The list of nominees for the 2020 Juno Awards has been released, and Orange Grove Publicity is thrilled to announce that five of our clients are up for awards this year!

Jazz Album of the Year: Solo
Joel Miller: Unstoppable
Ted Quinlan: Absolutely Dreaming
Jacques Kuba Séguin: Migrations

Jazz Album of the Year: Group
Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop: Abundance
Al Muirhead’s Canadian Quintet: Undertones

Congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees!

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Congratulations to vocalist Deanne Matley on her feature in Downbeat Magazine! Read J.D. Considine’s ‘Indie Life’ column in the September issue – and online now!

Six years ago, as Deanne was building her career as a jazz singer in Calgary, Alberta, fans kept approaching her after performances to ask if she had released any albums. So, Matley took the hint and decided to do it herself…

Read more at Downbeat.com

Congratulations to Jamie Reynolds, whose new album ‘Grey Mirror’ (Fresh Sound New Talent) received a ★★★★1/2 review from Brian Zimmerman in the December 2017 issue of DownBeat magazine!

Pianist Jamie Reynolds is an artist who thinks in big pictures and broad strokes. But on the orchestrational level, he’s all about detail and nuance. That’s a winning combination, and it works to mellifluous effect on Grey Mirror.

Congrats Jamie!

The Toronto Jazz Orchestra turns 20 this year, and to celebrate, they’re going into the studio to record their first album in 9 years!

From Josh Grossman, artistic director of the TJO:

“Since 1998, the Toronto Jazz Orchestra has been producing some of the most exciting big band concerts in the city. During that time, our musicians have become some of Toronto’s busiest music professionals; our focus has evolved to primarily original, Canadian compositions; and our performance schedule has evolved to major productions (like the Big Band Tap Revue or the Big Band Gospel Project), performances at concert halls throughout Ontario, and collaborations with guest artists like Phil Nimmons, Ingrid and Christine Jensen, Kevin Turcotte, Seamus Blake, Geoffrey Keezer and Kurt Elling.

In 2018, we’ll turn 20.  And to celebrate, we’re going to record a new CD called, um, 20. (We need to work on our titles.)

What’s so special about this new CD, you ask? 20 aims to capture the evolution and maturation of the band, and reinforce our commitment to performing Canadian big band music. But 20 is also a deeply personal project.  When I started the band in 1998, I wanted to perform repertoire which inspired me as a young jazz musician, and which an audience wouldn’t hear anywhere else. And now, for the first time in nearly 20 years, I have a body of my own work – original compositions and arrangements – which I feel is ready for the recording studio.

And we’re taking this project seriously.  From May 26 to 28, we’ll head to Revolution Recording, one of Toronto’s top studios, along with the outstanding support team of producer Roberto Occhipinti and engineer John “Beetle” Bailey.  Repertoire will include 4 PN, a suite written to celebrate the 90th birthday of Phil Nimmons; my arrangement of Oscar Peterson’ Bossa Beguine, featuring tap dancer Allison Toffan; and Georgie and Rose, the most recently completed composition, inspired by my kids.

The Ontario Arts Council has supported the project with a recording grant, and while the grant is generous, it’s not quite enough to get it all done – so we’ve created this campaign.  We aim to raise $10,000 to complete the first phase of the project (the in-studio recording); if we raise $20,000, we could have a copy of 20 in your hands by the end of the year.

So – join the celebration by making a contribution today. Pre-order a CD, join us in studio or invite us into your home for a private concert (hide the fine china) – any contribution helps.

For nearly 20 years, we’ve had the support of some very loyal people.  Whether you’ve seen us before or this is your first introduction to the Toronto Jazz Orchestra, thanks for contributing to 20. We look forward to sharing with you soon this exciting new CD.”

Please consider contributing to the campaign! This is sure to be a fantastic record.

This year’s Juno Award nominations have been released, and Orange Grove Publicity is thrilled that two of our clients are among the nominees! Congratulations to Shirantha Beddage and Heather Bambrick!

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We’re delighted to see several Orange Grove clients included in a number of year end lists published by some of our favourite critics and broadcasters:

• The Ottawa Citizen’s Peter Hum included records by Allison Au, Alex Goodman, and Andrew Downing among the list of honourable mentions article about the Best Canadian Jazz of 2016.
• Classicalite’s Mike Greenblatt lists Shirantha Beddage’s Momentum in his top 30 of 2016
• Abeng by Rich Brown is one of Maurice Hogue’s favourite albums of 2016
• Allison Au’s ‘Forest Grove’ included in W. Royal Stokes’ list of Notable Releases for 2016
• Stu Harrison, June Garber, and Heather Bambrick all made Ray Alexander’s list of his favourite Canadian records of 2016

Congratulations to Lauren Bush on being named one of five finalists for the Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition!

“Following an intensive search, the New Jersey Performance Arts Centre and WBGO host the five finalists in the 5th annual Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition, founded in honour of Newark’s ‘divine’ jazz icon.”

The winner receives a $5000.00 cash prize, as well as an offer for a record deal with the Concord Music Group.

Congrats Lauren!

For more info, visit sarahvaughncompetition.com

Tara Kannangara was awarded the Stingray Rising Star Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival for her tune The House Where I Live from her Juno-nominated album Some Version of the Truth.  Congrats Tara!