demonstrated its dedication to providing classical music concerts several times each year for the enjoyment of all throughout the Semiahmoo Peninsula, and can make the proud statement that every dollar raised through such performances is spent on the organization's commitment to musical excellence and serving that audience.
Now headed by board president Eric Heine (a violinist with the ensemble), it provides an inclusive environment for members of of diverse races, religions, beliefs, orientation and genders.
The orchestra also offers training, development of skills and mentoring and provides equipment and facilities to further members' musical abilities.
For tickets to Jazz for the Holidays, visit wrco.ca
