Award-winning pianist Emmet Cohen and his trio of New York jazz musicians headline the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society upcoming event called Jazz Affair. Emmet Cohen and his bassist Russell Hall, drummer Kyle Poole, and vocalist Samara Joy are headlining the event. The group will be performing from one of the most influential jazz clubs in the world, the Smalls Jazz Club in New York City.

Cohen, who has been live streaming music from his apartment in New York City every Monday during the pandemic, has been a massive influence in the jazz scene. Marcus Morosan of the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society believes he could inspire students who watch the Jazz Affair on May 28th. Samara Joy, while young, already has an impressive resume with winning the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2019, and she is currently recording her debut recording.

I don’t listen to jazz though I do know that it has quite the history. It’s actually quite surprising to me that there are still so many jazz events going on amidst the pandemic because when I think of jazz, I think of jazz clubs in movies. While that may not be the most accurate representation of jazz, I feel the pandemic would’ve hit the jazz genre hard because I think that, unlike other genres, jazz is more of an in-person experience. So, I’m just surprised how the whole genre/industry has adjusted and adapted so well to the virtual concerts and events during the pandemic.

Last year the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society had to cancel the Jazz Affair, a yearly event the society hosts to raise money to support jazz education in the school district. This year, with everyone adjusting to working from home and becoming Zoom masters, they could have this year’s Affair with everything being virtual. Playing as well during Jazz Affair is a Vancouver Island University faculty-based band composed of Ben Henriques, Rosemary Lindsay, Ken Lister, James Darling, and Hans Verhoeven. Also performing are students and student bands from Wellington Jazz Academy, John Barbsy Community School Band, and Alberni District Secondary School Band.

Jazz Affair, as previously mentioned, is on May 28th, and it takes place at 6 p.m. and tickets, which are $30, can be purchased on the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society’s website.