The Birth of CanUS Jazz Band: 1991
The stars aligned in 1991 when Jim Armstrong moved to Victoria from Vancouver at a time when that Tennessee music treasure, Joey Smith also made it his home. Toni Blodgett was looking to form a band of musicians who could also sing the complicated harmonies of such groups as New Orleans’ Boswell Sisters and the Mills Brothers. Drummer Don Leppard filled out the quartet which they named “CanUS” since it was composed of musicians from both sides of the border.
As unlikely as it may seem, the band was almost immediately successful in getting on the circuit of traditional and swing jazz festivals because of its unique take on classic jazz. They toured mostly in the U.S. but also in Mexico as well as in Canada, of course. Some in the U.S took them to:
Washington, D.C Kennedy Center, Millenium Stage
Wisconsin: Madison, LaCrosse
Colorado Jackson Hole, Evergreen (Denver)
Arizona Phoenix, Green Valley (Tucson)
Idaho Sun Valley
Montana Havre, Kalispell
California San Diego, Monterey, Palm Springs
Oregon Portland, Seaside,
Washington Seattle, Olympia, Ocean Shores, Long Beach, Port Angeles (Semiahmoo)
However, life sometimes intrudes and seven years ago, Jim Armstrong left the island to reside in White Rock - a long ferry ride away from Vancou
