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Photo courtesy of u p p e r l a b + on Flickr.

By Renée Yoxon, local jazz vocalist extraordinaire. Check her out at www.reneeyoxon.com.

Next Saturday, November 7th, First Unitarian Church will host A Large View from a Small Window, one of the most unique musical events to hit the Ottawa jazz scene this year. Led by young tenor sax player Richard Page, this “chamber jazz” show will feature all original material arranged for jazz trio, 16-piece string ensemble and flute soloist, Emilie Michaud.

I had the opportunity to ask Richard a few questions about his upcoming work:

RY: How did you conceive of the idea for the show?

RP: I’ve always been attracted to strings. Writing for them (in a third-stream setting) would be my next big composing challenge.  I was pushed by several people once I had thrown the idea out there to pursue it.

RY: Who are some of your primary influences, with regards to composition and playing?

RP: As far as performing goes, Joe Lovano is a huge influence.  He always pays tribute to the old masters yet screams with modernism at the same time.  Joe Henderson for his melodic ideas.  His energizing solos and his outside harmonic approach keeps me continuously interested in expanding my own palette.  Stan Getz is one of the sounds I could listen to in any mood.  And, Lester Young: his (at the time) unorthodox approach to improvisation has influenced one of the two major schools of the tenor saxophone.

With albums, there are so many strings albums that are essential to a jazz listener’s collection.  Recently recorded albums that have influenced me are - The Melody Lingers On (Mike Murley - Canadian!).  My trio is also modeled after Murley/Schwager/Wallace (from Toronto) and Joe Lovano’s Symphonia with the WDR Big Band and the Rudfunk Orchestra (Germany).  This album has a full orchestra and big band - AND it features mostly original material from Lovano. Chris Potter has an album out called Song For Anyone with his ten-piece ensemble which includes a violin, viola and cello.  It’s a very modern treatment of strings in this contemporary jazz setting.  Charlie Parker with Strings - The Master Takes is the album that made working with strings popular instead of a selling out point for a jazz musician.  This album set the bar in which all strings projects are measured against.

RY: How do you think show will benefit the scene?

RP: The show will benefit the scene, because there is not much original jazz going on here.  We have an excellent repertory band with the IJO, but we need more original ideas.  Mermaid Beach, Art Nuvo Quartet - good examples of trying to push the scene, but too many standards or previously recorded music going on.

RY: Can you tell us about any future projects?

RP: My seven-piece ensemble is shaping up and will debut in the new year.  It’s based off of the SF Jazz Collective.  All original tunes, or all original arrangements of modern jazz tunes.  The basis of this group is composition meets modern improvisation.  I have also been looking into more third-stream projects (classical meets jazz or vice-versa).  Classical piano meets jazz saxophone has been on my mind lately.

Check out Richard Page and company this Saturday. Tickets are $15 for students and $20 for everyone else. Show starts at 7:30pm and goes until 10.