R&B

Andre Bisson performs with his 7-piece band for an evening upbeat soul/roots music! With a career spanning over 20 years, 10 Albums, and winner of this years Blues and Roots Radio International Song Competition for Song of the Year Award, Andre brings a unique sound that combines retro 60’s soul with the storytelling of folk music.  Andre will be performing songs from his latest album “Latchford”.

From a small town in Northern Ontario to lively crowds across England and Wales, André Bisson has proved that he has a message worth listening to. With a career that spans over 20 years, his musical resume includes 9 studio albums, countless awards, and sold out shows across Canada, US, UK, and Europe.

As the sole songwriter and arranger for a group that spans from 6-20 musicians, André has created his own musical brand infused with soul, roots, blues, and R&B. Using an eclectic combination of instruments, he creates a musical story that becomes the soundtrack for his lyrics.

Since first taking to the stage at age 15, André’s love and dedication has always been to the live show. Combining his powerhouse vocals with a group of world class musicians, André makes it a priority to always give the audience an exciting, intense, and memorable musical experience. The connection between the musicians, the song, and the audience is always the ultimate goal.

Throughout the years, André’s style and philosophy towards music has attracted attention in the music community. Since his first album release in 2009, Andre has gained notoriety with awards such as “Male Vocalist of the Year” – Hamilton Blues Awards, “Song of the Year” – Blues and Roots Radio International Song Competition, and a five time nominee at the Hamilton Arts Awards. André was also selected by the Grand River Blues Society to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

With a dedication to the live show and a sound that is constantly growing and evolving, each performance is unique in its own way. It is these qualities that keep the audience engaged, excited and returning time and time again.

Andre will be releasing his new album in September 2023.

Denise has performed with many great artists including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, Gospel/Blues legend Jackie Richardson and Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook.  She has opened for Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Denise has performed with symphony orchestras and festivals which have included the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival (Toronto), Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Canadian Big Band Festival (London), Bluesfest (London), Waterloo Jazz Festival and Sunfest (London), among others.

Denise also enjoys acting and has been part of The Grand Theatre (London) seasons performing in the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson and A Streetcar Named Desire.  Denise’s one-woman show, Jazzabel premiered in September 2004 at the McManus Theatre (Grand Theatre), London, Ontario to sold out audiences!  In October 2005 Jazzabel was performed in Washington, DC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and in February 2006 to audiences in New York City at Urban Stages Theatre.  As well, she was premiered in the February 2006 issue of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine.  Denise’s recording credits include seven CD’s.

She is honoured with being the recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals.  In 2003 she was named a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts and Heritage category.  Denise won best jazz artist in London, Ontario’s Music Awards in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008, 2009, and 2012.  In April 2006 the Hyde Park Rotary presented her with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary’s highest honour.   In 2008 and 2014 she won Jazz Artist of the Year at the Jack Richardson awards.  In February 2009 the London Black History Committee honoured Denise with the Black Community Achievement Award in recognition of her accomplishments, contributions and support to her community.  In April 2015 she was inducted into the London Music Hall of Fame.  In November 2015 Denise received a honourary licentiate diploma from Conservatory Canada.

Denise is a volunteer with Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan traveling annually since 2007 where she helps to deliver a music and art camp for the children.  She is also a board member with Educate the Children helping to raise funds for a school in Nigeria

WELCOME TO THE AEOLIAN PHOENIX SESSIONS

The Aeolian Phoenix Sessions take centre stage… in the comfort of your own home. Every month we premier at least four productions recorded at Aeolian’s studios or in the artist’s home. The Aeolian Phoenix Sessions are intended to provide patrons with a cross-section of the music going experience. From classical to jazz, rock to country, and bluegrass to folk, the Sessions aim to bring music back into your home and heart. Interested in one show only? Trust us: you’ll like what you see. Try the Phoenix Sessions all month and experience a few productions that you might never have seen in person. Our goal was to reignite live music and get artists on stage, technicians behind the soundboard and our patrons on their feet listening to extraordinary talent in extraordinary times.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Membership to the Phoenix Sessions is $20 per month (automatically recurring) and you select the productions you wish to enjoy. Though membership renews automatically, patrons must validate their membership number every month to receive an access code for each new set of productions by email. This process is not automatic. Patrons will receive their first access code immediately upon registration. An access code is only good for one calendar month. Validation instructions are contained in the Membership tab on this page, in our weekly newsletter and in the monthly rollover announcement sent by the Aeolian Box Office. We do not have a multi-viewer pass. If you plan to safely watch with friends or family, please consider donating to further offset the costs associated with these productions. Tickets to individual productions are not available. If you do not intend to subscribe for longer than one month, refunds will not be provided to patrons who forget to cancel their membership or who have not read the terms and conditions: membership renewal is automatic every 30 days. This information is noted on every ticketing page, on event pages and marketing, on event posters and in our weekly newsletter. It is important to read information carefully before joining so as to not misunderstand how membership works. Upon registration and after monthly validation, you will receive a confirmation email including a link that you will use each time you wish to view a performance. Save that link… or follow instructions at www.aeolianhall.ca/phoenix to receive it again. Shows will be available on the date and time specified on Aeolian’s website.

The Aeolian Phoenix Sessions take centre stage... in the comfort of your own home. Each month we premier at least four artists' recordings from the Aeolian stage. Membership to the Phoenix Sessions is $20 per month (recurring) and you select the productions you want to watch.

Aeolian’s Phoenix Sessions are proud to produce four outstanding performances in February. For just $20 you have access to all four digitally streamed productions anytime, anywhere. One new show will be released every Friday including: Lewington & Downie (of Enter the Haggis), Colin Linden... Live from Nashville, Jully Black... Live from Toronto, and Nocturne Romantique featuring Clark Bryan, pianist.

Subscribe once, enjoy live music all month long!

You will receive a confirmation email including a link that you will use each time you wish to view a February performance. Save that link… or follow instructions at www.aeolianhall.ca/phoenix.

For more information, please scroll down to the ticketing information below. Read the

This performance is part of the Aeolian’s Phoenix Sessions. To view, purchase the FEBRUARY pass or become a recurring monthly member.

Jully Black is a true Canadian Icon. Named as one of ‘The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever’, (CBC Music) she has been dubbed ‘Canada’s Queen of R&B Soul’. As a platinum-selling recording artist, her music career has yielded multiple singles reaching the Top 10 pop, R&B, and dance music charts. She has taken home Juno and Gemini Awards, earned innumerable industry accolades, and was hand-selected to sing for the Queen of England. With her powerhouse vocals, hilarious personality, and love of people, Jully Black truly is every woman. Her passion for philanthropy has taken her from the shantytowns of Bangladesh to the villages of South Africa and all across Canada. As a woman of faith, she champions important causes and uses her career as a platform to celebrate and inspire the greatness that lies within each of us.

As a songwriter, Jully has written music that has touched the hearts of her fans and collaborated with industry heavyweights such as Sean Paul, Destiny’s Child, among many others. She has shared the stage with superstars such as The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Celine Dion, Elton John, and Etta James to name a few.

Jully is a major presence in the Canadian media and entertainment industry. As former host and correspondent for CTV’s etalk, Jully was chosen to interview global megastars such as Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey, and former president Bill Clinton. She has also appeared in films, television and theatre. With purpose-driven ideals and boundless spiritual fortitude, she continues to refine and reinvent her artistry. A phenom in Canadian entertainment, lifestyle, and public speaking arenas, she is co-founder and keynote speaker for the renowned “Empowered In My Skin’ women’s empowerment summits, a Notable.ca award recipient, a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ communities and a WE Day ambassador.

From the streets of Toronto brings the newest addition to the R&B contemporary music scene, the young and talented Heather Russell.

At age 10, she moved from her Toronto home to Los Angeles, California under a major record deal with Simon Cowell. Yearning to be more than a pop star, Heather decided to leave and create something wonderful of her own.

Today, Heather is excited to share her music with the world, representing the underground art scene through her gifted vocals, passion for piano, and upcoming projects.

Join us for a soulful celebration with the mighty London Rhythm & Soul Revue, joined by guest vocalist Denise Pelley.

Just in time for Mardi Gras this high powered 10 piece group delivers a funky gumbo of contemporary and classic music from ARETHA FRANKLIN, CHICAGO, SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, TOWER OF POWER, STEELY DAN and others. With a take no prisoners attitude,  this is music that moves you.

With ICONS OF SOUL Luke McMaster has taken his Motown influenced style to a new level. Icons of Soul in concert is the ultimate, authentic musical experience of contemporary blue-eyed soul. A collection of brand-new tunes, created in collaboration with original hit makers, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals (Groovin’, Good Lovin’) and Lamont Dozier (Stop! In the Name of Love, Baby Love). These songs are so much fun, you’ll feel like you've known them all your life. Plus, you’ll be treated to fresh covers of early Motown hits and previously untold stories behind the songs.

Luke McMaster is best known for “Good Morning, Beautiful,” his 2013 Top 3 Billboard AC smash hit with new age pianist, Jim Brickman and his impressive Canadian gold album run as a duo with Rob James in McMaster & James, (“Thank You,” “Love Wins Everytime,”) with media often referring to them as the “Canadian Hall & Oates.”

LUKE McMASTER
Icons of Soul, Luke McMaster’s ambitious new project, offers a refreshing twist.

For not only is Brandon, Manitoba-born purveyor of contemporary blue-eyed soul paying tribute to classic R&B songwriting legends on his upcoming fourth album: he’s recruiting them.

“I’m collaborating with legends like Lamont Dozier and Felix Cavaliere on some new originals,” says McMaster, the Toronto-based singer, songwriter and producer best known for “Good Morning, Beautiful,” his 2013 Top 3 Billboard AC smash with new age pianist Jim Brickman.

“And what’s especially cool about this project is that they’re still hungry: as much as I’m learning from these masters who wrote unforgettable hits that have formed the soulful soundtrack of my life, they’re equally excited to work with me and my songwriting partner Arun Chaturvedi to write something fresh.”

Aside from covering some of the classic immortal chart-toppers written by Rascals founder Cavaliere (“Good Lovin’,” “Groovin’,” “People Got to Be Free”) and Motown sensation Dozier of Holland/Dozier/Holland (“(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “You Can’t Hurry Love”) - both members of the Rock ‘N Roll and Songwriter Halls of Fame -McMaster co-wrote two songs apiece with the prodigies at their respective Nashville and Las Vegas homes, capturing the occasions on camera for a corresponding Icons of Soul TV documentary series.

“Lamont told me this great story about his inspiration for ‘I Can’t Help Myself,’” McMaster recalls. “It turns out his grandmother owned a beauty shop and his grandfather would be hitting on all the ladies, saying things like, ‘Hello, Sugar Pie;’ ‘How you doin’, Honey Bunch?’ When Brian and Eddie Holland asked him for some ideas for the song, he remembered his grandfather’s flirting and the rest is history.

“Stories like Lamont’s that I can now tell my audiences enable me to entertain them even more and offer them a unique and authentic perspective whenever I perform.”

Soul and R&B are no strangers to Luke McMaster, even during his Brandon formative years.

“In my small town, many of my friends were into hockey and metal like Iron Maiden, but I was always the one who sang pop music with an emphasis on Motown and soul,” McMaster explains. “I had a natural inclination to sing in that style and I loved it all – the falsetto, the major keys and the strong melodies – it just resonated with me.”

That proclivity continued in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, when he relocated to Winnipeg and enjoyed his impressive Canadian gold album run as a duo with Rob James in McMaster & James, (“Thank You,” “Love Wins Everytime,”) with media often referring to them as the “Canadian Hall & Oates.”

When he turned solo in 2002 and launched a more focused songwriting career and placing songs on multi-platinum and gold albums by Rihanna, Nick Lachey, Nick Carter and Kalan Porter (7 million sales and counting), he also recorded a succession of EPs and albums (2008’s Time EP, 2013’s All Roads, 2014’s Heart of Soul and 2016’s Trending) that contained both originals and sensual interpretations of such favourites as Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” Roberta Flack’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and the Bee Gees “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”

Which brings us full circle to Icons of Soul, inspired in part by publishing giant Leeds Levy, president of Leeds Music, a director of ASCAP and a former president of Chrysalis Music Group and MCA Music Publishing (Elton John, Elvis Presley, OutKast) who planted the initial seed of the idea following a chance meeting with McMaster in Los Angeles.

Levy made the calls that hooked McMaster up with Cavaliere and Dozier, and is playing a prominent role in hooking the Icons of Soul principal up with some other hopefuls on his wish list: Philly-based soul architect Thom Bell and blue-eyed soul progenitor Daryl Hall; prolific Brill building pop Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil and – fingers crossed - Motown mainstays Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.McMaster himself says he wants to include two or three more guests before unveiling Icons of Soul to the public later in 2018, a work that will cast an eye to yesterday while focusing on the sounds of tomorrow.

‘This is what I love to do,” notes Luke McMaster. “And since I’m a constant student, I’m applying these lessons that you can’t learn from a book towards perfecting my own skills as a writer.

“This is something uniquely special that I want to take to another level for those that love R&B, soul and Motown music - and give them an experience that they will never forget.”

Jully Black is a true Canadian Icon. Named as one of ‘The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever’, (CBC Music) she has been dubbed ‘Canada’s Queen of R&B Soul’ by her fans and peers. As a platinum selling recording artist, her music career has yielded multiple singles reaching the Top 10 pop, R&B and dance music charts. She has taken home multiple Juno Awards, earned many industry accolades and was hand selected to sing for the Queen of England.

With her powerhouse vocals, hilarious personality and love of people, Jully Black is truly every woman. Her passion for philanthropy has taken her to the shantytowns of Bangladesh to the villages of South Africa, and all across Canada. As a woman of faith, she champions important causes and believes in using her career as a platform to inspire others to celebrate the greatness that lies within each of us.

As a songwriter, Jully has written music that has touched the hearts of her fans and collaborated with industry heavyweights such as Sean Paul, Destiny's Child, among many others. She has shared the stage with superstars such as The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Celine Dion, Elton John and Etta James to name a few.

She has been nominated for multiple Gemini’s and is a major presence in the Canadian media and entertainment industry. As former host and media correspondent for CTV’s etalk, Jully was chosen to interview global megastars such as Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey, and former president Bill Clinton. She has also appeared in films, television, and in theatre .

Jully recently launched her own record label Jully Black Entertainment Inc., and continues to expand her reach by becoming the inaugural artist signed to the US label, “The Officials Music Group”. Through this joint venture, Jully is first lady of this up-and-coming label.

Fresh off the success of her single Fever, BOM BOM (featuring iconic reggae dancehall artist Tanya Stephens) is guaranteed to heat up and top the charts around the world.

The question of what constitutes great soul music has been endlessly debated for decades. But what’s been proven by now is that it’s the domain of any artist with an ability to reach audiences not only on a personal level, but a spiritual level as well. It’s that rare breed of singer who can completely reveal themselves through their music, to the point where listeners feel a connection far deeper than mere entertainment. It is, as Bob Dylan put it, life and life only.

There will undoubtedly be more apt descriptions to come of Erin Costelo’s latest album Down Below, The Status Quo, but at its heart it is a reflection of her (and our) complicated world, expressed through a voice unlike any other in Canada. Having paid more overt tribute to her vintage soul music influences on her previous album, We Can Get Over, Erin’s musical evolution has taken its next natural step on Down Below, The Status Quo by channeling those vibes into 10 tracks that display her equally exceptional gifts as a producer, songwriter and arranger.

But as the old saying goes, diamonds can only be created through intense pressure, and Erin doesn’t hesitate to describe the making of Down Below, The Status Quo as a long and painful endeavor. With experimentation as her mandate, she spent nearly a year in the studio honing 15 songs in various states of completion, down to the final track list built upon a cohesive theme embedded in both the album’s sound and lyrics.

Fortunately for the Halifax, Nova Scotia native, she was able to rely on a trusted coterie of local collaborators, beginning with Thomas Stajcer, who engineered the sessions at Joel Plaskett’s New Scotland Yard studio. Others featured on the album include her longtime guitarist Clive MacNutt, bassist Ian Bennett, drummers Dave Marsh and Matt Gallant, along with the Blue Engine String Quartet and horns supplied by Matt Myer, Andrew Jackson and Andrew MacKelvie.

“Out of all the music I’ve made to this point, I feel this album sounds the most like me,” Erin says. “There was definitely more experimentation on this album and I didn’t really stop writing the entire time, unlike on the last album where I had five or six finished songs going in and had a pretty clear idea of how the entire record would sound. One of the tracks on this new album was actually recorded with nine different arrangements until I found one that felt right.”

Another crucial difference, Erin explains, is that the songs on Down Below, The Status Quo show that she’s in a much different place in her life than when she made We Can Get Over. While that album expressed the thrill of a budding relationship through a much more pop-centric approach, new songs such as “Fighter,” “Low” and “Titanic” (the last co-written with Stephen Fearing) take an unflinching look at reality, while at the same time, “Move” and “Turn It On” offer hope and strength as a counter-balance.

“I didn’t have any second thoughts about allowing myself to be vulnerable on this album,” Erin says. “In some cases I’d look to an artist like Randy Newman, whose songs so often challenge our everyday perceptions of the world, but they always sound so beautiful. That became the goal in the end, really, to have each song make its own statement, while tying them all together with music that brought out the humanity in each of them, whether it was through adding strings or horns or whatever was necessary.”

Although Erin has had previous experience writing for Symphony Nova Scotia and the Blue Engine String Quartet, one of her primary interests is actually electronic music, which was a big part of her formal education. Serious songwriting didn’t come until later, after she’d lived in a few different North American cities before landing in Toronto about a decade ago. It became a way for her to try to connect with people who were unprepared to grasp her modern classical compositions, although she eventually felt the pull to return to the Maritimes. Upon arriving back home, she took to the woods of Cape Breton and began writing songs that formed the basis of her first album, released in 2007.

It didn’t take long after that for Costelo to make her presence felt within the Halifax scene, and her status was solidified when We Can Get Over was named R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the 2014 East Coast Music Awards. She went on to share bills with Mavis Staples, Dr. John, and Bettye LaVette, as well as appearing on Joel Plaskett’s latest release, The Park Avenue Sobriety Test, and joining him for his performance with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

“Up until this album, it has sort of felt like I’ve had a fragmented musical life,” Costelo says. “I would be using the tools I’d learned through studying classical and electronic music, while having an entirely separate career as a singer/songwriter. But on Down Below, The Status Quo, it feels as if all of these elements are synthesized for the first time. It’s like I’m presenting myself as a whole person.”

Down Below, The Status Quo indeed captures that glorious moment when an artist puts together all the pieces of the puzzle they have been trying to fit together in order to discover who they really are. Or, to put it another way, to discover their true soul. Listening to what Erin Costelo has accomplished with Down Below, The Status Quo may help us discover our own as well.

THIS CONCERT WILL FEATURE A SPECIAL ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE BY JULIAN TAYLOR!

What a pleasure it is to find in the monoculture of the current musical moment a group of musicians bold and talented enough to be various. In an era when music lovers seem to be required to like one thing, one style, one genre we get the protean of the Julian Taylor Band confident enough in their own abilities to delimit the genres and let the soulful beats resound from wider horizons. Here we have rhythm and blues, hard rock, thoughtful folky songs, and even a little hip-hop. In one way it signals something new —an exciting amalgamation of musical styles too long held apart. But in another way it’s a return to roots – the roots of the Toronto sound. You can’t listen to this album and not recall that Toronto has always been “the meeting place”. And just as many tribes and peoples always came through the nexus of this landscape so the musical tribes have continued the tradition. Not surprising then that this collection of songs erupts from the same musical epicenter that gave us Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Band, and Buffalo Spingfield hand-in-hand with cultural heavies like Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Steppenwolf and Joni Mitchell. Julian Taylor is a natural heir to this rich tradition– something he shares with two other proponents of the Toronto sound, Drake and The Weeknd. His music arises naturally from deep steeping in the historically mixed musical milieu that begat it. It has the comfortability of an open mind a wide palette and an experienced and inspired musical talent. So, welcome to the smorgasbord. I think you’ll find it very flavourful. Or as the song says “Ooh that spice is nice.”