Jazz

THIS EVENT IS PART OF AEOLIAN JAZZ & MUSICAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2024! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

Alex Cuba is a Grammy and Juno winning; singer, songwriter, producer and musician. Born Alexis Puentes in Artemisa, Cuba and now living in Smithers, BC, Canada. His first musical memory was playing claves (a Cuban rhythm instrument) at the age of 4 alongside his father on national TV, and went on to study guitar, then electric and upright bass, touring and recording nationally and internationally, before moving to Canada in 1999. His sound is the unique confluence of tradition and global influences in articulate arrangements, conveying emotions through melody and lyric. In 2022, he won a Grammy for Best Latin Pop for “Mendó” as producer, artist and engineer, his proudest accomplishment of the 20+ awards and nominations he has received as an independent artist over 9 albums.

His musical evolution for years was all about searching for the simplicity and soul in Cubanmusic – taking apart the complex arrangements, mixing it with North American influences,adopting the melodic simplicity of pop music, looking to Cuban folk traditions for inspiration –he’s always exploring, always creating something fresh and new, and always, it seems, getting itjust right.

“I always believed, from the beginning of my career in Canada, that if music is beautiful, itwill cross the language. Because we are all humans.” Alex Cuba

THIS EVENT IS PART OF AEOLIAN JAZZ & MUSICAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2024! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

With the start of the pandemic in early 2020, all live wind-instrument playing stopped. By the end of the year, musicians were restless to find a place to play, so Karl Hermann and John Thompson started a group that used the Internet to allow people to play together, but from home. The musicians could hear and see each other online. What to call the Group?  Big Bandemic — what else?

The online sessions were chaotic, especially because of the inherent delays in Internet technology.  But the musicians persisted, and Big Bandemic held eighteen sessions in the first half of 2021.

With the re-opening of the country in 2021, the band quickly moved to regular Monday evening sessions at the Lambeth Legion. The arrangement included physical distancing and masks when not playing. Big Bandemic rehearses weekly at the Lambeth Legion and helps them out with some fundraising concerts each year.  In June 2022, the band participated in the inaugural Aeolian Jazz Festival and continues to perform to sold out crowds in Southwestern Ontario.

The 17-piece big band grew out of necessity because of the pandemic, but we plan to play together for as long as the musicians enjoy the experience.

Caity Gyorgy (pronounced George) is 2 time JUNO award winning Canadian vocalist who is known for singing bebop and swing music. She has performed at popular clubs and jazz festivals across Canada, Mexico, Japan and the USA and has worked and recorded with incredible musicians including Christine Jensen, Pat LaBarbera, Jocelyn Gould, Ira Coleman, Joe LaBarbera, Allison Au, and Bryn Roberts, to name a few. She has released several albums of original and standard music. Her albums "Now Pronouncing: Caity Gyorgy" and "Featuring" received consecutive JUNO Awards for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Her next album "You’re Alike, You Two”, a collection of Jerome Kern songs performed with pianist Mark Limacher, will be released on July 21st, 2023. She is currently signed to La Reserve Records.

Music has been an integral part of Sonja’s life since childhood. Growing up with a music historian and a classically trained soprano as parents exposed her to a great deal of classical repertoire. Sonja spent much of her youth singing in choirs and playing the violin. In her late teens, she was presented with the opportunity to audition for the world reknowned Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. She decided to audition for the voice department, where room was available for one more student.

Sonja graduated from Interlochen with flying colours and returned home to Canada to continue studying voice at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at The University of Western Ontario. As part of her studies at UWO, Sonja performed in several operas to gain more experience on the stage. She also took up the position of soprano soloist at First St. Andrew’s United Church, which is widely recognized for its fine music program.

Simultaneously, a close friend encouraged her to try Jazz. Her initiation into the Jazz world was a New Year’s Eve gig at a local restaurant. That night proved to be a trial by fire as Sonja spent the evening entertaining the crowd with Jazz standards she’d only just learned (and more than a few which she had to sight-read!). Finding it to be an exhilirating experience, Sonja continued to work on expanding her jazz repertoire and finding a vocal technique that lent itself better to jazz than opera.

Following graduation, Sonja found herself performing more and more Jazz at local restaurants, clubs and private functions. She also worked full-time as a waitress, performing for enthusiastic crowds on nights and weekends. She collaborated with many of London’s very talented Jazz musicians, learning the skills of jazz musicianship as she went. Their mentoring of her singing paid off and in 2005, Sonja was recognized with a London Music Award for Most Popular Jazz Performer.

It was at this time that a life-changing opportunity arose. At the prompting of her mother, she sent an audition CD to the producers of a new television reality/documentary series entitled Bathroom Divas. Chosen from hundreds of CDs to come and audition live, she earned a spot on the show as one of six finalists that would attend a three week Opera ‘Boot Camp’ in Toronto. Having gone six years without any voice lessons, this was the ultimate opportunity for Sonja to receive not only training, but invaluable feedback from some of Canada’s top operatic performers and trainers. The experience was incredibly valuable and renewed her interest in the classical and operatic repertoire, as well as her confidence in her operatic capabilities.

After three weeks of boot camp and a second-place finish, Sonja decided to continue the process of musical growth by returning to her classical music studies at UWO, where she obtained the degree of Master of Music under the tutelage of Mary Lou Fallis, one of the instructors and producers of Bathroom Divas.  During her studies Sonja kept a busy performing schedule, which included roles in several operatic productions with UWOpera and Orchestra London. She also released her self-produced debut jazz CD, which has been met with great enthusiasm from her fans and the arts community in London and the surrounding area and led to an invitation to perform at London's highly successful summer music festival, Sunfest in 2008.  Sonja was the only local performer to take the stage in the festival's jazz village, performing two shows for enthusiastic crowds.

On the classical side of things, Sonja was pleased to be a featured soloist with Orchestra London, the Victoria Symphony and the Vancouver Island Symphony in a Christmas Pops show written and arranged for her and conducted by fellow Jazz musician and UWO grad, Jeff Christmas. Hence, she has become a regular guest performer in the Orchestra London Pops series.

Desiring to create more opportunities for herself and other UWO music grads in the London area, she formed her own production company, Diva Lounge Productions, which is busy developing several original works in collaboration with local London composers. In addition to these many accomplishments, Sonja was also honoured to win several awards, scholarships and competitions for both her jazz and classical performing.

Whether crooning jazz standards with her band, singing with the symphony or performing on the operatic stage, Sonja's passion for music is evident in her presence and attitude.  It is this passion coupled with her consummate musicianship, sparkling voice and versatility that make her a performer to remember and enjoy!

No stranger to The Aeolian, Peter Karle returns for a special intimate solo jazz guitar performance in the Southen Lounge. A guitar masterclass in of itself, the evening will feature selections from guitar legends such as Joe Pass, Pat Martino, and arrangements of classic standards.

Peter is a graduate of the Don Wright Faculty of Music, having studied both classical/jazz guitar and various conducting/ensemble techniques. Throughout his undergraduate degree, Peter served as Guitarist and Rhythm Section leader with the Western University Jazz Ensemble. Peter served at the Western Chamber Ensemble (orchestra division) as Director under the tutelage of Alain Trudel.  He also served as Producer/ Music Director/Conductor for Theatre Western’s Xanadu (2013) and Rent (2014) and Into the Woods (2015).

Alongside The Prime Time Big Band, Peter performed on the recreation of Mel Tormé’s “Swingin’ on the Moon” album with Grammy award-winning vocalist Matt Alber. On the momentum of the Matt Alber album, Peter’s own jazz combo performed Miles Davis’ 1959 masterpiece “Kind of Blue”. The Combo has since then performed their own jazz/rock arrangements of Radiohead/The Police/David Bowie and Pink Floyd at The Aeolian.

Peter is currently in the writing stages of the Combo’s first instrumental jazz album. Peter also takes great pride in his teaching studio and is focusing on the next generation of musicians.

Lesley Andrew has made soloist appearances with many of Canada’s finest orchestras and choirs, including the Vancouver, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Kingston, Hamilton, Guelph symphony orchestras, Weston Silver Band, Toronto Concert Band, Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, Brott Summer Music Festival, Stratford Summer Music, and the Shenandoah Bach Festival (VA, USA).  Ms. Andrew’s recordings have often been heard on CBC Radio.  Known for her extraordinary vocal range and versatility in many genres of music, Ms. Andrew often “switches hats,” performing as the soprano soloist for one engagement and as the alto soloist for the next – from opera to show tunes, oratorio to jazz.

Immediately following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Ms. Andrew began an extended tenure with the Stratford Festival, performing in productions including The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Twelfth Night, Cyrano De Bergerac, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Music Man and Patience.  Other theatrical performances include Menotti’s The Telephone and Hopkin’s Three’s Company at the Guelph Spring Festival (featuring and directed by Ms. Andrew). Most recently, Ms. Andrew directed La Boheme (Southern Ontario Lyric Opera), receiving rave reviews as “SOLO’s best production yet!” for her creative direction and use of space.

Ms. Andrew has completed a number of major concert and recital tours, including Argentina (2005), England/Austria/Germany (1989/1990 – Canadian Concert & Jazz Band), the 1999 World Tour aboard the QE II, two USA tours (2002/2003-California/Arizona/Florida/Texas) and a Canadian tour with The Lesley Andrew Trio (2004-Vancouver/Manitoba/Ontario).

A recipient of many awards, including a Canadian Opera Company Scholarship, and the Maureen Forrester Guthrie Award (The Stratford Festival), Ms. Andrew now adjudicates and conducts masterclasses at festivals, universities and schools of music and drama around the world (voice – classical, Broadway and pop, choral music and speech arts classes.)  While living in Stratford, Ms. Andrew was twice nominated as Stratford’s  “Citizen of the Year.”  Ms. Andrew now runs her thriving voice and drama studios – Dream in Progress Productions – in both London, Ontario and Windsor, Ontario.   As a director, Ms. Andrew is much in demand in the genres of musical theatre and opera.  Ms. Andrew’s intensive theatre and music program for youth, Summer Glee, is now in it’s twenty-fifth year. More programs are now being offered each summer in communities across Ontario in order to accommodate growing enrollment.  Ms. Andrew is thrilled to be the Head of Vocal Music for George Brown College, School for Media & Performing Arts, Toronto, Ontario.

Ms. Andrew has made special guest television appearances on The Tonight Show, Oprah Winfrey, To Tell the Truth, Donny & Marie, The Comedy Network, YTV, Regis & Kathy Lee and many more.  A popular motivational speaker, Ms. Andrew is engaged across Canada by Educators, Universities, Corporations, Service Clubs and Student Organizations.

Ms. Andrew’s professional activities have included teaching and stage directing appointments at Wilfrid Laurier University (Opera), as well as the Universities of Windsor (Vocal Pedagogy, Studio Voice; Faculty of Music, and The Creative Process; School of Dramatic Arts) and Western Ontario (Studio Voice, Opera – director, Shakespearean drama).  As a pedagogue, Ms. Andrew is very involved with the W Ross Macdonald School for the Visually Impaired in Brantford, Ontario, where she helps create and run arts programs for exceptional children.  While maintaining a full teaching schedule in her private studios (London and Windsor) Ms. Andrew continues to work as a soloist, collaborative recital artist, stage director, adjudicator, and motivational speaker.  Most recently (2018), Ms Andrew performed the role of “Marcellina” in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, “Alice” in A … My Name Is Alice, the mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors (Abridged Opera) and Mrs. McLean in Floyd’s Susannah (Pek Productions).

Join us for an early evening concert in the Southen Lounge as part of The Aeolian Jazz Series featuring Bryan Gloyd & Peter Hysen!

Join us for A Taste of Sinatra “The Way You Look Tonight” Valentines Show, a sophisticated night with a look at the great songbook of the legendary, Frank Sinatra!

“A Taste of Sinatra” is performed by the Jazzman Orchestra, an 8 piece group lead by award winning frontman, Scott Bollert.  The ensemble features music conductor/keyboardist John Brocksom and will guest star female vocalist, Kristen Renee. The group celebrates the unique styling’s of the iconic crooner with many of the recognizable hit after hits such as, Under My Skin, New York, New York, Witchcraft, That’s Life and My Way!

A must see show that is great for all the ages with timeless music don’t miss out, get your tickets today!

Laurraine Sigouin has appeared as a singer at Maggie’s, Aeolian Hall, Restaurant Ninety-One, London Music Club, Jazz by the Bog, London Jazz Society, and at the long-standing “Jazz for the People” concert series. She is a proud member of the wonderful vocal ensemble Mosaic, which has performed at the Home County Folk Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. She also performs with LP Soul, a collective of soul-loving musicians who are passionate about creating a musical experience that moves and grooves. Along with Jake Levesque, she founded Enchanté which has been serving up a bilingual mix of jazz and other styles of music to London area audiences since 2004. Their motto is “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”, which is French for “Let the good times roll!”.

Do you like traditional Country, Swing, Jazz and Blues? Then you're going to love Western Swing!

With 5 full length albums, numerous singles, videos and countless performances over the span 13 years, the Western Swing Authority has become Canada's most recognized and awarded authentic Western Swing group. Made up of a collection of some of the country's finest touring and studio musicians, they came together to play the timeless style of music they love. Seamlessly combining stellar musicianship and vocals, fusing together western swing, traditional country, and jazz standards and their own “new vintage” originals, they have created a sound that is truly their own. 

WSA have been recognized with awards and nominations in both Canada and the United States and are reintroducing the Western Swing sound to an entire new generation of music lovers with every performance. Their live performances have been described as "all killer, no filler" (Cashbox Canada, 2020) 

They have performed and/or recorded with some of the biggest names in Canadian country music, as well as multiple Grammy winning western swing icon Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel. Over and above their own performances, the WSA have been requested on multiple occasions to play the roll of house band for several Canadian awards show events like the CMA Ontario Awards Show and The Canadian Country Music Association Legends Show. 

Some of the band’s highlights over the past 13 years include, performing a private party for Bob Doyle and Garth Brooks, being nominated for the Canadian Country Music Association Group of the Year, and performing at the Paramount Theatre in Austin TX for the Ameripolitan Music Awards