The Vernon Jazz Club welcomes the Okanagan debut of Anita Eccleston and her powerhouse quintet this Saturday night.
A soulful trumpet player and songstress, Eccleston will be joined by Steve Reid on alto sax, Andrew Smith on electric guitar and vocals, Dave Spidel on electric bass, and Richard Graham on drums and vocals.
The youngest of seven children, Eccleston grew up surrounded by music. Her father was a touring saxophonist while her mother’s country music vocal stylings could be heard on radio waves in Alberta.
Young Eccleston was brought up listening to greats such as Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, and Diana Krall and was later influenced by the sounds of artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Amy Winehouse, and Bob Marley.
Originally from Kamloops, Eccleston was a part of honour bands and ensembles before she headed off to McGill University in Montreal to complete her bachelor’s in jazz performance.
A return to B.C. brought her to Vancouver, where she had the opportunity to play with Canadian jazz icon Dal Richards. This is also when she joined the Mackenzie-Jones Big Band and performed with the West Coast Symphony and Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra as principal trumpet.
Eccleston has performed at a CBC event in Kamloops hosted by Margaret Gallagher of Hot Air and was nominated for the city’s Emerging Artist Award in 2013.
2014 marked a busy touring year, where she performed in eastern Canada throughout the spring and western Canada throughout the summer.
Her trio has performed with the Plastic Acid Orchestra for the 30th anniversary TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival and her nine-piece band was featured at the Railspur Alley Park Stage on Granville Island on Canada Day.
Eccleston’s sound is a soulful one that you will not want to miss. More info on the band can be found at anitaeccleston.com
The Anita Eccleston hits the stage at the Vernon Jazz Club (3000-31st St.) Saturday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Expressions of Time and at www.vernonjazz.com, with a $5 rebate at the door for members. Cash only bar.