A Sudbury jazz joint hidden behind a secret door in a downtown building is booking some of the biggest names in Canadian jazz right now.
There’s often talk in Sudbury about event centres and large-scale concerts, but if you look in the right places, not only can you find music that is more like a dialogue, a conversation between musicians both local and global, but also, a warm and intimate speakeasy described as “the downtown hideaway with a certain cachet.”
And if you want a secret entrance to boot? The Night Owl is the place for you.
It means catching juno-award winning drummers like Daniel Barnes, who spent time playing in the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and will be joined by Brian Quebec on bass and Louis Simão on piano. He’ll be performing Jan. 18.
Located at 158 Elgin St., in the basement underneath the cafe, Books and Beans, the building is owned by Liana Bacon and her partner, Dan Guillemette.
But the music at Night Owl, the calibre of jazz you might only find if you drive to Toronto, is handled by James Dorland, a musician himself.
It’s a place where you can hear piano by Eric Liang (Jan. 25), singer-songwriter Ori Dagan’s voice (Feb. 8), or the organ sounds of juno-awarding winning producer Lance Anderson (Feb. 29.)
The musicians and performers he books come to Sudbury and join local musicians in a show that can become a mix of jazz standards and improvisation.
“We put together people who speak the language and have a desire to make poetry, and then see what happens,” he told Sudbury.com.
And when out-of-town musicians come to play, they very often enjoy themselves so much they rebook that night, said Dorland.
“They really love the intimate nature of it,” he said.
That means more visits from performers like trumpeter, singer and composer, Rebecca Hennesy, flutist Bill McBirnie (April 4) and JUNO-Award winner Ernesto Cervini a sought-after drummer, composer and bandleader (March 28)
He said many performers have described the Night Owl as having a “New York City vibe,” with the closeness adding to the atmosphere for the artist and audience.
“Sometimes we'll have a band of maybe five individuals in this corner, so the band spills out into the room and you're within arm's length of these world famous artists,” he said.
He’s also happy to support local musicians, offering the opportunity to show their talent beyond the borders of the North.
“They lived up here and played up here for a long time, but may not be able to get down to Toronto to really demonstrate their talent,” said Dorland.
And the combination of world-renowned outside talent, and home-grown players results in new and never-done-before.
“It'll never happen again, you're having this live-off-the-floor experience, and everyone speaks the musical language slightly differently, and you get something that's very unique and special,” he said.
For Liana Bacon, the idea for the Night Owl came from a desire to create a venue in Sudbury akin to those she would travel to Toronto to visit, but with the addition of a low-key space.
“We liked going to places where we could sit and have a conversation, so we bought that here,” she said.
Bacon said that jazz is the perfect music accompaniment to the space, as there is a type of jazz for anyone.
“People expect a certain type,” she said, before doing her best scat singing impression. “But hearing all the different types,” she said, including Manouche or ‘Gypsy’ jazz, which uses a strumming method to create percussive rhythm. It’s the style of Tak Arikushi, who plays at the Night Owl on Feb. 15.
Bacon says there is something in jazz for everyone, and there is something at Night Owl for everyone too.
Whether cocktails, a bite to eat, a conversation or a show, the Night Owl could have what you’re looking for, and without the trip out of town.
You can find more information and a full list of upcoming shows here.
Jenny Lamothe is a reporter at Sudbury.com
