Jazz

The Aeolian kicks off it’s 2017-18 Jazz Series with a whimsical, jazz-walk through the mellow season.

Ah Autumn!! Pale yellow mornings where the mist burns slowly into the day, the smoky evenings, the crisp air, that so-direct sun. Think of harvest, reflection, refocusing, gathering up the fruits of your work, giving thanks, preparing for winter.

Or maybe not. What about back to the routine, packing lunches, taking the kids to practice and digging out those sweaters and jackets?

Jenn Thorpe and Sonja Gustafson brought us their own take on their favourites and schtick in their Double Lives concert two years ago. Their on-stage chemistry and sheer talent for lifting lyrics off the page made that night a stand-out.

Now they’re back with their take on all-things autumn. From sublime to hilarious - where will they go with this? What sacred cows and chit-chat might come up?

Come enjoy the perspective on September 27th. Jennifer Thorpe and Sonja Gustafson backed by Bryan Gloyd on piano and Peter Hysen on bass.

Entirely cozy.

The Carn Davidson 9 was formed at the beginning of 2010 as a collaborative project between JUNO nominated artists, trombonist William Carn and saxophonist Tara Davidson. CD9 draws on the body of compositions by its co-leaders. This collaborative project is an opportunity for both artists to “reimagine” their compositions for this chamber jazz instrumentation, shining new perspective on their existing repertoire. This 9-piece chord-less ensemble utilizes its seven horns as both melodic and harmonic devices, anchored by bass and drums.

The Carn Davidson 9’s unique sound is made stronger by an all-star lineup of prominent Canadian artists who are all exceptional ensemble players as well as outstanding soloists. In 2014, the CD9 was nominated for a JUNO for its debut recording NINE. The CD9 has already been featured at Toronto’s Rex Hotel Jazz Bar and the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival.

CD9 is…

Tara Davidson, Woodwinds
Jason Logue, Trumpet
Alex Duncan, Bass Trombone
Kelly Jefferson, Woodwinds
Kevin Turcotte, Trumpet
Jim Vivian, Bass
Perry White, Woodwinds
William Carn, Trombone
Ernesto Cervini, Drums

Allison Au refuses to be defined – or as All About Jazz reviewer David Wayne put it: “Au is an artist with a mind of her own. She panders to no-one.” Born to a Chinese father and a Jewish mother, and raised in multicultural Toronto, Allison soon turned to jazz as an outlet for self-expression and artistic experimentation.  Her music weaves a mosaic of influences into a seamless and soulful sound, a concoction steeped in the tradition of jazz, but skillfully laced with elements of classical, pop, R&B/hip hop, Latin and world music.  A lot of Allison’s music is also drawn from images of nature.

A graduate of the Humber College Music Program, Allison was selected as one of eight international participants for the 2011 Metropole Orkest’s Arrangers Workshop held in the Netherlands.  Her work has been featured by everyone from Hilario Duran’s Latin Big Band (Canada), to Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Roberta Gambarini and The WDR Big Band (Germany).  Lance Liddle of the world jazz blog Bebop Spoken Here proclaimed, “Canada has found a new jazz ambassador.”

Since 2009, the Allison Au Jazz Quartet (Allison, saxophone; Todd Pentney, piano; Jon Maharaj, bass; Ethan Ardelli, drums) has taken its “imaginatively written and performed modern jazz” (Mike Gates, UK Vibe) across Canada and the U.S., and “with compositions as strong as you’ll hear coming from anywhere in 2016” (David Wayne), earned a JUNO Award for its album “Forest Grove”. (The band’s 2013 debut release, “The Sky Was Pale Blue, Then Grey,” also was nominated for a JUNO.).  Allison says the latest recording allowed her to get in touch with feelings of nostalgia for her childhood, especially for “Forest Grove,” the beautiful Toronto neighbourhood where she grew up, surrounded by trees and nature.

This year, Allison made CBC Music's first annual list of the 35 best Canadian jazz artists under the age of 35.  Other recent honors include the 2017 TD Grand Prix de Jazz at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the 2017 Stingray Rising Stars Award at the TD Halifax Jazz Festival, and a 2017 Finalist for the Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Jazz Artist Award.

The Allison Au Jazz Quartet was a standout at TD Sunfest ’17 and we’re thrilled to welcome the group to the Sunfest World Music & Jazz Series 2017-‘18.

Eddie Bullen’s Caribbean Jazz Collective

Pianist Eddie Bullen and percussionist Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo, have brought together a group of premier musicians of Caribbean descent to form the band ‘Caribbean Jazz Collective’ (CJC). The group performs beloved music from the Caribbean with a jazz twist. Members include; bassist Andrew Stewart whose background is Jamaican, saxophonist Neil Brathwaite who hails from Montreal via Barbados, steel drum player Gareth Burgess born in Canada with strong Trinidadian roots, Eddie Bullen from the spice island Grenada, and Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo from Cuba to add that hot Latin flavour. The collective always aims to give their audience a few rays of sunshine through the music of the Caribbean.

About Eddie Bullen:  Eddie's lengthy career has yielded an abundance of awards and recognition for his outstanding talents as a pianist, composer, arranger and producer. From his first album, 'Nocturnal Affair' to his most recent ‘Spice Island', Eddie gives his audience a taste of contemporary jazz, flavoured with Caribbean rhythms.

Since his move to Toronto in 1980 from Grenada, Eddie has worked with Caribbean, Canadian and American artists like Melba Moore, Anslem Douglas, Byron Lee, Maestro, David Rudder, Liberty Silver, Deborah Cox and Dee Dee Bridgewater.  He is also a composer and arranger for TV, Radio and Films. His work has been heard on City TV, YTV, Love & Hip Hop (American Television Series) and Wine TV Australia.

To date Eddie Bullen has produced over 150 albums and is currently working on several new ventures through his record company Thunder Dome Sounds and publishing company QDB music. Eddie is always on the lookout for cutting edge new innovative artists.

When Anita O’Day first heard Heather Bambrick sing, the Jazz vocal legend exclaimed “You’re good! You should have your own show!” After inviting Heather to jam with him, renowned Jazz-fusion guitarist Larry Coryell said to her “Wow, you’re the real deal!” To this day, flugelhorn icon Guido Basso calls Heather his favourite singer.

This is the sort of praise that JUNO-nominated Jazz vocalist Heather Bambrick consistently receives from fellow musicians. Critics love her, as well. “Heather hits every right note”, says Mark Rheume of CBC Radio. WholeNote Magazine calls her “one of the finest jazz singers in this country”, and All About Jazz says her voice is a “paragon of clarity” and that “she’s the real deal in every way”.

As one of Canada’s top Jazz vocalists, Heather has collaborated with some of the best around, including Phil Nimmons, Fred Hirsch, Gene DiNovi, Guido Basso, Lea Delaria, Anne Hampton Callaway, Carol Welsman, Jackie Richardson, Ian Shaw, as well as the late Rob McConnell and Peter Appleyard. She’s a founding member of vocal ensembles The Beehive Singers and Broadsway, and has appeared as a guest performer with various Jazz ensembles, as well as with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Heather’s solo recordings include It’s About Time and Those Were The Days, both of which were nominated for East Coast Music Awards and resulted in international airplay and critical acclaim. Her latest recording, You’ll Never Know, was nominated for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year at the 2017 Juno Awards (Canada’s version of the Grammy Awards). It’s been praised by critics and industry leaders, and has risen to the top of Canadian Jazz radio charts. Heather’s been a guest artist on numerous diverse recording projects, from those of the Caliban Bassoon Quartet, to Sophisticated Ladies (the final recording of Jazz great Peter Appleyard), and Just Passing Through (the award-winning recording from Jeff and Don Breithaupt). She’s been honoured with Canada’s National Jazz Award for Vocalist of the Year.

More than just a vocalist, Heather is also one of Canada’s busiest voice actors, appearing on numerous commercial campaigns, as well as voicing characters on several Emmy-nominated animated series, including those for Disney, PBS, Comedy Network, and NBCKids. Since 2001, she’s become a beloved host at JAZZ.FM, Canada’s only all-Jazz radio station, and has twice been named National Jazz Awards’ Broadcaster of the Year.

Heather’s shows are described as what happens when “Ella Fitzgerald meets Carol Burnett”, combining brilliant musicianship with side-splitting laughs. Part musician, part storyteller, part comedienne, Heather is more than just a singer. She is an entertainer in every sense of the word!

Join the best Big Band dance orchestra around for a very special Valentine’s Day concert! They will feature 2017 Jack Richardson Award winning singer Gina Farrugia and many instrumental soloists in a lovely cabaret setting. Dance or just listen to some amazing big band tunes. Keep your spirits hopping and your toes tapping.

Nominated as London’s “Jazz Instrumental Group” (Jack Richardson London Music Awards) in 2017, George Laidlaw’s 18-piece group is known for its versatility, performing everything from authentic swing era and big band dance tunes to clever modern arrangements of popular songs.

Join the finest Big Band dance orchestra around, on a musical tour of the many colours of fall with Richardson Award winning singer Gina Farrugia and our many soloists in a lovely cabaret setting. Dance or just listen to fox trots, jives, Latin grooves and waltzes. Keep your spirits hopping and your toes tapping.