Skyla J and the Vibes Kick Off New Season of Jazz Vespers

The jazz quartet Skyla J and the Vibes will kick off the sixth season of Jazz Vespers at St. John’s United Church on September 11 at 7:00 p.m.  With Skyla Johnson on vocals and flute, Ozzie on bass, Leon Nagasaki on guitar and Ashley Wey on keyboards, Skyla J and the Vibes are attracting international attention as a fresh sound in the soul/jazz world.
They have been featured twice on the mainstage of Victoria International Jazzfest, and won “Band of the Year” at the Victoria Nightlife Awards. Their recently released sampler from their upcoming album has had regular domestic and international radio play, placement in the IMAX movie “Searching for Emily” and garnered promising international reviews from the UK’s Echoes Magazine.  They regularly  play at many Canadian Jazzfests, including the Montreal Jazzfest, have won Best  Live performance  at the M awards in 2004, toured North America, Europe and Asia, and were nominated for Best International Act and Best New Producer at the 2008 DnB Awards.

Skyla Johnson grew up in Victoria B.C., and throughout her childhood, was inspired by the music of Soul and R+B greats.  After attending the Selkirk Music College in Nelson, she moved back to Victoria, met Vibes bassist Ozzie, and their musical partnership has not wavered in the thirteen years since.

Born in rural Jamaica, Ozzie spent his early life listening to the sounds of Reggae music echoing in the hills. At the age of seven his family immigrated to Toronto. As an adult, Oz felt he needed to reconnect with his island roots so he moved to Victoria. Shortly after his arrival, he co-founded Victoria’s first live hip-hop/jazz band Digg, up-ending the Victoria music scene with a fresh new urban sound. Oz was enraptured by the sound and style of jazz, and quickly set to work learning jazz bass, which forms the basis of his approach in Skyla J and the Vibes.

Guitarist Leon Nagasaki began his jazz studies at the well-known Esquimalt High School Jazz Studies Program, and with Marc Atkinson.  Leon has taught and toured for over ten years, performing locally, working on cruise ships, and touring through Western Canada.  In 2007, Leon earned a degree in Jazz performance, graduating with distinction from Capilano University.  He plays with a number of bands, including Round Midnight and Skyla J and the Vibes.
Guest keyboardist Ashley Wey has been playing piano in jazz clubs since the age of 15.  She has studied with international jazz icons including George Cables, Pat LaBarbera, Don Thompson and Hilaro Duran.  She has received the Duke Ellington Award for arranging and composition, and was also the youngest person ever to be awarded the prestigious Fraser MacPherson scholarship.  Recently, Ashley has worked with Grammy Award winner Manny Kellough, as well as with Pearl Kaufman, and American Idol star Kimberly Locke.  She has also toured Canada with 2006 Canadian Idol winner Eva Availa, and with Juno Award winning 80’s world-pop group The Parachute Club.
 
More information on Skyla J and the Vibes is available at their website, skylaj.com.
 
The Jazz Vespers series continues on Oct. 2 with the Patrick Godfrey trio, on Nov. 6 with the Bayside Big Band, and on Dec. 4 with Emily Braden.
 
All jazz vespers services begin at 7:00 p.m.  St. John’s United Church is located at 10990 West Saanich Rd., across from Deep Cove School.   There is no admission charge, and an offering will be taken.  For further information, please call Bernadette at 656-0875 or email her at bernadettegreene@shaw.ca to be included on an email list of upcoming concerts.