Bits ‘n’ Pieces: Jazz drummer’s gig a family affair
The Columbian
Published: September 20, 2012, 5:00pm
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Gary Hobbs
Vancouver native and jazz drummer Gary Hobbs is bringing out the big guns for his upcoming gig.
“This band is made up of some of the very best musicians in the Pacific Northwest,” he said — including Hobbs’ own daughter, Britta.
Britta Hobbs Vrosh, the choir director at Covington Middle School, will reprise songs that she recorded for Hobbs’ 2004 record, “Of My Times.” She’ll sing some other songs, too.
Gary Hobbs, who first took up the drums as a senior at Fort Vancouver High School, said his daughter “is a product of her environment — she grew up surrounded by music.”
Britta studied music education and voice at Pacific Lutheran University. But when her dad invited her to sing on “Of My Times,” she was a little hesitant — only because “it’s an odd thing to sing on your old man’s record, with all these musicians she’s known since she was a little bitty girl. But she really rose to the occasion,” Hobbs said.
“Of My Times” earned rave reviews. JazzReview called it “one of the most stylish, smart, sophisticated and exciting recordings” ever led by a drummer.
But there was never a proper local release party for the CD because Portland lacked the right club — until now, Hobbs said. “A lot of people in this area haven’t heard this record before,” he said.
The Gary Hobbs Sextet, featuring Britta Hobbs Vrosh, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday atIvories Jazz Lounge and Restaurant, 1435 N.W. Flanders St. in Portland.
Heritage Gallery Fine Art & Framing’s new space is open for business just a block west of Esther Short Park.
Owner Dann Jennings found he was spending too much time driving back and forth between his two galleries — one at Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast and one in east Vancouver.
So he combined the art inventory of both shops into one new space downtown closer to Vancouver’s art community. The gallery will participate in the Oct. 5 First Friday art walk. Its courtyard will be used for art classes and events.
The shop offers work by internationally and nationally known artists as well as regional and even Clark County artists. The work of Vancouver artist Bonnie Junell is displayed along an entire wall of the gallery.
Inside its front window, the gallery displays glass work — from fanciful beach glass floats to iridescent vases — from Vancouver artists Ruth McColley, Robbin McColley and Andrew McColley.
The shop also offers custom framing. Jason Jones, the shop’s master framer, said, “We frame everything from high-end art to refrigerator art by kids,” he said.
Heritage Gallery Fine Art & Framing is now at 575 W. Eighth St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 503-436-0844 or visit Heritage Gallery.
Bits ‘n’ Pieces appears Fridays and Saturdays. If you have a story you’d like to share, email bits@columbian.com.
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