Thursday nights, the J invites you to enjoy free live music in the piano lounge from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The Firehall Cafe at the J offers their full menu of food and beverages until 9:00 PM. Curated by local musician Victor Pruner, the Live at the Piano Lounge series is designed to bring a variety of local musicians to engage the community. FEBRUARY 8: CHECO TOHOMASO Music Director Checo Tohomaso brings a wealth of musical experience to the Vancouver Outreach Community Sweet Soul Gospel Choir (VOC). Born in Florida, and raised in Hawaii as well as Okinawa Japan, he has entertained with many notable performers throughout his career. Checo was honored to play keyboards, percussion and sing background vocals for the last European tour of Motown legend, Marvin Gaye. As a keyboard player and background vocalist for the Green Machine, the band providing the sound for The Commodores and Lionel Ritchie, he continued to tour the world extensively until Expo '86 brought Checo to Vancouver. Checo’s current focus is to communicate the positive, healing qualities of soul music to as many people as possible. He notes, “at home, everyone sings Gospel and the spirit and culture are strong. People in Vancouver are longing for real music and my goal is to bring it!” In order to achieve his goal of "bringing soul to the city", Checo also coaches soul, R&B, gospel and light jazz-style vocals, and teaches both keyboards and bass to students from across the lower mainland.
