Musicians embrace the music of Stan Getz

St. Albert cellist Ronda Metszies, a virtuoso in both classical and jazz, might well be one of the most in-demand musicians in the city.

As a valued member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO), Metszies has a different gig almost every evening. One night it’s grand opera and the next a flashy Vegas show or pops concert.

This coming Saturday, for instance, Metszies performs Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff in the ESO’s Master series at the Winspear Centre. And as soon as the last note is played, she’s sprinting across town to the Yardbird Suite for a jazz gig as part of Obsessions Nonet Plays the Music of Stan Getz.

“Sometimes when I stop and think of what I’m doing, I panic. No really, it’s a lot of fun,” laughs Metszies, explaining it’s that very diversity and excitement that keeps her musical juices flowing.

Metszies has been part of Kent Sangster’s fabled Obsessions Octet, an eight-piece jazz orchestra founded in 2005. Their self-titled album, an elegant mix of tango, classical and jazz was nominated for Juno Award in 2007. It also won a Western Canadian Music Award a year later.

“It was a crossover and a mesh of different styles. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and it forced me to take a lot of risks. It feels edgy and it’s an unusual meeting of two worlds,” she says.

Known as “The Sound” because of his warm, lyrical tone, Getz was one of America’s all-time great tenor saxophonists who went on to perform bebop, cool jazz and third stream. But for most of the listening public he is best recognized for popularizing the bossa nova with his 1964 worldwide hit The Girl From Ipanema.

“It’s amazing stuff. I’ve come into it late in the day, but his bossa nova is very compelling,” adds Metszies.

Getz didn’t just rank with the best. He was the best, pioneering and setting a benchmark copied by several generations of jazz musicians. He played with all the stars of jazz and was one of the world’s most prolific recording artists. “He was right at the core of jazz,” explains Sangster.

For the Stan Getz concert, Sangster adds a fresh dimension with the introduction of St. Albert guest vocalist Chandelle Rimmer, a lush singer and strong improviser.

Sangster became totally smitten with Getz after Tommy Banks suggested he listen to the tenor saxophonist’s scintillating album titled Focus. A jazz-classical crossover arranged by Eddie Sauter, it captures the luminescent quality of impressionists such as Bartok and Ravel.

“He improvised the entire record. You have to be on top of your game. You have to be a virtuoso like Itzhak Perlman to make it look so easy,” Sangster says.

The two-night Yardbird concert will blend the bossa nova craze, Focus’ crossover charts and some slick improv channelled by the best.