"Blues is to jazz what yeast is to bread - without it, it's flat", stated legendary jazz vocalist Carmen McRae.

Well get ready for your next night of tasty bread! Two of the world's major musical theme's merge in a major concert April 12th, rhythmic blues and swinging jazz in the concert Big Band Blues.

Blues and Jazz have always been twin influences and many of the favourite big band jazz standards are really blues songs at heart. These include songs such as "Every Day I Have the Blues" and "Blues and the Abstract Truth". While New Orleans is traditionally known as the birthplace of jazz, it was largely created out of the even earlier bluesy feel and repeated rhythms of the south. Trumpet master Wynton Marsalis once said; "People ask me if jazz always has the blues in it. I say, if it sounds good it does." As well, two of the major stops along the road to development were in Kansas City and Chicago, where blues were entrenched.

It was here through Count Basie, John Coltrane and Bix Beiderbecke the Blues and Jazz were officially formed as a superior art form for big bands.

This year's concert is the latest annual major event for The Hamilton All Star Jazz Band organization, led by Dr. Russ Weil and now in their 24th year of developing youth through exceptional music. Last year's concert was a celebration of Duke Ellington and band's concert in Hamilton in 1954.

This year's event promises to again crowd the 1,000 seat Redeemer College in Ancaster. The band will be performing the above mentioned traditional songs as well as two new pieces for the band by Duke Ellington, "Blue Serge" and "Blue Ramble". The music will be tremendous.

This year also includes a few unique and exciting features. The concert will be performed by all three big bands of the organization, an unusual treat.

The most prominent band, The All Stars, features two exceptional vocalists, (Kaila Campisi and Samantha Walkes), as well as outstanding Tenor Saxophonist Richard Page. There will also be an added tribute to the late Oscar Peterson, an Honorary Ambassador of the band for the past 10 years. The special piano feature will be performed by the excellent Jordan Milko.

Redeemer College is located at 777 Garner Rd., East. Tickets can be purchased at the Ancaster Community Services, 300 Wilson St. E., Ancaster or by phone at 905-648-6675. There may be a limited number available at the door as well. The Blues blow in at 8 p.m.