Busheikin/Villette Jazz Series at the Lighthouse Summary Which are the "best" love songs of the 1930s-1950s? Award-winning Victoria-based jazz vocalist brings her quartet feat. vibraphone to Frankie's Jazz Club Thurs Apr 10 8pm DescriptionTraditional pop and jazz of the late 1930s and 1950s introduced some of the most sweet and swingin, passionate and memorable love songs the world had ever heard. After the prim and proper 1900s, melodically simple 1910s, but before the schlocky 70s and 80s pop acts - these are the songs of heartfelt true love and unforgettable melodies, performed by Angela Verbrugge Quartet, featuring Cellar Live recording artist Craig Scott, Nanaimo bassist Kosma Busheikin and Graham Villette on drums. The vocal jazz quartet, firmly rooted in the style of 40s and 50s jazz, will perform bring to life their versions of songs popularized by Andy Williams/Frank Sinatra (More Than The Greatest Love), Linda Ronstadt/Julie London (I've Got a Crush On You by Gershwin), Nat King Cole (I Love You For Sentimental Reasons), Dinah Washington/Billie Holliday (There is No Greater Love), Chet Baker (This Isn't Sometimes) and Doris Day (Secret Love), and original songs inspired by this style. The Lighthouse Bistro welcomes sunset diners to listen to the music while they enjoy a beverage or some of their signature fare including their house clam chowder, pan-seared halibut, roasted salmon, fresh clams/mussels, steak frites, garlic prawns, ribeye, vegan Buddha bowl, and of course the true Canadian classic, the Nanaimo Bar for dessert. Angela, who relocated to Victoria in 2019, will be touring this collection of songs to the premiere venues in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, Toronto, Ottawa, and Port Alberni. She has three albums available on all streaming platforms. Angela Verbrugge was nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2024 Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2025, All About Jazz announced she had topped their Reader Poll for Favourite Living Jazz Vocalist thanks to the support of her enthusiastic fanbase. She "possesses a winsome, brightly-burnished, pliable voice, ample emotional intelligence, and conspicuously good taste,” according to JazzTimes, and for Verbrugge he predicts, “now is the time.” In 2024, Origin Records (top 10 jazz labels, Downbeat Magazine) released Angela’s album of standards, “Somewhere”. Her 2022 release, "Love for Connoisseurs" features Angela's original lyrics, compositions, arrangements and songwriting collaborations with respected New York City composers. Angela’s standout songs in the style of the Great American Songbook received praise in Jazzwise, Couleurs France, Syncopated Times, Jersey Jazz, LA Jazz Scene and publications around the world. Her career has grown rapidly since her 2019 debut album, "The Night We Couldn't Say Good Night", for which Toronto Music Report raved, “a rare perfect album”, and for whom acclaimed music historian and authour Will Friedwald added the liner notes. Angela has appeared at top jazz clubs internationally in the UK, Germany, France, Japan, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Turkiye and coast to coast in Canada (in ten provinces, playing in St John’s Newfoundland to Tofino). Born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Angela was one of the youngest graduates of the acclaimed acting program at George Brown College, Toronto. Craig Scott, VibraphoneCraig is an accomplished drummer, and vibraphone player. His drummng credits include concert and club dates with such Canadian jazz luminaries as Tommy Banks as well as international artists such as Randy Bachmann, Pat LaBarbara, Phil Woods, Allen Vizzutti, Chuck Israels, Frank Wes, Ernestine Anderson, Diana Krall, Herb Ellis, Clark Terry, Larry Goldings, the HI-LOS, Dee Daniels, The Nylons, Joan Rivers, Don Rickles, Ashley McIsaac, Natalie McMaster and the late Harry “Sweets” Edison, Rosemary Clooney, Bud Shank, and Charlie Byrd. Craig has extensive recording experience in television, film, radio and video games. As a session player, he has played on countless local independent jazz albums and has played drums on the video game Monsters Inc., and on the music software Band-In-A-Box. Craig is featured on two Ian McDougall albums, which were both nominated for JUNO Awards.Craig holds a B.Ed and B.Mus from UBC, and teaches at Vancouver Community College and Capilano University. Kosma Busheikin, Bass (Nanaimo)Born in the Czech Republic, Kosma moved with his parents to the small island of Denman when he was two years old. When he was 16 he decided to take guitar lessons with local singer-songwriter Kevin Mitchell. After completing his degree at VIU Kosma settled down in Nanaimo and began working regularly across Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland. Graham Villette, drumsGraham has been playing music professionally since the age of 15. He earned a Masters’ Degree in Jazz Performance from The University of Toronto after completing a BA in Jazz Studies at Vancouver Island University in 2017. Having grown up on Vancouver Island, Graham is an active member of the music community as both a freelance musician and bandleader where you’ll hear him at leading BC venues including Hermann’s, Frankie’s, leading jazz series and festivals. Over the years, Graham has had the great fortune to perform with some of the best musicians around including Cory Weeds, Joe Magnarelli, Akiko Tsuruga, Tony Genge, Ryan Oliver, John Lee, Rick Kilburn, Ashley Wey and others.
