Dawn Aitken would like to take you on a musical journey.
The 91原创 singer will present an evening of eclectic, smooth jazz on Friday, May 16 at Porter鈥檚 Bistro and Coffee House in Murrayville.
Aitken, who moved to 91原创 two years ago, will be joined by Bill Sample on piano, Rene Worst on bass and Buff Allen on drums.
Like the selections on her independent jazz CD, Be Cool, Aitken鈥檚 Murrayville performance will offer a mix of styles, said the singer.
鈥淚鈥檓 a horse of a different colour. I don鈥檛 really fit in to any particular category.鈥�
From The Nearness of You to Love Potion #9 and Somewhere over the Rainbow, Be Cool contains a dozen tunes, all performed in Aitken鈥檚 sultry and unhurried style.
Discussing the disc鈥檚 first track, 鈥淭he Nearness Of You鈥� Jazz Review鈥檚 John Gilbert described the piece as 鈥渓anguid in form and hot in substance.
鈥淎itken wrings the bottom out of the notes on this ballad. She spins the lyrics beautifully and the melody is artfully adhered to with a few twists and turns that only add to the sensitivity of this sweet tune, wrote Gilbert.
Be Cool was produced in B.C. in the early 2000s, with some of the top players in the Vancouver area and was touted as a strong first effort for an independent artist, said Aitken, who will sell copies of the disc at her Porter鈥檚 performance.
The concert marks a return to the stage after a long hiatus.
鈥淭he demands of raising a child alone made continuing with my career here in B.C. very difficult and I had to step away for a few years,鈥� said Aiken, now happily remarried and a grandmother of two.
鈥淏ut it is my sincere hope that I will have the opportunity to pick up where I left off.鈥�
After putting out a few feelers in the area and finding little success, Aitken finally managed to convince the bistro owner to take a chance on her.
鈥淚t took me a while to get in there,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wandered in and hassled him for about a year.
But the singer is excited at the prospect of performing for the 91原创 audience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the first step on the road to getting back to music,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 love to sing and I鈥檓 pretty good at it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a good night and I鈥檇 like to invite 91原创 to come out and enjoy it.鈥�
鈥⑩赌⑩赌�
Dawn Aitken and Friends will perform as part of Porter鈥檚 Live Music & Dinner Weekend on Friday May 16, at 6:30 p.m. To reserve, call 604-530-5297. Porter鈥檚 is located at 21611 48 Ave.
For more information go to porterscoffeehouse.ca and click on music events.
Meanwhile, jazz fans can check out Aitken鈥檚 vocals on reverbnation.com/dawnaitken
