Jerry Cook Moves On From BLJQ

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Jerry Cook Moves On From BLJQ

After ten terrific years you begin to expect some changes in any musical aggregation and ours is no different. Jerry Cook, our excellent tenor saxophonist and all around great guy, has decided that BLJQ won't feature in his upcoming plans. Jerry is a working musician and needs to go where the income is likely to provide more versatility and flexibility for his family. We will all miss Jerry and have very much enjoyed the talent, professionalism and humour that he brought to the band.We wish him well in his future endeavours. However, we have been fortunate to recruit Aaron Hardie to join our little group on woodwinds. Aaron is another fine sax player and has worked with us on several previous occasions. We are fortunate to be able to engage Aaron and look forward to working with him as the band moves into its fall 2017 season.

No comments:

Post a Comment

BLJQ Origins

Following a successful and rewarding association in the Sanctuary AllStars big band, the Bob Liley Jazz Quintet was formed in the spring of 2008 with the principal purpose of playing some of the many regional jazz festivals that take place across BC every year. Since its formation, the Quintet has been featured at various events around the Lower Mainland, including several appearances at Jazz Vespers at St. Andrews-Wesley church, as well as a segment on CBC's 'Hot Air' jazz program. We have also performed before over 600 people at Mission's Fraser Valley Heritage Park. In addition, we were featured for several years at Davie Day, an outdoor street festival in Vancouver's lively West End, played the Olympic Torch relay in 2010, and were featured several times at The Cellar, then Vancouver's premier jazz club. That was followed by several performances at the Blue Martini nightclub, including opening the Vancouver International Jazz Festival there one year. A six-month stint at the Cottage Bistro didn't hurt, either. We have also performed at a number of corporate events and private parties which are not included in our event listings.

The group plays contemporary jazz, with influences such as Max Roach/Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, the Cannonball Adderley quintet, and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. We utilize strong harmonies and interaction among the horns, with solid and driving rhythms from the rhythm section.

BLJQ features Aaron Hardie on alto sax, Norm Quinn on trumpet and flugelhorn, Shannon Thue on piano, Mark Bender on bass, and Bob Liley on drums. The music the group plays reflects classic bebop music as performed by some of the leading musicians of the time. It is listenable, stimulating and groovy music that showcases the individual talents of the members of the Quintet while building on the inherent synergies across the group. Our obvious camaraderie, energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and help us to engage our audiences in the overall performance experience.

The Bob Liley Jazz Quintet - BLJQ

Saturday, August 26, 2017