THE GREG BUSH COMBO
GZAL JAZZ SERIES #2
WEDS MARCH 6TH
DOORS 6:30PM SHOW 7:00PM
$20
Greg Bush-Trumpet
Originally from Montreal, Greg holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University and a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from McGill University. Prior to moving to Nanaimo to join the music faculty at Vancouver Island University, Greg was Director of Jazz Studies at Abilene University in Texas. He has also been a member of the music faculties at McMaster University and Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, and Red Deer College in Red Deer, Alberta.
In addition to his broad teaching experience Greg has also enjoyed a career as a busy freelance jazz trumpet player, arranger, and composer. As a sideman, he's had the good fortune of playing in big bands and orchestras that have accompanied such artists as Big Miller, Paul Horn, Bobby Shew, Lee Konitz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bob Brookmeyer. As the leader of his own big band and quintet Greg has performed his original compositions in jazz clubs, concert halls, and many jazz festivals across Canada.
He has also performed in various venues in Australia, the Fiji Islands, Germany, Italy, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Greg has also released his own CD entitled Cause and Effect, which features his original music. Tracks are available on CD Baby and iTunes and proceeds from purchases go to support VIU trumpet students.
Locally, Greg is the music director of the Georgia Straight Big Band and performs regularly with the Arrowsmith Big Band and the NOLA Nighthawks. In addition to some musical theatre pit work, Greg occasionally performs with his own small groups.
As a teacher, Greg is committed to sharing his love and knowledge of music and jazz with young people. To quote the great jazz drummer Art Blakey, "Yes sir, I'm going to stay with the youngsters - it keeps the mind active."
Alicia Murray - Drums
Alicia holds a BA in Jazz Studies from Capilano University.She plays in several bands, playing everything from folk to arrangements of video game songs and sea shanties on her accordion. She also plays in a jazz trio with Eugene Burtonand Nico Rhodes called Project Walrus
Dan Craven-Saxaphone
Dan teaches music on central Vancouver Island, and brings the benefit of extensive performance experience to his students. A 2001 recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, he is an educator who has also had the privilege of sharing the stage with top Canadian musicians. In 2007 Dan joined Phil Dwyer's Sax Summit, which first launched in 2002 with the release of Sax Summit on CBC Records, and has recurred in various incarnations throughout the country since then.
Dan currently performs with The Arrowsmith Big Band, the Dave Stewart Sextet, The Greg Bush Quintet, The Larry Ayre Quartet, and others. Past projects of note include the Boss Tenors "Unsafe Sax" tour with Vancouver Island’s own Connor Stewart, and the Big Bossa, celebrating Jobim's extensive library. Dan has performed frequently around Canada's West from Victoria to Fort Nelson, is the Artistic Director of CYMC’s Island Jazz Intensive, and has served the local jazz community as festival clinician, honour band conductor and guest performer.
John Hyde-Bass
John was born in Edmonton, Canada into a family which valued the arts. He studied at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton and McGill University in Montreal, participating in and studying jazz as well as classical music. Returning to Edmonton in the late 70’s he was hired to teach at Grant Mac Ewan in Edmonton where he was a first call recording session player, freelance jazz bassist and classical bassist with many organizations including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Tommy Banks Band.
In the next decade John relocated in Calgary and continued with teaching at Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary. Freelancing as a jazz and classical bassist with such organizations as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, continued to perform and teach in Calgary for 3 decades while creating recordings which feature his playing and compositions with collaborations. John is dedicated to the art of music and continues to strive to create better sounds and improvisations.
Chad Geekie-Keyboard
Hailing from Vancouver Island, Chad Studied at McGill and works as a sideman mainly with the Damian Graham Trio and with Tina Jones.
Chad also plays with the Dave Stewart Sextet and is often seen performing for the Georgia Straight Jazz Society at the Avalanche in Courtenay.
Greg and Chad first met in Montreal and both are very much looking forward to the Ground Zero show.