Rebecca Hennessy: trumpet
Petr Cancura: tenor saxophone
Michael Herring: bass
Richie Barshay: drums
Jan 6: Open Waters Festival (Halifax, NS)
Jan 14: The Emmet Ray (Toronto, ON)
Jan 15: Victoria, BC
Jan 16: Quadwrangle Music at the Lighthouse Bistro
Jan 17: Frankie's Jazz Club (Vancouver, BC)
Jan 18: Yardbird Suite (Edmonton, AB)
Jan 19: The Bassment (Saskatoon, SK)
For details, visit waynorthband.com
Audrey Ochoa: trombone
Mike Lent: bass
Sandro Dominelli: drums
Trombonist Audrey Ochoa is a rising star on the Canadian jazz scene. After having completed studies in classical trombone at the University of Alberta, Audrey began performing professionally across Canada and abroad as a member of multiple ensembles. Though never having formally studied Jazz or contemporary music, Audrey has found a home in composing her own tunes that often have a Latin feel, and definitely convey her sense of humour.
PJ Perry describes Audrey as “a real talent,” and mentor and trombone aster Hugh Fraser describes her as “an inspired emerging artist that embodies the talent, inspiration and focus to make a major contribution at the highest level.” Having worked with or shared a stage with jazz legends like Hilario Duran, PJ Perry, and Tommy Banks, Audrey has also played with international musicians like Lew Tebackin, Dan Akroyd and the Temptations.
Audrey released her debut album “Trombone and Other Delights” in 2013, which spent consecutive weeks as the number one Jazz album on the Earshot charts and received excellent reviews.
Audrey’s second album “Afterthought,” is an extension of her compositional skill and talent on her instrument. The project includes collaborations with Electronica artist Battery Poacher.
Saturday, June 22nd
TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Robson Stage (Robson St & Hornby St) @ 6:45pm
Sunday, June 23rd
TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
The Cube @ Old Market Square (124 King St) @ 4:15pm
Tuesday, June 25th
Rochester International Jazz Festival
Max of Eastman Place (25 Gibbs Street) @ 6:15pm and 10pm
Wednesday, June 26th
TD Ottawa Jazz Festival
Ontario Stage, Confederation Park @ 7:30pm
Thursday, June 27th
TD Toronto Jazz Festival
Hazelton Ave Stage (Hazelton Ave & Scollard St) @ 6:45pm
Friday, June 28
Montreal International Jazz Festival
Club Jazz Casino de Montreal, Place SNC-Lavalin @ 6pm
Saturday, June 29th
TD Edmonton International Jazz Festival
The Works Outdoor Mainstage, Capital Plaza (9820 107 St. NW) @ 12pm
Montreal guitarist Sam Kirmayer started 2018 on a high note.
A few weeks into the new year, he won the Julian Award for Excellence for Emerging Canadian Artists, a prize given by Simon Fraser University’s CJSF 90.1FM to an album by a young Canadian jazz up-and-comer. Kirmayer’s 2017 debut disc, a quartet release called Opening Statement, richly deserved the recognition. For an encore, Kirmayer has climbed further still, with his new album High and Low, which finds the 28-year-old devotee of bop and swing assuredly leading an organ trio.
Kirmayer chose wisely when he picked sidemen for his new project that casts his warm tone and lyrical focus in a different setting. On drums, it was a no-brainer to play again with veteran Montreal drummer Dave Laing, who laid down the unflinching, impeccable groove on Opening Statement. “Dave has been one of my favourite musicians for a while,” says Kirmayer. “I’ve learned a lot playing with him over the last few years and he brought so much to the first CD we made together that it was never a question for me that I wanted him on this record as well.”
Hiring New York-based organist Ben Paterson on organ, a 35-year-old who demonstrates consummate taste and fire on High and Low, was more of a leap of faith. “I discovered Ben through his work with Bernstein and Bobby Broom,” Kirmayer explains. “He’s got such a great sense of swing and is a truly melodic improviser. When I found out he was a friend of a friend, I jumped at the chance to do some playing with him.”
The band prepped by playing two nights at Montreal’s lynchpin jazz venue, the Upstairs Jazz Bar and Grill, and then went into the studio for two days. They might have begun as two friends and an out-of-towner stranger, but the simpatico and eloquence that they’ve achieved on High and Low sound like the hallmarks of a seasoned band.
Sam Kirmayer: guitar
Ben Paterson: organ
Dave Laing: drums
Sept 19: Avalanche Bar, Courtenay, BC - presented by the Georgia Straight Jazz Society. 7:30pm.
Sept 20: All Saints by the Sea, Salt Spring Island, BC - presented by Salt Spring Jazz & Blues. 7pm.
Sept 21: Hermann's, Victoria, BC. 8pm.
Sept 22: Osborne Bay Pub, Crofton, BC - presented by Pat's House of Jazz. 2pm.
Sept 22: Lighthouse Bistro, Nanaimo, BC. 7:30pm.
Sept 25: Frankie's Jazz Club, Vancouver, BC - presented by Coastal Jazz. 8pm.
Sept 26: The Nexus, Salmon Arm, BC - presented by Salmon Arm Jazz Club. 7pm.
Sept 27: Lolita's, Calgary, AB. 7pm.
Sept 28: Yardbird Suite, Edmonton, AB. 8pm.
Sept 29: The Artesian, Regina, SK. 7pm. (Double bill w/ the Trent Reschny Group.)
Oct 1: Mardi Jazz @ Centre Culturel Franco Manitobain, Winnipeg MB, 8pm
Oct 2: Jazz Bistro, Toronto, ON. 8pm.
Oct 4: The Jazz Room, Waterloo, ON - presented by the Grand River Jazz Society. 8:30pm.
Oct 5: Dièse Onze, Montreal, QC - L'OFF JAZZ. 10pm.
Oct 6: Stewart Hall, Pointe-Claire, QC
Kelly Jefferson: saxophones
Artie Roth: acoustic bass
Ernesto Cervini: drums
Sept 19: Burdock Music Hall, Toronto, ON. 9pm.
Sept 20: Cafe Resonance, Montreal, QC. 6pm.
Sept 21: GigSpace, Ottawa, ON. 9pm.
Allison Au: alto saxophone
Todd Pentney: piano & keyboards
Dan Fortin: bass
Fabio Ragnelli: drums
allisonau.com
Sept 21: SFJAZZ Center - The Joe Henderson Lab
San Francisco, CA. 2 shows: 7 & 8:30 pm
Sept 22: Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society
Half Moon Bay, CA. 4:30pm
Sept 23: West Valley College Theatre
San Jose, CA. Workshop: 12:30pm. Concert: 7pm.
Sept 24: Workshop: California State University
Sacramento, CA. 1:30-2:45 & 3-4:20pm
Sept 25: Workshop: Sonoma State University
Sonoma, CA. 9:20am-12:20pm.
Sept 27: Monterey Jazz Festival
Monterey, CA. 4:30pm
Sept 30: bluewhale
Los Angeles, CA. 9pm
Gentiane MG: piano
Levi Dover: bass
Louis-Vincent Hamel: drums
Guillaume Pilote: drums
Gentiane MG (Michaud-Gagnon) studied several years at the Quebec Music Conservatory in Saguenay before pursuing superior studies in Jazz Performance at McGill University. While there, she had the opportunity to study with Jan Yarczyk, Rémi Bolduc, Andre White and internationally renowned pianist Jean-Michel Pilc.
Michaud-Gagnon has been active on the Canadian jazz scene for several years. She has performed alongside numerous renowned musicians such as Yannick Rieu, Jim Doxas, John Hollenbeck, Adrian Vedady, Frank Lozano, Andre White and Dave Laing. She has toured in Canada, China and in Mexico.
Following the release of her first trio recording entitled Eternal Cycle, she received the CBC/Radio-Canada Jazz Award 2018-2019 and the Prix François-Marcaurelle de la Guilde des Musiciens du Québec. This album was also classified among 10 best Canadian jazz recordings of 2017 by CBC Music. Her trio will release their second album, Wonderland, in May 2019 and will be touring Canada in the fall of 2019.
Nov 5: Hermann's Jazz Club - Victroria, BC. 7:30pm.
Nov 6: Tyrant Studio - Vancouver BC. 9:30pm.
Nov 7: Yardbird Suite - Edmonton, AB. 8pm.
Nov 9: King Eddy - Calgary, AB. 9pm.
Nov 13: Brookstreet Hotel - Ottawa, ON. 7pm.
Nov 14-15: Jazz Bistro - Toronto, ON. 9pm.
Nov 16: The Jazz Room - Waterloo, ON. 8:30pm.
www.gentianemg.com
Feb 22: Studio 242 Recital Hall, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
Feb 26: The Rex Hotel, Toronto, Ontario
Feb 27: The Rex Hotel, Toronto, Ontario
Feb 28: The Upstairs Jazz Club, Montreal, Quebec
Feb 29: The National Arts Center, Fourth Stage, Ottawa, Ontario
Mar 6: The Jazz Room, Waterloo, Ontario
Allison Au: alto saxophone
Matt Woroshyl: tenor saxophone
Chris Pruden: piano
Mark Godfrey: bass
Nick Fraser: drums
The minivan: a timeless icon that evokes memories ranging from little-league baseball games to nation-wide music tours. Square Peg is bassist and composer Mark Godfrey’s first full-length album, and it hits harder than the sliding door on your family caravan.
Named the 2019 Emerging Jazz Artist by the Toronto Arts Foundation, Mark has firmly secured himself in the fabric of the jazz idiom in Canada. Square Peg is Mark’s second release as a leader and features nine original compositions for jazz quintet and one original piece for solo bass. Joining Mark on this album are four of his longtime collaborators: saxophonists Allison Au and Matt Woroshyl, pianist Chris Pruden, and drummer Nick Fraser.
Square Peg is a collection of compositions that span four years of Mark’s life during which he found himself living in Toronto and New York. Naturally, the most efficient form of travel between these two cities with a double bass was his 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, Jean Claude Van Tan. The reflection that occurred during these drives sparked creativity and ideas for Mark that ultimately resulted in this album. The music on Square Peg connects Mark to his family and friends, both cities, and the deep tradition of jazz performance that informs and inspires his voice as an artist.
From the ethereal and ambient opening of Black Stars to the raw, acoustic solo performance of Bucket List, Square Peg takes the listener on a joyride that is both turbulent and relaxing and thoroughly engaging from start to finish. Buckle up.
Mario Allard: soprano & alto sax, clarinet
Benjamin Deschamps: soprano & tenor sax, flute
Samuel Blais: soprano sax & bass clarinet
Jacques Kuba Séguin: trumpet
Thomas Morelli-Bernard: trombone
Félix Stüssi: piano
Alain Bédard: double bass
Michel Lambert: drums
Nov 5: Palais Montcalm, Québec QC
Nov 8-10: Residency @ Salle Alphonse - Desjardins, Repentigny QC
Nov 11-12: CD Release @ Salle Alphonse - Desjardins, Repentigny QC
Nov 13: EFFENDI Special Concert @ Salle Gésu, Montreal QC
For details, see jazzlaborchestra.com!
Chris Mondak: bassHunter Smith: saxophoneGabe Feldman: pianoLindon McCarty: guitarChris Broomhead: drums April 14 @ Rudy’s Jazz Room, Nashville, TN. 9:00 pmApril 16 @ Highland Brewing Company, Asheville, N.C. 6:00 p.m. April 21 @ Barley's Taproom, Knoxville, TN. 9pm
Celebrating the release of her sophomore album Golden Hour! June 19: TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival June 20: JazzFest Regina June 22: Medicine Hat Jazz June 24: TD Ottawa Jazz Festival June 25: TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival (early show and late show) June 27: TD Victoria International JazzFest June 30: TD JAZZYYC Summer Festival...
Celebrating the release of 'Epistle' on Three Pines Records! June 23 @ Poetry Lower Westside. 1078 Queen St W, 8:30 pm June 24 @ The Emmet Ray, 8 pm June 24: hosting the Jazz Bistro late night jam @ 11 pm June 25: hosting the Jazz Bistro late night jam @ 11 pm June 29 @ The...
Gentiane MG: pianoLevi Dover: bassLouis-Vincent Hamel: drums September 23: l'Off Festival de Jazz @ Cabaret Lion d'or, Montreal, QC September 24: Conservatoire de Musique de Saguenay, Saguenay, QC September 25: L'Arquemuse, Quebec, QC September 28: Herman's Jazz Club, Victoria, BC September 29: Frankie's Jazz Club, Vancouver, BC September 30: Yardbird Suite, Edmonton, AB October 1st: Bucking Jam...
