Melody Diachun’s Sumner Tales: The music of sting
August 20, 21, 22, 23 @ 8:30 PM
Melody Diachun – Vocals
David Restivo – Piano, Keyboards
Michael Occhipinti – Guitar, Loops, Ambient effects
Doug Stephenson – Acoustic bass
Tony Ferraro – Drums
Awarded Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards, vocalist and songwriter Melody Diachun (DAY-shun) is known for her “soulful confidence, exquisite phrasing, and impeccable sense of time" (All About Jazz). With five albums to her name and nominations including Female Vocalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards, she has been called “a force to reckon with in contemporary vocal music” (Toronto Music Report).
At The Rex, Melody presents Sumner’s Tales: The Music of Sting—songs by Sting and The Police, viewed through a contemporary jazz lens. Backed by an outstanding band, she blends reverence for the originals with fresh insight. The group has earned praise for its “inspired arrangements, soundscapes, and grooves that range from lush to bombastic” (Tinnitist).
Rooted in a musical journey that began in Montreal and led through Nova Scotia, New York City, Banff, and Vancouver, Melody now finds her poetic home in Nelson, British Columbia. With her acclaimed group, she offers a heartfelt take on music that resonates across generations, honouring its spirit while making it entirely their own.