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Saxophonist Mark DeJong performs with The Outer Bridge Ensemble. (Photo contributed)
By Holly Miyasaki
Mark DeJong describes his music as “contemporary sounding,” but wants to emphasize the fact that his group doesn’t want to sound like “old school jazz musicians.”
DeJong, accompanied by the Outer Bridge Ensemble, will be performing original jazz music at the Creekside Theatre.
“It’s an opportunity for people in Western Canada to see great New York musicians collaborating with Canadian musicians,” says DeJong, of the tour.
The Outer Bridge Ensemble features drummer Jerome Jennings who is touring the world; New York pianist and composer Steve Hudson; Calgary-born bassist Simon Fiske; and percussionist David Freeman who has composed music for films including The Love Guru.
“I met all the musicians when I was doing graduate studies in jazz in New Jersey,” recalls DeJong. “We’ve been kinda busy recording and touring ever since.”
While he does solo work from his home in Saskatchewan, DeJong is still committed to the group and visits New York as often as he can. They’re on their second Canadian tour and have been to far off locations like Italy.
“I go back east and do performances with them as often as I can afford to,” he says. “That’s what we do to keep the music alive.”
Mark DeJong and The Outer Bridge Ensemble. (Photo contributed)
Their music is 90 per cent original, with a few jazz standards peppered in, and the saxophone player says they always come back to a “really steady groove.” Thanks to the members’ broad range of musical interests, they’re able to connect with audiences on many levels.
“We manage to find a way to connect to the listener,” he says. “They don’t have to be jazz fans, just be interested in good music and I think that’s what we present.”
Front man DeJong’s latest recording, The Unknown (released on Calgary’s Chronograph Records), is up for Jazz Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. DeJong is part of the jazz aristocracy of the Great White North. He teaches jazz studies at the University of Saskatoon, graduated from Rutgers University (New Jersey) with a master’s degree in Jazz Studies, and is the former artistic director of the Saskatoon Jazz Society.
Mark DeJong and the Outer Bridge Ensemble perform at the Creekside Theatre Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information call 250-766-9309.
entertainment@kelowna.com
250-575-0613
