This weekend, the Surrey City Orchestra (SCO), led by conductor Stuart Martin, presented an evening filled with the sounds of jazz and music from film. The Surrey City Orchestra strings were joined by the Miles Black Trio: Miles Black on piano, Jodi Proznik on bass and Jesse Cahill on drums.
Cellist Harold Birston arranged the evening’s program to creatively combine the lush symphonic strings with the classic jazz trio sounds. Birston’s arrangements made both genres uplifting and accessible for everyone listening. Familiar tunes helped to get everyone in the audience tapping their feet along to the snappy beats from the likes of Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Gordon Goodwin, John Barry and others. Miles Black’s and Harold Birston’s own originals also joined the setlist.
If having the accomplished and acclaimed Black, Proznik and Cahill, the SCO was also joined by Amarjeet Singh on the Tabla, Coach Sandhu and Robert Alexander on Guitars, plus special guest vocalist Julia Copeman-Haynes. When incorporated, bringing the unique eastern sound of the tabla brought a new depth to the usual beats of the jazz percussion. Teenagers Alexander and Copeman-Haynes demonstrated the quality of music education coming from our local schools. Alexander’s own group of other Semiahmoo students performed pre-show and during the interval to the delight of the audience. Without trying to emulate Dame Shirley Bassey, North Delta graduate, Julia Copeman-Haynes brought clear crisp vocals to John Barry’s Bond iconic themes; Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever.
The rousing 2 hour (plus intermission) performance held the audience’s interest throughout and made those of us seeing the SCO for the first time, look forward to returning. According to the program, other shows from the performers include a charity show from The Miles Black Trio, along with Julia Copeman-Haynes, June 15, 2019 at Crossroads United Church. The SCO performs The Nutcracker, joined by local ethnic dance troupes in December 2019. The Music of Bollywood, and Gustav Holst’s The Planets, are brought to comes to the SCO stage in Spring 2020.
Visit Surrey City Orchestra online for more information and tickets when they come available. You won’t be disappointed if Jazz and Strings was a taste of what just part of an orchestra can produce.