The Infidels Threesomes series at the Heatley, 2 shows in
Funky trios launched the monthly series called Threesomes in October and November 2023
The latest Infidels Jazz series to launch is called Threesomes at the Heatley, featuring trios in the small bar on Hastings Street otherwise known for folk music. The venue is a sister establishment of the Painted Ship, which also hosts one of Tim Reinert's series – a monthly one called Social Music that launched a couple months prior:
Will Chernoff
I sat down at one of the Heatley's 10 tables for the opener, so today, I bring you:
- What I heard of the second show in November, the more recent one
- My eyes & ears from that first show in October
- Who's up next month
The recent show: November 19, 2023
Dean Thiessen's electric trio with Marcus Abramzik & Jamison Ko jolted the Threesomes series to life; I admit the turnout was quiet on the rainy October night I had previously gone there.
Dean's band, dubbed DM Electric Ko, served up funky organ trio but with a bass, like Medeski, Martin, & Wood. Dean sang on top of some gospel grooves too, he sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" – what can't he do? It's a bit of a Stevie Wonder-influenced presentation, from the clips I saw.
I asked Dean's and my friend John Nicholson, who did go, for a review by direct message. He wrote back to me: "Dean's trio sounded like an established band. They listened to each other and were grooving as a unit." I hope they record, even if it's a DIY living-room situation.
The first show: October 15, 2023
Alvin Brendan, Benjamin Millman, and Trent Otter previously played Frankie's After Dark and were sort of the wild children of Jazz at the Bolt 2023, being one of the Infidels-presented artists there. "Tim literally made this band," Alvin said from the stage in tribute to the opportunities they've had at just their third gig together. "He wants it to be weird."
There's no bassist but Alvin and Ben both play bass, whether that's guitar pushed down an octave by pedals or the left hand of the keyboard. Their originals spanned funky neo-soul, lofi beats, and Pat Metheny-like guitar ballad playing. Ben memorably called a tune of his titled "I said yes to too much s___ and now I wanna cry," a lament for a self-employed artist if there ever was one.
The covers they chose to play are an interesting mishmash, too:
"Fingerprints" - Chick Corea. Alvin played 'bass' here and even took a 'bass solo' on this tune performed by Chick with Christian McBride and Brian Blade. The tune burns the form of Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" at both ends.
"Actual Proof" - Herbie Hancock. The trio got to hang sidestage at Rifflandia in Victoria, several feet away while Herbie played there, in September. Alvin and Ben traded bass duties to jump between sounds as they made their way through this fusion monster.
"PRINCE" - Jon Batiste. I love his other album cut "BLACCK", but to me Batiste sounds corny on this one; the trio's Heatley cover was hipper – to me their version sounded like the fiddle tunes I've loved playing for years.
Up next
Julian Ferrer is taking this series on December 17th; the drummer's chordless trio with saxophonist Paco Ha and bassist Raf Agustin will showcase the bleeding edge of what young McGill-student expats from this city are playing.
That edition of Threesomes will be part of The Infidels' bigger initiative called Jazz Feeds Vancouver, where many shows throughout early December will benefit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. From Tim's statement:
"Infidels Jazz is proud to announce Jazz Feeds Vancouver, a month-long multi-venue event where Vancouver's Jazz community comes together to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. This will take place in December and will involve 11 different concerts featuring Vancouver Jazz artists [...]
"Each venue & concert will provide opportunities for Jazz lovers to donate directly [...] Some venues will be hosting raffles and other opportunities to donate as well."
This builds on his previous live events for the same charity, including a jam session last year.
