EVENTS CALENDAR

Get ready for Nanaimo’s peppermint seasoned improv team… Phat Ask! Join Brendan, Kenneth, Haydn and special guest Jesse for a monthly night of live improv comedy. You can expect a variety of Christmas-themed games that will turn audience suggestions into hilarious scenes on the spot. By the end or our show, we can almost guarantee you will be a Phat Ask lover! Due to the nature of improv comedy, there may be mature (and some immature but festive) content that could be inappropriate for younger audience members.

Graham Villette and Kosma Busheikin are proud to present New York jazz guitar heavyweight, Peter Bernstein. Bernstein is steeped in the tradition of jazz having worked with some of the biggest names from past and present including Diana Krall, Lou Donaldson, Christian McBride, Larry Goldings and more. Also featured in the band is Vancouver saxophonist, Cellar Live Recording Label owner and music presenter Cory Weeds. Rounding out the rhythm section will be Busheikin on upright bass, Villette on drums and Nanaimo raised multi-instrumentalist John Lee on piano. Peter Bernstein - GuitarCory Weeds - Tenor SaxophoneJohn Lee - PianoKosma Busheikin - Upright BassGraham Villette - Drums Huge thank you to our sponsors!:- Michael Simard Productions- Long & McQuade About Peter Bernstein:Peter Bernstein was born in New York City in 1967. He has been playing and recording since 1990 when he first appeared on recordings with Lou Donaldson and the organ trio of Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart, a group still touring and recording today. That year, Peter was featured on Jim Hall's JVC Jazz Festival concert at Town Hall. Peter played in Lou Donaldson's group for 10 years as well as performing and recording with Joshua Redman's group 1995-97. Other associations and collaborations include Jimmy Cobb, Dr. Lonnie Smith, David Fathead Newman, Brad Mehldau, Etta Jones, Melvin Rhyne, Diana Krall, Bobby Hutcherson, Lee Konitz, Nicholas Payton, George Coleman, and Sonny Rollins. Peter has played on festival, concert, and club stages all over the world and has appeared on over 300 recordings with 14 under his own name. These recordings have featured many of his own compositions as well as a trio recording of Thelonious Monk's music and a live solo recording of standards and jazz classics. Peter's recordings have featured musicians such as Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Greg Hutchinson, Jimmy Cobb, Bill Stewart, Larry Grenadier, Gerald Clayton, Sullivan Fortner, Peter Washington, Doug Weiss, and Joe Farnsworth among others. His latest recording on the Smoke Sessions label is "Better Angels", and features Brad Mehldau, Vicente Archer, and Al Foster. Peter’s an extremely elegant musician with a gorgeous tone that seems to relax you when you hear it . - The Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles The jazz guitarist, among the most sought after in the New York area, has a feather-light touch, an encyclopedic knowledge of chords and the ability to play standards like he’s inventing them on the spot. - The Los Angeles Daily News Mr. Bernstein is a fluidly improvising guitarist in the post-bop tradition, with control over harmony and a beautiful sound. - The New York Times Peter Bernstein produces a warm, ringing, muscular tone which echoes that of such giants as Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Kenny Burrell. - Jazziz ____________________________ “Busheikin/Villette Presents” is a monthly jazz concert series that brings the best in live jazz straight to Nanaimo. As longtime friends and musical collaborators, the curators of this series, drummer Graham Villette and bassist Kosma Busheikin wanted to create an experience for the community of Nanaimo. As they join forces with local and visiting artists, their mission is to bring great music and unforgettable nights to the many jazz lovers of Nanaimo. Tickets are available through the Port Theatre Website or at the door, cash or card.https://www.porttheatre.com/events/busheikin-villette-quintet-2025/atre.com/events/