From Jerry BryantB次元官网网址檚 perspective the world is flat, and thatB次元官网网址檚 just the way heB次元官网网址檇 like it to stay.

The jazz pianist, vocalist and former educator, who turns 90 Monday, isnB次元官网网址檛 interested in any major highs or lows. He attributes his longevity to taking life on an even keel, appreciating all it has given him and constantly striving to learn.

B次元官网网址淚t affects people differently,B次元官网网址� said Bryant on the topic of age. B次元官网网址淚 guess my gift, the phenomenon, the miracle, seems to be my ability to be on new ground every day.B次元官网网址�

In celebration of this milestone, the Island Big Band, with which Bryant has played for about seven years, is getting together for a special birthday performance April 1 at HermannB次元官网网址檚 Jazz Club.

Bryant started playing with the band after his wife, Cecilia, died in 2005 and he found himself in need of a purpose. He retired from teaching in 1983, after a long career as an educator in both the United States and Canada. His long list of achievements includes starting the jazz program at Esquimalt High school.

B次元官网网址淭his band turned out to be a kind of spiritual refuge and itB次元官网网址檚 growing into a beautiful thing,B次元官网网址� Bryant said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 spiritual nourishment, really. ItB次元官网网址檚 everything I need to be spiritually healthy.B次元官网网址�

Music has been a part of BryantB次元官网网址檚 life since the beginning. Born on April FoolB次元官网网址檚 day in 1923 in Kansas City, his uncle was famous blues singer and rock and roll pioneer Big Joe Turner. Bryant grew up around musicians such as Oscar Peterson and Bill Haley, soaking in the music surrounding him.

Even after a long lifetime of playing and teaching music, Bryant said he is still constantly learning. One of the reasons he joined the Big Band was to improve his sight reading, a skill in which, he confesses, he has never excelled.

This desire to learn and grow is what Bryant believes keeps him feeling young.

B次元官网网址淚 just want to stay and grow and learn how to read these charts and keep up with these guys. This is whatB次元官网网址檚 making me look and appear to be cute and young. ItB次元官网网址檚 a chance to try and keep up with these people.B次元官网网址�

Band trumpeter Bryn Badel said itB次元官网网址檚 an honour to have Bryant in the band.

B次元官网网址淎s the bearer of the torch heB次元官网网址檚 handing it off to us,B次元官网网址� Badel said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really important to pay tribute to that.

B次元官网网址淭he jazz tradition is really an oral tradition. B次元官网网址� A lot of itB次元官网网址檚 handed down. The only way to learn it is to be in the moment, to live with guys like that day in and day out B次元官网网址� and to learn from them.B次元官网网址�

Through all the music he has heard, a few pieces and musicians stand out for Bryant. He admires Count Basie as a musician, for his style of understatement. IB次元官网网址檝e Got the World on a String by Harold Arlen, made famous by Cab Calloway and Frank Sinatra, is a favourite tune.

Perhaps most appropriate is another favourite of BryantB次元官网网址檚, Duke EllingtonB次元官网网址檚 I Guess IB次元官网网址檓 Just a Lucky So-and-So.

B次元官网网址淲hat I believe and what I love, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be proclaimed from the highest tree loudly,B次元官网网址� Bryant said. B次元官网网址淭o be privileged is to stay and support and be in the background. B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 just lucky to be here.B次元官网网址�

Tickets for Jerry BryantB次元官网网址檚 90th Birthday Party are $10 and are available at HermannB次元官网网址檚 Jazz Club (753 View St.). Show is at 8 p.m.