Artists at the 2013 All-Canadian Jazz Festival Port Hope
Friday Sept 20 | Saturday Sept 21 | Sunday Sept 22
Tom Lavin & The Legendary Powder Blues
Powder Blues’ sound is a mix of blues, jazz, rock & roll and r & b with an appeal so wide that people from seven to seventy often swing side by side at a Powder Blues concert. Over the years the band has toured non-stop through Canada, the United States and overseas, spreading a feel-good groove that makes people dance and shout.
Leader Tom Lavin has written many of the band’s best-known songs including ‘Doin’ It Right’ [‘On the Wrong Side of Town’] and ‘Boppin With the Blues’. Born in Chicago, Tom moved to Vancouver gigging nightly in the downtown nightclub scene. Tom has won BCMIA awards for Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter and Producer of the Year, a Juno award for Best New Band and the American W.C. Handy award.
2013 is the band’s 35th Anniversary and they’re headlining many of Canada’s largest blues festivals including Nanaimo, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg.
Club Django
The Club Django Sextet has been performing Gypsy Swing in the tradition of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli for more than ten years. Their third CD, “Stompin’ At The Ritz”, was released in March 2013.
Violinist Rodion Boshoer is classically trained like his idol Grappelli, and he brings to the band a sound that expresses his Russian roots and the influence of his work on Broadway. Gerry Dulligal, on piano accordion, brings his own interest in everything from Bach to Bacharach and his fascination with European accordion styles.
Lead guitarist John Farrell interprets the formidable genius of Django Reinhardt with virtuosic flair. Beyond the great master, his diverse influences include Charlie Christian, Mike Bloomfield and Danny Gatton. Rhythm guitarist Tony Oldland is a long time Django fan from Manchester, England, and an avid frequenter of Samois sur Seine. He brings to Club Django an in-depth knowledge of the gypsy jazz world.
André Séguinot, also on rhythm guitar, is the founder of Club Django. Born in Montpelier, France, he is the only member of the group to have seen Django Rheinhardt perform live. Abbey Sholzberg, double bass, was born in Montréal and studied at McGill University's Faculty of Music. A professional musician since 1969, he has played in almost every genre imaginable.
Alex Pangman
Although Alex Pangman grew up a couple of generations late to have sung with Teddy Wilson, the vibrant young vocalist is proud to be known as Canada's Sweetheart of Swing. With pipes aplenty, Pangman possesses the requisite taste, talent and the historical knowledge of an avid record collector to breathe new life into the sturdy standards of the classic jazz era.
Early in her career Alex made a fortuitous connection with guitar great Jeff Healey who knew a rare talent when he heard it. Healey produced her impressive 1999 debut “They Say” (Sensation Records) as well as the 2001 follow-up, “You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming”. She has been nominated for National Jazz Awards in both the Songwriter of the Year and Vocalist of the Year categories. Her latest album on Justin Time Records features duets with guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli, as well as featuring her ace Toronto band, The Alleycats.
Mike Murley Septet
“something of substance is happening with our Canadian neighbors … Murley and company are nothing less than amazing!” – JazzTimes
An engaging, lyrical saxophonist, Mike Murley has played on ten Juno Award-winning recordings and was named saxophonist of the year eight times by the Jazz Report Awards / National Jazz Awards. Currently active as a leader in various formations from duo to septet, Murley also maintains a busy schedule as a sideman and jazz educator (University of Toronto).
Since moving to Toronto from his native Nova Scotia in 1981 Murley has recorded with veteran Canadian artists such as Ed Bickert, Guido Basso, and the late Rob McConnell, and collaborated frequently with the younger generation of improviser/composers including pianist David Braid and guitarist David Occhipinti.
The Mike Murley Septet’s debut recording, “Still Rollin’”, received a 2012 Juno nomination for best mainstream jazz album. The all-star lineup includes Tara Davidson, soprano and alto saxophone; Kevin Turcotte, trumpet; Terry Promane, trombone; David Braid, piano; Jim Vivian, bass; and Ted Warren, drums.
TD Canada Trust Young Jazz Showcase
Membership to be announced.
Michael Occhipinti’s “Shine On: The Universe of John Lennon”, featuring Elizabeth Shepherd
Guitarist Michael Occhipinti's extensive explorations of jazz, world music, chamber music, funk and anything involving modern guitar sounds have earned him eight Juno nominations for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. He is no stranger to reinventing popular music: his CD “Creation Dream – The Songs of Bruce Cockburn” received a JUNO nomination, and his Sicilian Jazz Project combo thrilled the audience at the 2008 All-Canadian Jazz Festival.
His latest project, Shine On, highlights Michael's distinctive arrangements of songs which John Lennon performed both with the Beatles and as a solo artist. Each of the musicians in Shine On are renowned artists who lead their own acclaimed projects, and it is a testament to the artistry of the project that all are thrilled at the prospect of recording and touring together.
“The music was fabulous, particularly on quieter tunes like Across the Universe and Working Class Hero when we could fully appreciate Occhipinti’s creative re-imagining of these songs, not to mention Elizabeth Shepherd’s sublime vocals.” Rick Gibbs, Island Jazz, Victoria
All-Canadian Legends: Renee Rosnes, piano, PJ Perry, Saxophone, Terry Clarke, drums and Neil Swainson, bass
For our Saturday night concert we present a world premiere collaboration between four of Canada's most celebrated musicians, on stage together for the first time.
Renee Rosnes has emerged as one of the premier jazz pianists and composers of her generation. She began classical piano studies at age three and became interested in jazz music in high school. Shortly after relocating from Vancouver to New York in 1986, Rosnes quickly established a reputation as a formidable talent.
“Rosnes rubs balm in jaded ears. She offers exquisite balances of delicacy and power, witty and weighted ideas, assertiveness and deference.” – Down Beat
P.J. Perry (alto saxophonist, tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist, piccolo-player) was born in 1941 in Calgary. His father, band leader Paul Perry, began featuring his son playing saxophone in his band when P.J. was just 14 years old. In the ensuing years, P.J. has shared stages with countless jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Rob McConnell, Slide Hampton, and Ellis Marsalis.
After taking up residence in Edmonton he began working with the Tommy Banks Band, playing lead alto on The Tommy Banks Show for 15 years. He has had a long relationship performing and recording with The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Jazz Report Magazine named him “Best Alto Saxophonist” in seven consecutive years.
Drummer Terry Clarke won the 2010 Juno for Best Traditional Jazz Album of the year. His illustrious career includes work with pop group The Fifth Dimension and with Oscar Peterson. An adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, he is a Member of the Order of Canada. Bassist Neil Swainson began playing professionally in Victoria before moving to Toronto in 1977. He worked with George Shearing from 1986 to 2011, and he plays on five Juno Award-winning CDs (including one each with Renee Rosnes and PJ Perry).
Bebop Cowboys with Russell DeCarle
Award-winning virtuosic country jazz group, the Bebop Cowboys Western Swing Orchestra, have become known as “Canada's Kings of Western Swing”, having travelled the country and creating legions of toe-tapping fans along the way.
Noted jazz guitarist and bandleader Steve Briggs cooks up strong, catchy arrangements that portray a deep knowledge of and respect for the jazz and country-western canons. Top-shelf musicians (John Sheard, Drew Jurecka, Dennis Pendrith, John Adames) are the musical ingredients that serve up a hot brand of Western Swing rarely if ever heard outside Texas and Southern California.
As a special treat, Russell deCarle (co-founder and lead vocalist of iconic Canadian country roots band Prairie Oyster) joins the Bebop Cowboys for this appearance. DeCarle also recorded with the Bebops on their third CD, "Canadian Dance Hall" which paid tribute to the great white north's dance halls of the 30s 40s and 50s. Whether you're dancing on a sawdust pine floor or at the kitchen sink, the Bebop Cowboys are known to keep you smiling all night long.
Ron Davis
“One of Canada’s A-List pianists!” – CFRB
“One of the great minds in jazz.” – JAZZFM
Moving effortlessly between musical genres, projects, and influences, highly acclaimed pianist‐composer Ron Davis has established himself as one of the most original, enjoyable voices in jazz today. He cites piano greats Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum and Thelonious Monk as inspirations, but his clean, energetic, joyous playing style is uniquely his own.
On any given night, Ron's set list might include Coldplay, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix or classic Tatum. In 2013, he adds two new titles to his seven previously released CDs. “Blue Modules” is an experimental project exploring pop and post-modern jazz, while “Symphronica” is an innovative jazz-symphony fusion album, made with famed conductor John Morris Russell.
Cadence
“Instruments are for surgeons!”
This is the formula for Canada’s celebrated vocal band, Cadence: The stage lights fall, the crowd goes quiet, and four harmonious voices rise up and fill the air. The melodies unfurl into something both familiar and fresh. What comes next may be a classic song by Joni Mitchell or Louis Prima. It may be an old bebop standard or cheeky arrangement of a 1980s hit. But these are arrangements like you’ve never heard them before - containing all the richness of a full band, but performed using just four voices.
Based in Toronto, this a cappella ensemble has been wowing audiences across the country and around the world for nearly 15 years. Their live shows feature a hypnotic blend of complex harmonies, intricate arrangements, vocal dexterity, and just plain fun.
The band is made up of Carl Berger (baritone and bass), Ross Lynde (tenor), Lucas Marchand (tenor), and Kurt Sampson (bass and vocal percussion).
CimarRÓn
“Full of fire, finesse and authenticity.” – Jazz Times
Born in Havana, Luis Mario Ochoa moved to Canada in 1990 and formed Cimarrón (“free spirit”) in 1992. The 10-piece band is a perfect setting for Ochoa's gifts talents as vocalist, guitarist, composer and arranger. The group has released three CDs.
Ochoa began full-time music studies at age 11 at some of Havana’s most renowned conservatories. After 13 years of intense studies, he graduated with an honours B.A. in classical guitar. In the music of Cimarrón, Ochoa’s signature orchestrations bring together the rhythms of his native Cuba and its Caribbean and South American neighbours with sophisticated harmonies in the jazz tradition. The arrangements beautifully showcase Ochoa’s attractive voice and supple guitar, as well as the first class musicianship of some of the best soloists from Canada.