PORT TOWNSEND — The Jim Nyby Combo will perform “Gospel and Songs of Spirit” during Trinity United Methodist Church’s Candlelight Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. at the church at 609 Taylor St.
Admission will be by $10 donation; children will be admitted free.
Proceeds will benefit The Recovery Café of Jefferson County. Brian Richardson will speak at the concert about the Recovery Café’s mission.
Refreshments will be served following the performance.
Nyby is one of Port Townsend’s mainstays of music, having performed in this area for the past 19 years, organizers said.
He will perform on the Czechoslovakian Petrof Grand Piano singing solo vocals and will be accompanied by Bruce Cannavaro on bass and Kurt Munnich on drums.
The combo will perform a selection of traditional gospel and spirituals. Selections include “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “Oh Happy Day” along with songs by contemporary artists such as Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams and Van Morrison.
The group has performed together for a number of years now. Their first public performance was at a local church with a program similar to this one, organizers said.
Nyby began his musical career “plunking around” on the family piano at an early age.
“One of my biggest influences has turned out to be American singer-songwriter and composer Tom Waits,” Nyby said. “I could easily do an entire concert of just his songs.”
Nyby grew up in the Los Angeles area, and that is where he met his wife, Kellie, who had moved from Seattle to Hollywood to work in the film industry. In 1990 they moved back to Kellie’s roots in the Pacific Northwest and settled in Port Townsend. They have three grown children: Nik, Clara and Ivan. Nyby has worked for the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock since 1992.
For more information, call 360-774-1644.
