PORT TOWNSEND — At their first Candlelight Concert tonight, Val James and Friends will offer an evening of music by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Antonio Carlos Jobim and other greats of the 20th century inside Trinity United Methodist Church.
Admission is a suggested $10 donation, while children get in free to the 7 p.m. concert at the church at 609 Taylor St.
James started singing jazz about 25 years ago, having fallen for songs such as “’S Wonderful,” “Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars),” “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Teach Me Tonight.”
She’s been performing both in Seattle and in the Port Townsend area since the early 1980s and was a regular for many years at the now-closed Upstage nightclub.
These days, James sings at the Cellar Door, the snug night spot at 940 Water St.
James and her husband, Mike, have two jazz CDs and a couple of folk and singer-songwriter CDs, along with being featured on four other nautically themed recordings with other performers in Washington state.
These CDs will be available for purchase at tonight’s Candlelight Concert.
James’ friends to accompany her in this performance are pianist George Radebaugh, bassist Bruce Cannavaro, drummer Tim Sheffel and trombone man Rex Rice. Jack Lambton, a newcomer to Port Townsend’s music scene, will join the group on guitar.
He succeeds Pete Toyne, James’ guitarist for years until he died in 2014.
All proceeds from the Val James and Friends concert will benefit the Jefferson County National Alliance on Mental Illness, aka NAMI.
The nonprofit alliance offers support and advocacy for people and their families as they cope with serious mental health problems.
For more information about the Candlelight Concert series, phone 360-774-1644.
