An Evening with Dawn Clement and Guests

The Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society welcomes Dawn Clement to Nanaimo on October 8 at St. Andrew’s United Church. Her quartet will also feature special guests Steve Kovalcheck on guitar, Dru Heller on drums, and Nanaimo’s John Lee on bass.

This is Dawn’s first solo appearance in Nanaimo. Pianist, vocalist, and composer Dawn Clement "is a joyful and formidable force in the landscape of modern creative music". For over two decades, Clement has served as both a torchbearer of the jazz tradition and as a trailblazer in fresh sonic explorations. “In all this world of jazz, there are very few individual voices, no matter what the instrument, but Dawn has come up with a voice that’s unique…” says legendary jazz trombonist Julian Priester. Clement’s original music features her distinctive musical voice in a variety of genres, styles, and settings. Her six albums as a leader showcase her impressive range from master of the jazz piano trio style, to avant garde improviser, to an expressive songwriter and vocalist. She shines as a collaborator and is highly in demand as a touring and recording artist. Dawn recorded with säje on their GRAMMY-nominated debut album, and has toured with the ensemble in the U.S. and Japan, and she is also recognized as a member of the acclaimed, all-female Esthesis Quartet, who have appeared in feature performances at Winter Jazz Fest and the Jazz Education Network Conference.

The evening’s program is in support of jazz music education in Nanaimo and will include pre-show performances by the award-winning and internationally recognized student combos of the Wellington Secondary Jazz Academy.