JAZZ FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Roger Levesque

The bright neon sound of the Hammond B-3 organ sizzles again tonight when Edmonton-raised jazz keyboardist Vanessa Rodrigues returns to her hometown.

Rodrigues has been developing her musical vision in Montreal since she went there to attend McGill University in 1996. She's back this time to co-lead a hard-bop quartet with hot Toronto saxophonist Chris Gale. Another former jazz child of Edmonton, guitarist Mike Rud, and drummer Morgan Childs fill out the happening group.

While the players share various connections, they first worked as a group on the club recording Live At The Rex, released in 2007. A few years later, Rodrigues says the chemistry is "really special" as they prepare to tap a mix of original tunes and bop classics, all in preparation to make another recording in Montreal in May.

But for Rodrigues, this is only one angle of a busy career. She just released her second solo CD Soul Food For Thought, a trip into soul jazz, funky grooves and hints of hip-hop with a thematic thread -- food.

"I started growing a lot of my own food a few years ago and researching food production. It didn't take long to discover a lot of the problems connected to the food industry. It's overwhelming."

The Rodrigues/Gale Quartet plays tonight at 9 at the Yardbird Suite (102nd Street and 86th Avenue). Tickets are $14 for members, $18 for guests, in advance from Ticketmaster or at the door.

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