There are summer nights... and then there are Fort Langley summer nights.

 

Last night, at the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts FestivalJack de Keyzer absolutely lit up the Cool Blues Show. The two-time Juno Award winner brought everything you'd expect from one of Canada's premier blues guitarists—blistering solos, flawless technique, and a guitar tone that cut through the evening air like it was made for an outdoor festival.

What really stood out wasn't just the technical brilliance. It was the energy. Every solo built on the last, with expressive bends, razor-sharp phrasing, and the kind of confidence that only comes from decades on the road. Before long, the crowd had pushed closer to the stage, phones were in the air, people were dancing, and the whole atmosphere shifted into full celebration mode.

One fun surprise? I bumped into a friend of Jack's from White Rock who had personally delivered the guitars he played that night. They weren't even his own instruments! Judging by the sound they produced, they were pretty special pieces of craftsmanship - and they were certainly in the right hands.

The grand finale got even better when festival Co-Founder and Artistic Director David Quinn, stepped onto the stage with his saxophone to join the band for the final few songs. It was one of those festival moments you can't plan - great musicians simply feeding off each other and having a blast.

Jack's band was every bit as impressive as their frontman: tight, polished, and never wasting a note. Every transition was seamless, every groove locked in, creating the perfect foundation for Jack's fiery guitar work.

The Cool Blues Show has become one of the signature events of the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival, drawing thousands every year, and this performance reminded everyone why. It was polished without feeling rehearsed, technically brilliant without losing its soul, and packed with enough energy to send the crowd home smiling.

Now that's how you close out a summer Saturday night.