The theme for most spectator鈥檚 visiting Fort 91原创 this weekend would have unanimously been jazz 鈥� but seemingly, the theme for the wide array of jazz musicians performing in Fort 91原创 was community.
The 2nd annual Fort 91原创 Jazz and Arts Festival welcomed painters, singers, musicians, and most importantly, music lovers for the final performances on Sunday.
Ice cream treats were in just about every hand hoping to beat the heat. But crowded lawns and sidewalks made it evident that what guests truly came for was a good musical beat.
Singers, songwriters, and jazz musicians from far and wide made up the 57 different acts performing on indoor and outdoor stages as well as local restaurants 鈥� each with their own story that led them to the village.
The Sandy Geddes Trio came from Edmonton, Alberta to record an album and discovered they were just in time for the festival.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so great,鈥� Geddes said of the atmosphere. 鈥淵ou can stand anywhere and just hear the beauty鈥� it鈥檚 gorgeous.鈥�
Though sharing her music was an important aspect, Geddes said being in Fort 91原创 was the real treat for her.
鈥淚鈥檓 a community person 鈥� relationships and family that draw us closer to each other; that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 about. It appeals to me being from small town Saskatchewan. It鈥檚 [Fort 91原创] close to everything yet away from it all.鈥�
Geddes specifically took the time to commend a local shops lavender lemonade.
Deanna Knight came out from Gibsons to perform 20鈥檚 and 30鈥檚 swing.
鈥淎ny kind of jazz festival is welcome,鈥� Knight said, attending with her band of 19 years, The Hot Club of Mars, to simply keep alive the culture and style of jazz.
Read More: Jazz is in the air鈥� and everywhere else in Fort 91原创
The Julian Borkowski Quintet was led by this years rising star award winner 鈥� the Cloverdale resident and second-year music student at Capilano University earned a $1,000 scholarship and festival spot.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just surreal,鈥� Borkowski explained after learning he had won the 鈥渞ising star鈥� title. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to toot my own horn. I鈥檓 just grateful 鈥� I鈥檝e never been in such a big festival like this.鈥�
Borkowski鈥檚 quintet featured Cap classmates from Burnaby, Richmond, Kelowna, and Victoria.
For its second year of music, festival organizers established the award 鈥渢o recognize an outstanding jazz student who demonstrates a high level of performance ability and is pursuing a professional career in jazz music.鈥�
鈥淭o have my name alongside people like Maya Rae鈥︹�� Borkowski added, 鈥淚鈥檓 super thankful for this.鈥�
Borkowski plans to finish up his jazz degree and movie to the United States to earn a masters and teach music for a living.
Speaking of Maya Rae, who was finishing up her set on the stage across from Borkowski, the 16-year-old Vancouver artist currently rising through the ranks of the local jazz scene said she was surprised by the village鈥檚 atmosphere.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so lovely and welcoming. I鈥檝e never been out here to Fort 91原创, but it has such a sense of community.鈥�
Rae said she was asked by organizer Dave Quinn to perform, a common thread for many of the out-of-town artists that played the festival.
For bandleader Steve Clements and the 12 peice Noxious Obs Society from New Westminster Secondary, it was a social media call out that brought them to Fort 91原创.
鈥淭he band is sort of in a state of flux, but it鈥檚 a great opportunity to get together and play through the summer. We have a few alumni that even came back to play.鈥�
Clements, carrying a giant white sousaphone, suggested his crew take a dip in the Fraser River after during performance on the Bedford Plaza Stage. The music continued as the band dangled their feet in the water from a nearby dock.
Whichever stage a spectator went to, the commonalities at each seemed to be a light-hearted mood and a love for Fort 91原创.
All of the musicians that spoke with the 91原创 Advance Times said they would happily come back to the festival next year, which organizers say is already being planned.
An extensive kids zone, Lions Club pancake breakfast, history presentation by musicologist Douglas Fraser, and sidewalk painters finding inspiration from the live music were just some of the highlights found on the festival鈥檚 final day.
The Fort 91原创 Jazz and Arts Festival wraps up with a ticketed Gospel Show at the Chief Sepass Theatre at 7 p.m., Sunday night.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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