Great Canadian Jazz Pianist to Perform at Horizon Stage

Enjoy an intimate evening with Oliver Jones in Spruce Grove on April 3rd

Oliver Jones is considered to be one of the best Canadian jazz pianists in history. Now at age 74, this member of the Order of Quebec and Order of Canada, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards recipient and Felix and Juno Award-winner continues to tour and record. He will make a highly-anticipated stop in Spruce Grove on Friday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Oliver Jones was born and raised in Saint Henri, a predominantly working-class area of Montreal, just a few blocks away from fellow pianist, Oscar Peterson. As a youngster he would sit on the Peterson family’s porch, listening to the older boy practice. Oscar’s sister, Daisy Peterson Sweeney, eventually became Oliver’s first piano teacher, and twelve years of lessons with her solidified his already considerable skills. He began performing publicly at the age of five and made his first nightclub appearance at age nine. Oliver Jones’ six-decade musical career has been rich and varied. He has released 16 albums and toured across North America, Europe, Cuba, Brazil and Africa, He has performed and recorded with the likes of bass legend Ray Brown, drummer Jeff Hamilton, bassist Skip Bey, trumpeter Clark Terry and singer Ranee Lee. After retiring at age 64, Jones was lured back to the stage in 2003 by the opportunity to play a duet with his friend Oscar Peterson at the Montreal Jazz Festival's 25th-anniversary event. He has since recorded the CD, One More Time.

Horizon Stage is an intimate 318 seat theatre in Spruce Grove. Recently renovated in the summer of 2008, it is a cozy and comfortable venue. With a thrust performance space, sitting in the comfy seats at Horizon Stage almost feels like being in your own living room. And, with only eight rows in total, this isn’t the kind of theatre where you need binoculars to see details. Every artist is truly Up Close and Personal, and that’s Horizon Stage’s motto. Performers and audience members alike enjoy the intimacy that they share when they are so near each other.

Tickets to see Oliver Jones at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 3 are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. Call 780-962-8995 to reserve your seat for this incredible concert.

www.justin-time.com/authors/oliverjones

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, Servus Credit Union, CKUA Radio, The Edmonton Journal, Royal Inn Express and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers & Solicitors