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Jazz cat bringing blue notes to Cochrane pub

When it comes to listening to music in Cochrane, there’s no shortage of country and western bands, folkies with guitars in hand and singer/songwriters lined up to entertain the happy hour toe tapper or midnight hour two-stepper.

When it comes to listening to music in Cochrane, there’s no shortage of country and western bands, folkies with guitars in hand and singer/songwriters lined up to entertain the happy hour toe tapper or midnight hour two-stepper.

So when a jazz cat comes to town with a sax player in tow, ears perk up and those who love the warm tones, blue notes and polyrhythms so closely associated with that genre may wish to make their way down to Killarney’s Cochrane for an 8 p.m. performance Sept. 27 and 28 by award-winning jazz fusion guitarist Chris Smith and accompanying sax player, Turner King.

“Stevie Wonder meets James Taylor, you know?” laughed Smith, who has called Toronto home since he emigrated from England in the 1970s.

Setting the wheels in motion to release his fifth full-length album in early 2014, Smith has a long, storied career in music dating back to the 70s and inspired by his older brother, Peter, who is also a musician, and highlighted by a successful tenure with rock band, Regatta, as well as a solid solo career since 1995.

“I wasn’t into doing a rock band anymore,” admits Smith, reflecting on the whirlwind of being part of a band signed to an international deal with BMG Records. “Not everybody likes jazz, but I do…I love crossing jazz with rhythm and blues.”

Better known as ‘jazz fusion’, audiences can anticipate select pop, blues and jazz standards, as well as Smith originals. His repertoire includes samplings from a wide range of artists, ranging from Wonder and Marvin Gaye to Eric Clapton and Sting to John Mayer and Coldplay.

Nominated for nine Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, Smith stresses the importance of not just being able to play and live the life of music – but to play the music that he loves.

An avid world traveler and backpacker, Smith incorporates elements of world music, soul and even reggae into his smooth grooves.

“Chris played at my pub in Toronto the second week we opened (in 1989),” said Killarney’s owner, Michael Pyne. “We’ve been friends ever since…he does such a wide variety of music, he’s really good with the crowd and he’s just such a professional.”

There is no cover charge, but limited seating is available. For further details, phone Killarney’s Cochrane at 587-362-2552.

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