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festivals I by Peggy Stortz Sheila Jordan is coming to the t n 1 8 ) . "If n o o n e c a m e , I w o u l d n ' t b o t h e r . But e a c h y e a r I s e e t h e a u d i e n c e s g r o w i n g and I k n o w that I have t o keep supporting this 'child' I have c r e a t e d . " Centennial Theatre o n September 1 1 . N e w s like this will d e l i g h t j a z z fans f o r Jordan's d i s t i n g u i s h e d career spans five d e c a d e s . B o r n in 1 9 2 8 t o p o v e r t y in t h e coal-mining region of Pennsylvania, to Pan's d e c i s i o n t o use t h e C e n t e n n i a l Theatre f o r Sheila Jordon's c o n c e r t is Jordan followed New made her musical path York, where, her mark in t h e 1950's, s h e with black jazz much fitting since he p l a n t e d t h e first s e e d s f o r t h e festival in N o r t h V a n c o u v e r in 1999. A t that time he w a s planning t o move to the North Shore and had a i d i * 1« musicians. This decision m e t w i t h disapproval from the white community. She eventually married Charlie pianist, Duke Jordan, Parker's a dream of a North Shore jazz festival. H o w e v e r , as t i m e p a s s e d , t h e m o v e t o North Vancouver didn't happen and and become h o u s e h o l d n a m e in jazz circles. after a two-year g e r m i n a t i o n period, t h e W i t h Jordan's exquisite vocal stylings, the performance at the Centennial f e s t i v a l f i n a l l y s p r o u t e d in V a n c o u v e r , but has b e e n evolving ever since. T h e a t r e p r o m i s e s t o b e a n e v e n t like n o other. T h e Babayaga open the show String Quartet will accompany F o r m e r l y b i l l e d a s a j a z z e v e n t , it's n o w called Besides singers t h e Sweet Sheila like and then Basil Jordan, Singers Fest. Kitty Jordan, providing a captivating fusion of jazz a n d classical music. T h e concert, which great also includes a tribute to jazz Bill E v a n s , is p a r t o f t h e S w e e t well-known ABOVE: MARK MURPHY San Francisco's M a r g o l i s a n d Jeri B r o w n , w h o d i v i d e s her t i m e b e t w e e n M o n t r e a l a n d Halifax, will also be in town. These three c o n c e r t s a r e p a r t o f t h e Women B a s i l S i n g e r s Fest. in Jazz A s f e s t i v a l s g o . S w e e t B a s i l is still i n i t s i n f a n c y . It f i r s t a p p e a r e d o n t h e s c e n e i n November 2001 featuring mostly series. T h e f u n d r a i s i n g finale Mark Murphy of w h o m features Ella F i t z g e r a l d o n c e s a i d , " H e is m y e q u a l . " T h e M i l e s B l a c k Trio w i l l a c c o m p a n y M u r p h y a n d the winners of the Sweet Basil Star V a n c o u v e r a r e a j a z z a r t i s t s . A s it g r e w and evolved, top name entertainers BELOW: SHEILA JORDAN w e r e b r o u g h t in t o t h e delight o f local jazz fans. This year, the Sweet Basil Search will o p e n the show. F e s t i v a l is j u m p i n g a c r o s s t h e i n l e t t o share the beautiful sounds w i t h Shore audiences. North With its n e w t i t l e , the Sweef beyond jazz Basil with Singers Cuban, Fest moves vocal music from Chinese, Vietnamese, French and First Nations The midwife, if jazz you will, for this cultures o n the program. M a n y of these concerts are free. There are also vocal w o r k s h o p s w i t h Sheila J o r d a n a n d Jeri Brown, a drumming workshop, and the local star search c o m p e t i t i o n . r e l a t i v e l y n e w f e s t i v a l is M i c h e l P a n , a n accomplished talent in his o w n right. O v e r t h e years, Pan has d e v o t e d his t i m e a n d e n e r g y t o k e e p i n g t h e festival alive, a difficult task in t h e a b s e n c e o f support the from conventional funding agencies. But Pan has persevered. For last y e a r o r s o , h e p u t his o w n career o n hold t o ensure t h e success o f the u p c o m i n g festival series (Sept 9 t o For information about the Sweet Basil Singers Festival call 604.872.2346 or visit www.sweetbasiljazz.com. Tickets for the Sheila Jordan concert are available through Ticketmaster. 22 September I O c t o b e r