Gordon Clements

Victoria’s Other JazzFest

Serious Coffee in Cook Street Village is the right place to interview Gordon Clements about the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Summer Jazz Workshop. Since “serious” and “local” are very much a par tof his lexicon, Starbuck’s simply wouldn’t do.

“I’ve always wanted jazz to be treated as a serious art form,” says Clements, an attitude he encourages daily in his dual role as head of jazz studies at VCM and artistic director for the Summer Jazz Workshop. “A community’s artists define the cultural identity of that community,” he adds. “One of the things I’ve tried to do is celebrate that which we [Canadians] can be proud of.”

Clements sees the VCM program as very distinct from jazz society-sponsored festivals that promote international players travelling a rather exclusive circuit. While he values the opportunity to hear great players, he’d like to see more focus on the wealth of world-class local talent, particularly here on the West Coast, over “a group from Finland no one has ever heard of.”

Clements founded the workshop in 1985 because he wanted to “link students with the high-end people in town.” Now in its 23rd year, the workshop features two weeks of instruction by veteran performers. The first week is a soloist program for rhythm players, vocalists and brass and reeds players, while the second emphasizes ensemble work. This year the workshop has also added a junior jazz program under the direction of Dave Flello.

Clements is proud of the faculty the workshop attracts. “We’re at least the equivalent of the summer faculty of any program in Canada,” he says, “and in some ways, we’re bigger.” Besides Canadian stars like Don Thompson and Phil Dwyer, the staff this year includes Misha Piatigorsky and Willard Dyson from New York. But it’s local talent like Louise Rose, Ian McDougall, Rob Cheramy, Kelby MacNayr and Clements himself who really drive the program.

Students come mainly from Canada, but a few make their way here from the U.S. and abroad. “Half are adults,” says Clements, and he describes all as being “at a high level.” In fact, he thinks that’s why internationally renowned players like Thompson return. “We’re now attracting many of the top-level high-school and college students in Canada.”

Clements intentionally keeps the numbers low to ensure a good experience and to make it possible for students to perform in small groups every day. “After a week of playing with these veteran players,” he says, “improvising is no longer a scary thing.”

The emphasis on performance also means the general public benefits. Jazz fans will hear not only skilled student performers but also faculty combos and an all-star big band sharing a bill with the Don Thompson Nonet. As well, instructors will jam nightly with students at the Superior Café and give daily presentations on various jazz topics.

“Canada really does have something to say,” Clements notes, and attending Victoria’s other jazz fest is a good way to hear it.

VCM Summer Jazz Workshop

July 7-19

Various venues and prices

386-5311 • vcm.bc.ca/sjw.html