Canus Hot Jazz Band

Coming May 21st, our dear Verna Smith would have been 101 years old. As she and husband Austin were a mainstay at our afternoon dixieland shows at Hermann's Ja...zz Club, they have been sorely missed these past few years as she was at GlenGarry Hospital. Hermann himself brought the black sofa for them which sat just beside the steps leading to the mezzanine. It was their own reserved seat all those years. She passed on March 8th and a Celebration Of Life will held after Covid closures. Verna had a life in show business including the Jerry Gosley Show here, touring in the U.S. and entertaining troops in Japan and Korea. She continued to perform locally until the early 1980's. She once bought me a lovely blouse "for putting up with those boys", ha. Our hearts go out to her husband, Austin, who was her rock and never let her want for anything. See more

Coming May 21st, our dear Verna Smith would have been 101 years old. As she and husband Austin were a mainstay at our afternoon dixieland shows at Hermann's Jazz Club, they have been sorely missed these past few years as she was at GlenGarry Hospital. Hermann himself brought the black sofa for them which sat just beside the steps leading to the mezzanine. It was their own reserved seat all those years. She passed on March 8th and a Celebration Of Life will held after Covid closures. Verna had a life in show business including the Jerry Gosley Show here, touring in the U.S. and entertaining troops in Japan and Korea. She continued to perform locally until the early 1980's. She once bought me a lovely blouse "for putting up with those boys", ha. Our hearts go out to her husband, Austin, who was her rock and never let her want for anything

CanUS & Friends

Feb. 7, 1:30-3:00 pm Join the "Parade of Joy" for this new year with the happy jazz, toe tapping rhythms, songs you can join in singing from your very own home - Alfons Fear and Al Pease form the front line horn section and behind them every step of the way is Avram McCagherty, banjo, Joey Smith, bass and stride/ragtimer piano player, Toni Blodgett. LIvestream shows have proven to be very welcome and although we so miss the energy of a live audience, without these shows being broadcast there would be no chance of performance income. You who donate are our heroes and if you want other donation options, email [email protected] We can’t wait to make music for you - but for us to enjoy together also. To see show, https://hermannsjazz.com

Sunday afternoon Dixieland Matinee continues Nov. 1 from !:30-3pm as a feature at Hermann's Jazz Club, pandemic or no pandemic. Both live audience or live stream in your own home is offered and tomorrow is honouring not only our veterans of past wars but BOrgy Borgerson, Victoria's hill of Fame banjoist who passed one year ago well as saying farewell to Dennis Smith, a loyal fan of our sessions for many years. For information go to https://hermannsjazz.com/show/527720/view

https://www.facebook.com/toni.blodgett.7

It comes with cleaning out closets where you sometimes stumble over something you had rather forgotten. So there it was - a video sent by to me by The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. filmed at our concert on Nov. 9,2002. Now with you tube to make it possible for anyone interested to share that concert with us, here it is! Certainly a highlight in the history of CanUS and none of our other travelling engagements comes close to the thrill of playing there. Thanks to our ...Dept. of Foreign Affairs and also to the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor who liked our recordings enough to recommend us to the Kennedy Center. The band lineup: Toni Blodgett, piano (leader), Jim Armstrong, trumpet, Doug Rhodes, saxes, Jackson Stock, trombone, Joey Smith, bass and Don Leppard, drums. Proud to represent Canada for the music lovers of our neighbours to the south. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-QTESE78Wk