The Pearl Company

The Gary Santucci Project: Spanjazz: Friday, March 25. 8:00pm. $20 /$15 students/seniors/wage-challenged.  A collection of musical compositions inspired by world music rhythms performed in a jazz context. Featuring Jordan Abraham – keyboard, Jeff Plumbley – trumpet, Aidan Sibley – trombone, James Gannett – bass, Steve Wilson – drums and Gary Santucci – guitar. All musicians in this newly-formed quintet are highly respected performers in their own fields; the juxtaposition of their different styles and approaches will create the unique sound and experience that is Spanjazz.

LEARNING WITH LEXI PRESENTS: LOVE YOUR VERVE AND FIND YOUR ZING: A March Break Children’s Show! Wednesday, March 16: 10:00am / 2:00pm / 7:00pm. $10 Admission. Love your life and find your ‘get up and go’ is the attitude Lexi brings to her performances. Learning with Lexi (Alexis Rakovac) is a children’s show that promotes the importance of self love, positive thinking, imagination and creativity in your child’s life. She takes the children on a journey. They are encouraged to like themselves, believe in themselves and look to the bright side of life. Through the world of imaginary integrated play and music, we venture into unique situations where children are able to identify their strengths, cope with their challenges, recognize their potential and see that it is okay to step outside their comfort zone and just go for it!!!!
“Children are encouraged to courageously develop life skills for independence and making choices for themselves with confidence. I want so very much to empower all of our children to dare to dream and BELIEVE….” Lexi
“Not only is Lexi an engaging and entertaining personality, she is as genuine as they come.  Our children adore her….”
“She has a special gift for connecting with children and she shares that gift passionately.”
www.learningwithlexi.ca FB: learningwithlexi  learningwithlexi123@gmail.com

Sherman Downey: Saturday, March 12. Doors: 7:30. Showtime: 8:00 PM. $20/$15. With infectious melodies, toe-tapping rhythms, and a story to tell, multiple award-winning Sherman Downey presents his craft with a charm and poignancy that leaves a lasting impression. After releasing his 2009 debut “Honey For Bees”, Sherman took his energetic performances to stages ranging from the Vancouver Olympics to Australia’s Woodford Folk Festival, earning international radio play. His highly anticipated  second release “The Sun In Your Eyes” was awarded MusicNL’s ‘Pop/Rock Recording of the Year’ and earned him Newfoundland and Labrador’s ‘SOCAN Songwriter of the Year’ distinction. The album’s first single ‘Thick as Thieves’ won CBC’s inaugural Searchlight Prize and ‘Canada’s Best New Artist’ accolade, while increasing his profile as a touring act and garnering an even broader fan base.
As work begins on his third album, Sherman Downey continues to craft songs that are both whimsical and poignant; performing them with unabashed honesty and has carved out a spot as one of Canada’s must-see acts. www.shermandowney.ca   Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCg3CtDs9YY

Big Johnny Blue w Special Guest Richard Thornton of The Jack De Keyzer Band: Friday, March 11. 8:00pm, $20 / $15 students/seniors/wage-challenged….  Like the blues?  You’ll love them Big Johnny Blue style. Big Johnny & Strange Cargo welcome Richard Thornton to The Pearl Company for a night of great music and great blues. Richard is the saxaphonist for the Jack De keyzer Band. Big Johnny’s a Hamilton guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and founding member of The Hamilton Blues Society. He has written hundreds of songs, and played with countless local musicians over the years. He is committed to supporting local music and musicians, especially by supporting efforts to tell the story of Hamilton’s blues history, and the power of music to improve the life of every man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE8p_zRZeIs&index=1&list=PLB3320D903F7A1FCE   https://www.facebook.com/bigjohnnyblueandstrangecargo/

Ted Basciano: WHO IMAGINED?! Friday, March 4: 7:00–10:00pm. Art Opening: No Charge. Ted Basciano is a nomad and the thread that brings him back home is his art.  He does much of his work when he is away in Korea, teaching; he comes back home to show it. His quirky, very “Ted” works are mostly colourful, mosaic sculptures on a variety of themes which have evolved from his experiences in Korea. The shards have been gathered from the streets and temples of Naju and other areas in the Asian country. This new work depicts whimsical figures and complete abstract forms.  “The characters in my new works show a range of emotions: joy, wonder, thankfulness, frustration, anxiousness, and sorrow.  All of the characters have been given simplified settings: a bedroom, a park, a cafe. I have used a variety of symbols: hearts, sunbeams, tears.  With emotions, settings, and symbols, I have tried to be a storyteller.”

Shari Vandermolen & David Brideau: Saturday May 5.  Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20. Shari Vandermolen is a renowned vocalist and award-winning performer in Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area who has been entertaining audiences for 15 years with her Quartet, Trio or 5-piece band Quarter to Nine.  She is also the lead vocalist for the 10-piece jazz combo SwingLine.  On May 5th Shari brings her powerful and impressive vocal stylings back to the Pearl Company for a more intimate evening of song with jazz guitarist David Brideau, James Gannett on bass and Vince Waters on drums.  “…hear Vandermolen make jelly of your emotions with her voice and her art… one example is Stormy Weather… I barely weathered that storm intact.”  – View Magazine
David Brideau is a Canadian jazz guitarist, composer, and teacher who has been an active musician for over 15 years. A Hamilton native, and honours graduate from the Mohawk Jazz program, David has played all around the GTA with his own group, the David Brideau Trio and Quartet, as well as being prominently featured in groups with Michael Morobito, Amber-Leigh Palka, and Lauren Perreira among others. He studied under jazz greats Bob Shields, Pat Collins, Kim Ratcliffe, and Mark Ucci and is currently continuing his studies at McMaster University. David often composes his own standards, and released the sold-out EP “Addicted To You” in 2016. He is a recipient of the Dave McMurdo Music Bursary, the Antony Roberts Music Bursary, and the Richard Newell Memorial Scholarship.
Ticets: https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/21098/