North Shore Jazz Features Sou Steeped in the Culture of "The Big Easy" N tic, ists this and also the orth Shore Jazz in partnership w i t h the Vancouver International Jazz Festival (VIJF) is back for it's fifth edition o f another program of eclecacoustic music featuring international and local artalike. T h e V I J F has a strong N e w O r l e a n s theme year w i t h such artists as D r J o h n , A l l e n Toussaint, the Preservation H a l l B a n d . N o r t h Shore Jazz w i l l feature one of N e w Orlean's native sons - one of sweetest vocalists from the region - John Boutte. high and high school marching bands. H e was a section leader, no less, in a t o w n where marching bands duel like decked-out demons in the street. H e also sang - first at talent shows and then with street a capella groups. John's youth was immersed in the music of his older brothers and sisters, the music that ruled the street and raised the spirits: Stevie Wonder, M a r v i n Gaye, the Jackson 5, Roberta Flack and D o n n y Hathaway. During these years traditional jazzmen like Paul Babarin, Louis " B i g Eye" Nelson and Danny Barker became his friends and mentors. John's sister Lillian introduced him to local legends like Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and James Booker. John Boutte also has a solid gospel background that includes various collaborations with gospel choirs. A s an officer in the U . S. A r m y , he directed and sang in the A r m y gospel choirs in V i r g i n i a , Texas and, eventually, Korea. Years later he performed in Denmark w i t h 1,000 Danish children to record, Gospel United. T h i s concert recording achieved G o l d Record status in several European markets. Since then, John has opened shows for M e l Torme, L o u R a w l s , Rosemary C l o o n e y and, most recently, Herbie H a n c o c k . H e has recorded six albums: Mardi Gras Mambo, At The Foot Of Canal Street, Scotch and Soda and Jambalaya. M o s t recently, he was a part o f the N e w Orleans all-star collaboration Take Me Back Home, a response to the devastation o f H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a . C h o o s i n g the right material - songs that move him - is vital to J o h n Boutte. After a l l , " G o s p e l is one of my fortes and I don't play |around] w i t h that." Boutte's soulful style is a unique blend that could only come from a place like N e w Orleans. Often compared to the likes o f Sam C o o k e and Little J i m m y Scott, this smoky tenor w i l l be joined by Vancouver's o w n Universal Gospel C h o i r on July 2 at the C a p i l a n o College Performing Arts Theatre. N o t only is this the first pairing of John Boutte and the very popular local Universal Gospel C h o i r , it w i l l be John's first trip to Vancouver. With a church directly behind his childhood home, he heard the voices from over the fence and was drawn to it A seventh generation N e w O r l e a n i a n , J o h n Boutte was exposed to the soulful sounds of the city from a young age. W i t h a church directly behind his c h i l d h o o d home, he heard the voices from over the fence and was drawn to it. John became an accomplished pianist at a young age and played coronet and trumpet in his junior 6 May | June i t