A young Richmond artist and his band are set to impress the audience at a music festival in Fort Langley in June.
Gordy Li is a Chinese-Canadian saxophonist and synthesist from Richmond, and his SMURF quartet will perform at the Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival's youth concert series.
[They] are known for their unique way of expressing the ideas of their generation about diasporan and digital expression through their music," said the organizer.
"They create cool sounds inspired by musicians like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis."
The music festival will kick off an eight-week summer jazz series on May 26, and the youth concert showcase series will run every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. from May 26 to July 14.
Gordy Li's SMURF quartet will perform on June 9.
“The Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival is committed to creating spaces for local youth to showcase their talent, connect with new fans, and advance their skills in jazz,” said Dave Quinn, festival artistic director and co-founder.
“Through this music series, we're creating a platform for young and emerging jazz musicians to shine."
The concerts are free at the Fort Langley Heritage CNR Station Gardens. Audiences are advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
There will also be art exhibits showcasing the work of local artists and guided tours of the restored CNR train station that dates back to 1915, according to the organizer.
For more information about the concerts and the line-up, check here.
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