The Battlefords Jazz Society is starting its new season with a bang Oct. 15 with the Michael Rault Band and Colleen Brown, two Edmonton musicians.
The Jazz Society was founded around 25 years ago by a number of local music lovers, including founding member and continual supporter Don Tatchell, to give the community a venue for the jazz, blues, and other styles of music. Since then, the jazz society has played host to concerts across a wide variety of genres, bringing the likes of the late Dutch Mason, Michael Kaeshammer and Robin Nolan to the community.
In the last year, the jazz society organized a variety of concerts that encompassed genres from folk to soul to jazz and beyond. From the turntable flourishes of The Worst Pop Band Ever's Leo37 to the soulful croon of Kellylee Evans, the season had something for every music lover.
Michael Rault, the headliner Oct. 15, is an Edmontonian musician with a '50s rock-and-roll sound. Rault was born into a musical family; he is the son of Lionel Rault, a musician and radio DJ who formed the Rault Brothers with his sibling Ron. Their style of music, which developed as they played hall parties at Pigeon Lake, ultimately influenced Michael's musical development.
After playing for rock and punk bands in Edmonton, Michael eventually gravitated to the retro sound that now characterizes his work. The music he makes now is reminiscent of early Beatles, Buddy Holly, '60s girl groups and early Elvis Costello in both lyrical content and musical style.
Rault has already shared the stage with famous Canadian musicians, opening for Bedouin Soundclash and Mudhoney, and played shows with Ben Stevenson and the Wondertones.
Opening for Michael is Colleen Brown, another Edmonton musician. Brown is the recipient of the Alberta Emerging Artist Award and finalist in this year's CBC Song Quest.
Brown provides a contrast against the harsher, more energetic music of Michael Rault with a sound that is described as "beautiful, intelligent, and sometimes quirky." Already early in her career her music is garnering major accolades.
Sandra Sperounes of the Edmonton Journal called her a "national treasure in the making" and compared her to Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot and k.d.lang.
"We like to mix it up and keep things fresh," explained board member Laird Brittin. "We have had performances from a very broad range of musical styles."
He adds, "Many different styles of jazz, jazz fusion, blues, funk, pop, R & B, reggae and rock'n'roll have all been well represented over the years."
Though the jazz society brings artists from all over for its concerts, it is also supportive of local talent. Don and Jack Tatchell, Garnett Speer and local bands like the King Street Jazz Band and the Bourbon Street Dixieland Band have all played for the Battlefords Jazz Society.
The concert will be held Oct. 15 at the Sloan Auditorium. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Memberships can be purchased individually for $10 or for a family for $15. In addition to receiving discounted ticket prices for events, members also receive the regular Jazz Society Newsletter, describing future events and giving information on concerts.
