Jazz at the Fort Garry Hotel
presented by Jazz Winnipeg
WITH SUPPORT FROM DOWNTOWN WINNIPEG BIZ
East Side Jazz Band
Sunday, April 28 at 7pm
The East Side Jazz Band has become a fixture in the community band scene since its foundation in 2007. The band loves to read and takes inspiration from a wide range of composers, including classics like Basie, Thad Jones and Duke Ellington, right up to modern composers like Darcy James Argue and Maria Schneider. Canadian composers like Christine Jensen, Terry Promane, Christian Overton and Mike Malone have made up large parts of their programs over the past few years, as well as compositions by members of the band.
Founded by Dan Steinhilber, and currently led by saxophonist Lauren Dobko, East Side offers a playing venue for musicians who want to be challenged, but don't have the time to pursue music professionally on a full-time basis. The band is currently comprised of many top-notch music educators and semi-professional musicians. Many former members of the band have gone on to become regular players in the Winnipeg jazz scene.
Kevin Waters
Sunday, May 5 at 7pm
Kevin Waters is a performer and educator, currently based in Winnipeg. After moving to Winnipeg to study jazz drum set under Quincy Davis at the University of Manitoba, Kevin quickly rose to be one of the city’s most in-demand drummers, playing with a myriad of acts and styles, including folk-country rockers The Bros. Landreth, pop songstress Ami Cheon, hip-hop supergroup Super Duty Tough Work, jazz guitarist Keith Price, and RnB pianist/vocalist Marisolle Negash, amongst others.
In addition to performing, Kevin has taught privately and can be heard on a number of recordings, including Super Duty Tough Work’s Polaris Prize-nominated Studies in Grey (2019) and their follow-up release Paradigm Shift (2023).
Erin Propp + Larry Roy
Sunday, May 12 at 7pm
There is nuance in the everyday; in its layers of love, joy, and hurt, and in its emotional currents ever present. Erin Propp and Larry Roy reach into the everyday and blur the edges, creating works that are at once deeply personal and achingly relatable. Erin and Larry’s musical abilities are tools of exacting expression, expertly honed. They reach in to resonate; calling the listener inside, sounding the overtones of our shared experience.
Erin and Larry’s album, We Want All the Same Things, is their long-awaited second release, following their 2012 debut stunner, Courage, My Love (2012). Courage was met with praise, winning Best Jazz Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards (2013), and a Juno nomination in the category of Vocal Jazz Album of the Year (2014). We Want All the Same Things is a new pinnacle of startling beauty and musical insight from the Winnipeg duo. With this release, Erin Propp and Larry Roy have created a soundscape that contrasts what we see in the world today. This music speaks to the listener with songs that are powerful but not aggressive, and diverse without being in conflict. Erin and Larry’s songs explore the facets of people living alongside one another – the ease and adversity within mutualism, and ultimately the true privilege it is to struggle through life together.
For this show, Erin and Larry will be joined by Karl Kohut on bass and Will Bonness on piano.
Previously featured artists
Jennifer Hanson
Sunday, March 5 at 7pm
Jennifer Hanson is a Canadian musician with a repertoire as broad as the Canadian Shield. Whether she’s singing national anthems at NHL and CFL Games, or dancing on stage with Fred Penner, her witty banter and seductive vocal style leaves audiences wanting more. As the official anthem singer and musical coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Jennifer keeps fans pumped with her fresh take on blues, funk, R&B and rock. Like the Staples Center preparing for the Grammys, Jennifer cleans up well. Whether it’s corporate parties or the need to impress that cousin who keeps talking about how he knows Drake, Jennifer’s performances for noteworthy corporations and celebrities have kept her in high demand.
Winner of the 1999 Prairie Music Award for best jazz recording for her first record, “Something Cool,” Jennifer’s reputation for everything from classic ballads to sultry jazz standards and gritty rock n’ roll have drawn fans of all ages. In addition to her powerful vocals, Jennifer’s stage presence has the intimacy of hanging out with your hilarious best friend.
Erin Propp + Larry Roy
Sunday, March 12 at 7pm
Erin Propp and Larry Roy reach into the everyday and blur the edges, creating works that are at once deeply personal and achingly relatable. Erin and Larry’s musical abilities are tools of exacting expression, expertly honed. They reach in to resonate, calling the listener inside, sounding the overtones of our shared experience.
Erin and Larry’s 2021 album, We Want All the Same Things, is their long-awaited second release, following their 2012 debut stunner, Courage, My Love (2012). Courage was met with praise, winning Best Jazz Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards (2013), and a Juno nomination in the category of Vocal Jazz Album of the Year (2014).
We Want All the Same Things is a new pinnacle of startling beauty and musical insight from the Winnipeg duo. This music speaks to the listener with songs that are powerful but not aggressive, and diverse without being in conflict. Erin and Larry’s songs explore the facets of people living alongside one another – the ease and adversity within mutualism, and ultimately the true privilege it is to struggle through life together.
Rachel Therrien
Galea-Therrien Quintet
Sunday, March 19 at 7pm
Bassist Marika Galea and trumpeter Rachel Therrien are no strangers to playing together. Since meeting in New York in 2016, they have extensively performed material from many of Rachel’s past releases (V for Vena, Why Don’t You Try, Home Inspiration) as part of her Canadian band.
Working between New York City and Montreal, French-Canadian trumpeter, composer and producer Rachel Therrien boasts an enviable curriculum and is known for her very personal signature with influences from jazz to afro-latin and “global” music. Her 5th album, VENA (under French label Bonsaï Music) is JUNO and ADISQ nominated for Jazz Album of the Year & rated four stars by Downbeat. Her newest effort, 6th album Mi Hogar, serves as the first documentation of her Latin Jazz Project and was released in early 2023. Therrien also works as a side musician in various projects such as Arturo O’Farrill’s Grammy winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, the The Ostara Project, the renowned Diva Jazz Orchestra, NYC-based People of Earth, and many more. In 2020, Rachel started producing for other artists and is currently working with Noé Lira and LaPelúda.
Marika Galea
Marika Galea is an award-winning Canadian performer, composer and professor. Best known as a jazz bassist, she earned a spot as one of CBC Music’s 2017 35 best Canadian jazz artists under 35. Galea’s work (featured on her 2020 release, Nuance) explores the space between improvised jazz, narrative songwriting, and hypnotic soundscapes. As a bass player, she has supported artists including Terence Blanchard, Cyrus Chestnut, Vincent Herring, Ralph Peterson Jr., Rachel Therrien, Jason Palmer, L’Orchestre national du jazz de Montréal, Basia Bulat, Tim Kingsbury (Arcade Fire), Samian, Jake Clemons (E Street Band), U.S. Girls and Laura Niquay. Her collaborations have garnered nominations and wins for JUNO, Golden Globe, Academy, Polaris, Iris, RIDM and HotDocs Awards. She has taught at McGill University, McGill Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, and is currently an assistant professor at Brandon University. She has also taught workshops at McGill Executive Institute and School of Continuing Studies, Malta Jazz Festival, Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, Prince Edward County Jazz Festival and the University of Manitoba’s Canadian Jazz Summit.
In this new effort, both Galea and Therrien bring their original compositions, supported by Niall Bakkestad-Legare on tenor saxophone, Will Bonness on piano, and Fabio Ragnelli on drums.
Ron Paley Trio
Sunday, March 26 at 7pm
Composer, arranger, pianist, electric bassist, and big-band leader, Ron Paley is a fixture in Winnipeg’s music scene.
Ron earned his B.Mus. degree from the University of Manitoba, where he studied piano with William Aide. He continued studying piano with Ray Santisi at the Berklee College of Music and later, with Richie Beirach. He also studied arranging with Bob Brookmeyer. Not too long into his college program, Ron was recruited to play the electric bass with the Buddy Rich big band.
Following this extensive touring opportunity, he joined Woody Herman’s big band, recording three albums including a song on “The Main Event” with Frank Sinatra.
After returning to Winnipeg in 1976, he formed the Ron Paley Big Band, rising to prominence on the local music scene as a composer, arranger, and leader of both big bands and small ensembles.
Ron has been commissioned by the Royal Canadian College of Organists, the National Arts Center, and he received a 2007 commission from the Winnipeg Singers for a choral work based on the text of three Shakespearean Sonnets. He recorded several albums including a solo piano album in 2017 called The More You Know.
Woody Holler Trio
Sunday, April 2 at 7pm
Woody Holler grew up listening to western music, but has since also developed a voracious appetite for jazz. Combining the two genres with a versatile, classically trained vocal style that ranges from opera to yodelling, Woody Holler’s show is a unique and exciting experience not to be missed! The Woody Holler Trio was formed around Woody’s lyric tenor voice and includes Chenoa McKelvey on guitar and Daniel Koulack on bass. The performance is reminiscent of a 1940s radio show, with a timeless, eclectic repertoire, and includes a dynamic range of styles and sounds from the operatic to show-stopping extreme yodelling.
Audiences will get to experience finger-snapping shuffle beats, honey-slowed love croons, western classics, and a Golden Age lustre sure to transport the listener back in time.
Chenoa McKelvey is a freelance musician based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. During her time as a student at the University of Manitoba's jazz studies program from 2014 to 2019, she honed her skill as a distinctly styled guitarist in a variety of genres such as blues, swing music, country music, and jazz. Citing influences such as Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel, and Grant Green, McKelvey aims to bring an authenticity to her playing that is deeply rooted in the history of her instrument. Since the beginning of 2022, McKelvey has spent much of her time as an orchestra guitarist on various cruise ships playing with a plethora of guest artists, production shows, as well as regular solo and small group sets. While off the ship, she performs regularly as a solo artist, an accompanist, and in various musical groups around Winnipeg and surrounding areas, and has hosted open mics, jams, and leads and arranges for her own swing quartet Juvel.
Daniel Koulack, whose music includes a broad range of genres, is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in clawhammer (or frailing) style banjo and string bass. Daniel’s own music can be heard on his three albums of original instrumental music, of which two were nominated for Juno awards in the Best Roots/Traditional category.
Marco Castillo Brazilian Jazz Ensemble
Sunday, April 9 at 7pm
Marco Castillo’s musical appetites were honed at the feet of the best; his father led the group Trio Irakitan and recorded prolifically, including with Nat King Cole. Born in the samba capital of the world, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Marco toured extensively as a sideman and bandleader in Brazil and South America after graduating with a B.A. in music.
Upon arriving in Canada in 2007 as an experienced musician, Marco rapidly made an impact on the rich Winnipeg music community, recording three full length albums. Brazilian Season (2008) was top on the university and college radio charts for several weeks. In 2010 he was invited by CBC’s former producer Kinsey Posen to cover two songs for a CBC music project - “Heart of Gold “ and “These Eyes” were beautifully crafted in a unique Brazilian style. Marco's 2012 record Trip to Brazil won the Western Canadian Music Award for Best World Music, and Zabelê (2014) was also nominated at the WCMAs. In 2015, Marco's newest album found him representing Brazil in one of the biggest Latin American festivals in Viña del Mar, Chile with his original piece “Forró no Canadá”. Marco performed twice for 15,000 people at the venue La quinta vergara. The live show was broadcast to millions around the globe and he was one of six finalists. In the same year he performed an epic show at venue Beco das garrafas, the cradle of bossa nova in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.
Always looking for inspiration, Marco has collaborated and performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra and plenty of local and international artists, as well as toured in western Canada. Whether leading his full band, Brazilian Beats, or small ensembles, Castillo is a versatile musician and producer who blends smoothly and passionately into any musical context.
Marco has several music projects on the go for release in 2023 - new music is being cooked!
Erin Propp
Sunday, April 16 at 7pm
Juno-nominated, Winnipeg-based singer songwriter Erin Propp continues to defy labeling with her new solo show launched this year. Known as an effortless vocal talent, Erin brings her new original work and arrangements to the Club Room at Hotel Fort Garry on April 16.
Her signature discerning and empathy-laden lyrics find their way through harmonies from jazz and world music, with soaring melodies. Undoubtedly influenced by her recent teachers, Luciana Souza and Michelle Willis, Erin’s songs also still hearken back to her oldest songwriting roots – the women of 1970s Laurel Canyon, the Great American Songbook, and the powerhouse Canadian women artists from the 1990s.
Amber Epp Sings Joni Mitchell
Sunday, April 23 at 7pm
Imagine a child that always sings at the dinner table. One who gets sent outside by a mother who can only hear “The Lonely Goatherder” so many times. A little girl that, having played a song on the piano with her fingers, tries it with her toes. This same child follows her family around the globe, from adventures in Australia, to climbing the Grand Canyon, to getting trapped in Mayan caves. Such an upbringing is sure to release a unique and fiery personality.
Adventure, discovery, and joy culminate in the music of Amber Epp. All at once alluring and uplifting, Amber shares her joy for life and excitement in the undiscovered in each performance. With heartstrings pulled by the freedom of jazz and the rhythm of Latin music, she unites her favourite styles in a delightful way.
A trip to New York City sparked the fire for jazz; now Amber leaves a blazing trail wherever she performs. Inspired by jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, modern singers like Dianne Reeves, and new discoveries like Gretchen Parlato, Amber’s gift for music, improvising, and languages ignites every song.
The endless fields, the big sky, and the music - Joni Mitchell and Amber share these common elements of growing up in The Prairies. Enjoy a night of Joni Mitchell songs reimagined. Maybe a new beat, maybe a few extra chords, maybe a different instrument. Audiences will recognize these well-known songs and fall in love with them all over again as they're presented in a new light. Enjoy an entire concert of jazzy Joni Mitchell tunes in Winnipeg's newest live music space: The Club Room at the Fort Garry Hotel.
Jonathan Alexiuk
Sunday, April 30 at 7pm
Jonathan Alexiuk has been involved in the Winnipeg music scene for over 25 years. As a multi-instrumentalist and arranger, his work appears on over 20 albums by local artists, but he is most frequently seen in person at the piano. With good-natured enthusiasm, energy, and humour, Jonathan combines his love of unearthing vintage Tin Pan Alley music with traditional jazz, Trinidadian calypso, stride piano, and jump blues into a unique, esoteric repertoire. He has directed big bands, string quartets, jazz ensembles, and most recently has taken to reviving the hot jazz dance music of the 1920s with his 11-member ensemble, the River City Syncopators.
Connor & Cordelia: Acceptance CD release
Sunday, May 7 at 7pm
Tragedy brought Connor & Cordelia’s musical partnership together and inspired them to create their debut album, Acceptance - a cathartic expression of friendship, love, loss and acceptance. Produced by Juno nominee Larry Roy, Acceptance blends jazz, pop and soul, and features New York City’s Curtis Nowosad, Jon Gordon, Toronto’s Ismaila Alfa, Vancouver’s Darryl Havers, and Winnipeg’s Julian Bradford, among others.
Connor Derraugh is a University of Manitoba Jazz Studies graduate with a double major in sax and piano. Connor has been featured at the 2018, 2019 and 2022 TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festivals, Mardi Jazz, Music & Mavens, Assiniboine Park’s Jazz in the Garden and Summer Concert series, and performs regularly with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.
Singer/songwriter Cordelia Donovan grew up in Gimli and studied voice and classical percussion at the University of Brandon, before moving west to pursue a career in music. A powerhouse in the Vancouver music scene, Cordelia has performed across Canada with a variety of groups and recently released a new experimental pop project of original music.
This concert will not only launch Acceptance in music but in film, as the show will open with the mini-documentary Acceptance by filmmaker Ivan Hughes. The film tells the backstory of Connor and Cordelia’s project and its dedication to their best friend and musician Cole Ediger, who passed in 2020 due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Learn more about Connor & Cordelia
Aaron Shorr: Omand’s Creek CD release
Sunday, May 14 at 7pm
Aaron Shorr starting playing guitar as a young teenager, and developed an interest in jazz through his grandmother’s record collection. He studied at Humber College in Toronto, The University of Manitoba, and privately with international jazz icons like Jonathan Kreisberg, Miles Okazaki, and Bruce Forman. He has performed with William Bonness, Derrick Gardner, Niall Cade, and Curtis Nowosad, to name a few.
Aaron is set to release his debut full length album “Omand’s Creek” this spring. Recorded in 2018 with his longtime partners in music, Julian Bradford (bass) and Kevin Waters (drums), and set in the long tradition of jazz guitar trio records, “Omand’s Creek” features re-imagined standards, pop tunes, and original music.
Nadia Douglas
Sunday, May 21 at 7pm
Nadia Douglas is a jazz singer with a passion for swing jazz and classic standards. With a rich alto voice, keen rhythmic intuition, and an actress's insight into a great lyric, Nadia’s performances breathe new life into the songs she loves.
Based in Winnipeg, Nadia developed a love for the golden age of jazz. While working for years in Vancouver as an actress in television, motion pictures, and musical theatre, since childhood she nurtured the desire to sing for an audience, face-to-face. She has since honed her craft, and has had the pleasure of having repeat performances with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, The TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, and at all the popular jazz venues in Winnipeg. Nadia brings energy and excitement to every performance with her renditions of '20s-'60s hits.
Whether she is backed by a full big band, in intimate performance with trio, or accompanied by piano alone, her reason for singing is always the same: to rekindle the fascination, the enchantment, the excitement, and the magic that the most memorable songs of a lifetime hold, for all of us.
Dhiego Costa
Sunday, May 28 at 7pm
Dhiego Costa was born in Brazil and has been playing piano for over 20 years. He attended the University of Manitoba on a full scholarship for the Masters Degree in Jazz Piano program. While taking his masters degree, he worked at the U of M as a TA for the piano laboratory class (undergraduate students). He also holds a post baccalaureate degree in Music Education - Lato Sensu Graduate Program (Candido Mendes University - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Bachelor of Arts in Music (Piano) and Licensee in Music Education at the Federal University of Paraiba with Academic Honours Distinction in Undergraduate Studies. Dhiego also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Music (Baptist Theological Seminary of Northern Brazil).
He was the pianist for the University Choir (Federal University of Paraiba) for four years. He played for the University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra. He has travelled extensively and has played with Campbellsville University Jazz Orchestra (U.S.A), Brazilian Jazz Combo (U.S.A), Dhiego Jazz Trio (New Zealand), performed at the CPIT Jazz School (Christchurch, New Zealand), has led Brazilian music and Jazz Improvisation workshop in many places (Dourados Music Festival, Mato Grosso do Sul). He has performed with Marco Castilo (Brazilian-Canadian artist) and his Brazilian Beats. Recently he played with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.
Ministers of Cool
Sunday, June 11 at 7pm
Ministers of Cool members Larry Roy, Leonard Shaw, Donny Benedictson and Daniel Roy are preparing an exciting evening of music featuring some Steely Dan, some Pat Metheny, as well as some original music. Guest artists Erin Propp and Karly Epp will add wonderful vocals and percussion to the evening.
The Ministers of Cool have long been a cornerstone RnB ensemble in Winnipeg since its inception with Greg Lowe on guitar and Gerry Atwell on keys. Every recent performance by the Ministers is also a tribute to our former colleagues. Leonard Shaw is a premier blues/RnB singer/piano player, having toured with the Guess Who since the early nineties.
Larry Roy is known for his jazz guitar but the Ministers allow to him to revisit his pop/RnB roots with some ripping guitar solos. Don Benedictson is a veteran of the Winnipeg music scene and has toured and recorded with multiple artists all over the world. Daniel Roy is one of the funkiest, most dynamic drummers in Canada. Expect a strong performance of great RnB music.
March 2023 Residency: Will Bonness
March 8, 15, 22 + 29 at 7pm
Winner of the 2022 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year (solo), and Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2022 Western Canada Music Awards, Will Bonness was called “one of finest jazz pianist of his generation” by Monk Competition winner Jon Gordon. Will has been active on the international jazz scene for two decades. At 17, Will joined Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau Band for a world tour, which included performances in Europe, Thailand, and the Caribbean. He has performed at many of the major jazz festivals in Canada and the United States, as well as in the world’s most prestigious venues, with such luminaries as Jon Gordon, Avishai Cohen, Quincy Davis, Jimmy Greene, and Derrick Gardner. Locally, he can often be seen performing with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.
Will’s performance career has led him to spend substantial time in New York City, where he has played at the Blue Note, Smalls, and Dizzy’s. Aside from his performances, he maintains a full-time teaching position at the University of Manitoba, where he has taught music for the past 9 years.
Will has three releases to his credit: Subtle Fire (2009), Halcyon (2016), and Change of Plans (2020). He has appeared as an accompanist on almost 30 albums, many of which have been nominated for or won JUNO and Western Canada Music Awards. Change of Plans has received international critical acclaim, and nearly a million streams on Spotify.
April 2023 Residency: Karly Epp and Karl Kohut
April 5, 12, 19, 26 + May 3 at 7pm
Vocalist Karly Epp and bassist Karl Kohut have been frequent collaborators over the past decade. Each an artist in their own right, these two now often come together to write, perform, and record music based in their shared love of both straight-ahead swing and more contemporary jazz.
After earning her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba, Karly Epp became an accomplished choral director, and spent several years teaching, guest conducting, presenting clinics, and arranging vocal music.
In order to focus on her performance career, Epp relocated to New York City and later graduated from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music with a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies. During this time, she had the opportunity to study with Grammy-nominated vocalists Gretchen Parlato, Theo Bleckmann, and Kate McGarry. Through them, she was introduced to Somatic Voicework and went on to study the method with Jeannie LoVetri. Epp’s schooling also allowed her to further develop her understanding of composition and harmony, working with renowned artists and composers, including Dave Liebman and Jim McNeely.
After graduating, Epp spent time in New York playing at a variety of venues throughout the area, including a year-long residency at New York’s historic 55 Bar, and occasionally returning to Canada for festivals. Summer of 2018 brought her back to Winnipeg when she accepted the appointment of Jazz Vocal Instructor at the University of Manitoba.
Karl Kohut is currently the Assistant Professor of Jazz Bass at the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. Kohut spent four years living in New York City, where he performed with many distinguished artists and organizations including Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Rossano Sportiello, Ralph Peterson Jr., among others. He has performed at many of New York’s top jazz clubs including Dizzy’s Club-Coca Cola, Blue Note, Smalls, Zinc Bar, and more. He has toured throughout the US and Europe as a member of Joseph Doubleday and Felix Peikli’s Showtime Band, culminating in the release of the group's 2017 album It's Showtime: Live!. As a sideman, Kohut appears on albums with artists such as James Danderfer, Brad Turner, Quincy Davis, Earl MacDonald, and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. His debut album is set to be released in late 2023.
Kohut earned a master’s degree from The Juilliard School where he studied with bassists Ben Wolfe and Ron Carter, as well as a master’s and bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba. As an educator, he has worked with high school students throughout the US in workshops and summer programs with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Youth Programs.
May 2023 Residency: Gilles Fournier
May 10, 17, 24 + 31 at 7pm
Gilles Fournier’s versatility on various electric basses, string bass, his skills and sharp-eared adventurous musicianship positions him as a most desirable musician to have in any ensemble. Melding a vast experience in the many languages of music allows Gilles to add his highly individualized musical signature to compliment whatever environment he’s thrown into.
Gilles brings along his local musician friends for this residency, featuring a rotating line-up of musicians each week.
David Braid’s Two Quartets
Sunday, September 17 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
With special guest from Türkiye, Serkan Alagök, celebrated jazz drummer and virtuoso classical bassoonist
Multi-Juno Award winning composer and pianist, David Braid ("a jazz genius to call our own" - Maclean's Magazine) unveils a set of new compositions inspired by 20 years of international artistic collaboration and concertizing.
This inspired concert of "multinational folk melody meets jazz imagination" has already delighted audiences in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, Türkiye, and France. The show was sent on a diplomatic tour in 2022 to former Soviet States with its distinctly positive message about Canada's multiculturalism and international peacemaking.
Braid has formerly been a guest artist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, University of Manitoba, and Brandon University.
Quartet 1 features Kerry DuWors (violin), Cathy Wood (clarinet), Serkan Alagök (bassoon) and David Braid (piano)
Quartet 2 features Greg Gatien (saxophone), Marika Galea (bass), Serkan Alagök (drums) and David Braid (piano)
Trio Bembe
Sunday, September 24 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Trio Bembe (Amber Epp, Roddy Muñoz, and Scott Senior) is an award-winning Winnipeg trio specializing in Latin rhythms from around the world. With top-level musicality and infectious energy, the group brings to the stage a deep commitment to traditional melodies and instrumentation balanced by witty and sensitive storytelling to share the history and culture of countries their music represents. Having chased their passion from the snowy Canadian prairies to Cuba, Brazil, and Chile, this trio is overflowing with rhythmic energy.
Chuck Copenace
Oshki Manitou Album Release
Sunday, October 1 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
For Chuck Copenace, Oshki Manitou is a decidedly personal musical expression, a gift to his family and community, and a means of sharing how ceremonial melodies have changed his musical outlook and united his creativity and spirituality. Oshki Manitou finds the Winnipeg-based, Ojibway musician expanding dramatically on his previous work as a trumpet player, arranger, and composer, fusing contemporary interpretations of sweat-lodge melodies with jazz and elements of dance and electronica.
The result is a collection of eminently groovy, haunting, and ethereal songs that display Chuck Copenace’s signature voice and substantial skills as an interpreter, composer, and performer as never before. But there’s a larger purpose behind his efforts, for which Oshki Manitou is just a starting point. “I’m committed to sharing my story and I want to introduce young people to jazz, but I also want to bring indigenous musicians together. And I think my music can be a platform to further that mission.”
Sean Irvine: Kind Neighbours
Sunday, October 8 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Winnipeg-based musician Sean Irvine has rapidly gained recognition as a top-tier performer, composer, and woodwind expert. Although his primary focus is on the saxophone, Irvine is also recognized as a flautist, clarinetist, and oboist. Irvine's versatility and skill in capturing the essence and tone of various woodwind instruments has led to collaborations with artists such as Royal Canoe, David Braid, Derrick Gardner, and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.
In live performances, Irvine has accompanied renowned acts like the Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Ron Paley Big Band, Jeff Presslaff Septet, Papa Mambo, Kiko Freitas, Jon Gordon, Jimmy Greene, and Scotty Barnhart. In addition to his work as a session musician, he plays significant roles in projects such as the Winnipeg Jazz Collective, Still Crazy: Paul Simon's Tribute, Big City All Stars Band, and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.
In his latest role as a bandleader, Sean presents 'Sean Irvine: Kind Neighbours,' a captivating fusion of original compositions and reinterpretations of folk and singer-songwriter compositions, viewed through the lens of jazz. The ensemble consists of local musicians who seamlessly navigate both the jazz genre and other diverse musical streams, sharing their individual voices into these unique works.
Jocelyn Gould
Sonic Bouquet Album Release
Sunday, October 15 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
JUNO winner Jocelyn Gould has been called "a leader in the next generation of great mainstream jazz guitarists" by Howard Paul, CEO of Benedetto Guitars. Her joyful energy has captivated audiences around the world and her passion for music is infectious. She has absorbed the influences of the jazz guitar greats and has woven them into an exciting personal sound. She has a unique ability to connect with audiences, always leaving them wanting more.
Jocelyn's debut release as a leader, Elegant Traveler, won the 2021 JUNO award for Jazz Album of the Year. Golden Hour, Jocelyn’s sophomore album released in spring of 2022, reached #1 on the Canadian Earshot charts and #9 on American College Radio charts. Jocelyn has spent the last several years touring extensively and has a busy tour schedule ahead of her. She has performed as a leader in the US, Canada, UK, Spain, and Israel, and has toured with world class musicians including Freddy Cole, Etienne Charles, Michael Dease, Rodney Whitaker, Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III.
Sonic Bouquet is Jocelyn’s third album as a leader. It features an all-star band consisting of bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Quincy Davis, guitarist Randy Napoleon, pianist Will Bonness, and clarinetist Virginia MacDonald. Sonic Bouquet captures the spirit and spontaneity of a live performance with an unique front line consisting of two guitars and clarinet.
Jocelyn is a full time professor of music and head of the guitar department at Humber College in Toronto. She is endorsed by Benedetto Guitars and plays a Benedetto 16-B.
Casati presents A Night of Norah
Sunday, October 22 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Casati is best characterized as a folk trio with an open mind. Grace Hrabi, Jesse Popeski, and Quintin Bart are formally trained musicians - graduates of the University of Manitoba's jazz studies program. Over the past ten years the trio has released two albums, There Will Be Days (2017) and This Is Just To Say (2019), finding their style in a unique blend of all the music that inspires them: the heartbreak of a country ballad, the vocal harmonies of 1950's and 60's pop, and the instrumental virtuosity of jazz and classical music, creating a sound that is familiar yet original.
Casati will be presenting the music of Norah Jones in concert for Jazz at the Fort Garry on Sunday, October 22. Jones has been an important inspiration for the trio, with songs that combine personal, vulnerable lyrics with a distinct combination of jazz and folk music. With special guest pianist Alanna Fast, Casati will perform a selection of familiar favourites and deep cuts from Norah Jones’ two decades-long career.
Adèle M. Wilding
Sunday, October 29 at 6:30pm
Adèle M. Wilding is an award-winning contemporary jazz vocalist whose performances and recordings showcase her creative gifts. She is active and in demand as a vocalist, composer, arranger, music educator and workshop clinician. Adèle’s rich, soul inflected vocals, original works, and interpretations of jazz and pop standards have earned her accolades on both sides of the Atlantic. Adèle was the Inaugural Winner of the 2005 BWA Nina Simone Award in London, UK, for which she was again nominated in 2008. She has released five commercial recordings, including her Christmas cover of Bruce Cockburn's "Shepherds" (2016), and pas de deux (2020), an EP of original songs produced and recorded with esteemed Canadian jazz artist Miles Black.
Adèle’s musical training culminated in a Bachelor of Arts With Distinction (Carleton), Master of Arts in Music Education (UoL Institute of Education), and Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music Studies: Performance, Composition and Arranging (UoL Goldsmiths College).
Recent gig highlights include launching a jazz livestream series (2021-'22), performing at the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival (2022) and performing at the Black History Month Jazz Vespers at Winnipeg's Crescent Fort Rouge United Church (2023). Adèle has also appeared in local radio and podcasts, promoting her successful African-American Spirituals courses for the Music Equals program at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts.
Adèle’s appearance at The Club at Fort Garry Hotel will feature a mix of standards and originals from existing and new projects. Joining Miss Wilding will be two of Winnipeg’s leading jazz sidemen: Bert Johnson, piano, and Karl Kohut, bass. The quartet is thrilled to welcome versatile violinist Karen Barg to the lineup.
Elizabeth Shepherd
Sunday, November 5 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Velvety-voiced pianist Elizabeth Shepherd arrived on the international scene in 2006 when her debut album Start To Move was voted one of the top jazz albums of the year by listeners of the influential Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio Worldwide. Since then, the Montreal-based soul-jazz innovator has established herself as one of the most alluring and imaginative artists on the scene today. A classical pianist who came to jazz through her love of old-school hip-hop, it's perhaps no surprise that this globetrotting talent has developed such a distinct and unique voice.
Elizabeth has been hailed as “a jazz virtuoso blessed with a pop sensibility” (The Globe and Mail) and praised by critics worldwide for her arrestingly original writing and soulful delivery. Alongside Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glasper, she is among the new wave of jazz-influenced musicians bringing the art form to a younger generation of music fans. The six-time JUNO nominee (Canada's GRAMMY Awards) and two-time Polaris-Prize nominee has released seven widely acclaimed records, featuring collaborations with such musicians as Lionel Loueke and UK producer Nostalgia 77. She has toured extensively in North America, Europe, Japan and Mexico, selling out shows from the Cotton Club (Tokyo) to The Jazz Cafe (London, UK) to the Northseas and ELBJazz Festival. She has shared the stage with such great diverse acts as Christian MacBride, Victor Wooten, Spankie Wilson, the Quantic Soul Orchestra, the Five Corners Quintet, Bonobo, and was also personally invited to open for Jamie Cullum at a sold-out Hollywood Bowl show.
Her newest project is the result of three years of collaborating with different artists remotely due to COVID restrictions and stay-at-home orders. It is a celebration of hope in the face of darkness, grace in the face of the unknown, and the tenacity of the creative forces that carry us through it all.
The trio includes Scott Kemp on bass and Colin Kignsmore on drums.
Rosemarie Todaschuk + Friends
Sunday, November 12 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
The temperature rises under the spotlight when Rosemarie Todaschuk’s velvety voice and dynamic stage presence kick things up with favourite jazz standards mixed with Latin, funk, blues and popular tunes. The Winnipeg Sun noted that "Todaschuk applies her velvet vocal touch to timeless classics, all of which are reproduced with enough grace and swellegance to make you feel underdressed without a tux."
Rosemarie pairs a soulful delivery with an adventurous musical spirit in songs that inspire her. Excited to be entertaining at The Club in the Fort Garry Hotel, Rosemarie’s group features an impressive cast of musicians that includes Ron Paley on piano, Karl Kohut on string bass, Owen Clark on percussion, and Niall Cade on saxophones. With her cultural origins being Ukrainian, Rosemarie is also excited about uniting with Yarynka Chepiha, a talented singer and pianist from Kyiv, Ukraine.
PRZM
Sunday, November 19 at 6:30pm
PRZM is a quartet of trumpeters Shane Hicks, Andrew Littleford, Matthew Walden and Richard Gillis. Each of the musicians have performed professionally for many years with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Ron Paley Big Band, the Dirty Catfish Brass Band, and others. The quartet will be joined by award-winning percussionist Scott Senior
Shane Hicks is a freelance trumpeter in Winnipeg. Shane started in the Winnipeg music scene as a Lead Trumpet player in 2004 with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra and the Ron Paley Big Band and has been playing with them ever since. He has also made regular appearances with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Papa Mambo, Muddy Waters Brass Quintet, Yoslai De La Rosa, most recently joined Combo Latino, as well as acting as a board member with the WJO from 2009-2013.
Andrew Littleford is an active member of the Winnipeg music scene and is gaining attention and recognition across Canada as an accomplished multi-genre trumpet performer and educator. He shares his warm, lyrical sound and melodic tendencies within the musical genres of jazz, funk, R&B and pop music. His diverse musical abilities makes him one of the most sought-after trumpet players on Winnipeg's vibrant music scene. Aside from leading the Andrew Littleford Quintet where he composes and plays his own music, he is a founding member of the Dirty Catfish Brass Band, and is also involved with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Ron Paley Big Band, Hot & Dirty Dance Party, Winnipeg Jazz Collective, “B’” Side Champs, PRZM, Sunny Roseland, and can be heard on a variety of albums with other Manitoba artists.
Richard Gillis is the Artistic Director of Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. He studied at the Banff Centre (Canadian Brass), the University of Michigan (M.Mus.; D.M.A.), and with renowned trumpet teachers Armando Ghitalla and James Stamp. He performs with several ensembles and tours and records (8 CDs) with Icelandic guitarist Bjorn Thoroddsen. In 2014 Richard and Bjorn performed at the Icelandic Jazz Festival, received a nomination for Best Jazz Album at the Icelandic Music Awards ("Morgana's Revenge") and released a new CD ("The Journey"). Richard teaches at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Music.
Devon Gillingham
Sunday, November 26 at 6:30pm
Devon Gillingham is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, writer, and actor originally from Winnipeg.
His study of music began with the piano. By the age of 16 he received his ARCT diploma in classical piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. At the same time, he was becoming increasingly active as a bassist in Winnipeg’s music scene, and his focus began to shift more towards jazz and improvised music.
In his final year of high school, Gillingham was selected as the winner of the first annual Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington student composition competition. His piece, "Remember to Forget", was recorded by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. That fall, he moved to New York City to attend the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music on a full scholarship. He studied with Ron Carter, Harish Raghavan, Becca Stevens, and Kirk Nurock, among others, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in jazz performance, with a minor in screenwriting.
Known for his energetic playing and versatility as a bassist, Gillingham is also active as a singer-songwriter. His first EP of original music, entitled December, was released in the winter of 2019. His debut full length record, Maplewood, released with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, was released in early 2022 on his own label, Hands-Off Records. He is currently working on a follow-up, due for release early next year.
Katie Tupper
Sunday, December 3 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Beneath the painted hues and infinite prairie skies of Saskatoon – a city in the heart of Canada – lies a soulful, creative spirit that proves there’s much more to the so-called ‘fly-over states’ than grassland and grain silos. Katie Tupper embodies that spirit and is determined to show there’s an entire world of boundary-pushing, genre-defying artists at work within the often overlooked region.
Tupper's 2022 debut EP, Towards The End, received glowing acclaim from tastemakers like Zane Lowe and indie music press like Ones To Watch, Exclaim, Under The Radar, and FLOOD Magazine. She appeared on eTalk and recorded a filmed television performance for CBC. Tupper is one of three participants selected to be part of the 2022/23 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class.
Galloway/Cade Big Band
Sunday, December 10 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Charged with the energy from two major musical epicenters, Toronto and New York City, the Galloway/Cade Big Band is an exciting collaboration between two of Winnipeg’s finest jazz musicians. Born out of the desire for a local composers’ forum, this rehearsal ensemble has become one of the prime creative incubators for some of Winnipeg’s most skilled jazz composers. Featuring an ambitious repertoire of all original arrangements, this is sure to be one of the most exciting musical endeavors to surface from the Winnipeg jazz scene in recent years.
Rosemary Galloway is a jazz bassist, composer and bandleader recently relocated to Winnipeg from Toronto. Her credits include engagements with internationally recognized musicians such as Clark Terry and Jay McShann, and Canadian artists including Jim Galloway, Terry Clarke, Ingrid Jensen and Pat LaBarbera. She has composed for and recorded with her own groups The Swing Sisters, Velvet Glove, The Jane Fair/ Rosemary Galloway Quintet, and Jim Galloway’s Wee Big Band. Her most recent CD as leader “Live at the Montreal Bistro”, features original compositions with The Rosemary Galloway Quartet.
Niall Cade recently moved back to his hometown of Winnipeg in 2021 after living in New York City for six years. While abroad, Niall performed with such jazz luminaries as the Philip Harper Quintet, the Quincy Davis Quintet, the Big Jimmy Greene Band, the Kenny Carr Group, the Steven Feifke Quartet, and Bobby Sanabria’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Niall has performed at several internationally renowned jazz venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Kitano, the 55 Bar, the Jazz Gallery, and the Bar Next Door. In 2019, Niall was a semifinalist in the inaugural Michael Brecker International Jazz Saxophone Competition, travelling to Israel as a part of the Red Sea Jazz Festival.
Ministers of Cool play Al Jarreau
Sunday, December 17 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Winnipeg’s favourite R&B ensemble, Ministers of Cool, present an evening of hits from the Al Jarreau songbook. Featuring guitarist and musical director Larry Roy and special guest vocalist Zachary Rushing, this evening pays tribute to Al Jarreau’s genre-defying career with hits and hidden gems from his four decades'-worth discography.
The Ministers of Cool have long been a cornerstone R&B ensemble in Winnipeg since their initial configuration with Greg Lowe on guitar and Gerry Atwell on keys. Every current performance by the Ministers is a de facto tribute to the ensemble’s former members. Current musical director Larry Roy is known for his jazz guitar but the Ministers allow to him to revisit his pop/RnB roots with some ripping guitar solos.
Special guest Zachary Rushing is a singer, songwriter, and lyricist, who exists comfortably in a myriad of different artistic settings. His musical performances encompass jazz, pop, rock, cabaret songs, and more. Audiences may also recognize him as the Programs Manager of Jazz Winnipeg, where he spends his workdays helping to promote the rich and vibrant culture of jazz in Winnipeg.
About Al Jarreau: The only vocalist in history to net Grammy Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B), Al Jarreau was a virtuoso performer who balanced smooth lyricism with his own innovative brand of vocalese. Initially emerging in the late '60s, Jarreau drew audiences with his dynamic blend of jazz balladry and vocalese. By the '70s, he had caught the industry's attention and delivered a series of highly acclaimed crossover albums, including 1977's Grammy Award-winning Look to the Rainbow: Live in Europe, that found him tackling a mix of stylistically varied cover songs as well as his own emotive originals. Although his skills were based in jazz, his albums found him just as adept at interpreting folk, R&B, pop, and funk. This wide adaptability, paired with his warmly upbeat charisma, brought him huge success throughout the '80s and found him moving increasingly into the commercial pop sphere with sleek productions like 1981's Breakin' Away, which earned him two more Grammy Awards. Along with his own albums, he also made a cultural impact, contributing to the landmark charity album USA for Africa: We Are the World, and he reached an even broader audience as the singer and co-writer of the iconic theme to the '80s TV show Moonlighting. After his recordings slowed somewhat in the '90s, Jarreau returned to regular activity in the 2000s. He earned his 11th Grammy Award for his work on "God Bless the Child" with Jill Scott and George Benson from Scott's Collaborations in 2007, and issued a steady stream of his own recordings that, as with his final album, 2014's My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke, often found him returning to his jazz roots.
Northern Lights + Southern Nights: Musical Landscapes from Canada and New Zealand
Sunday, January 7 at 7pm
Keith Price introduced Amber Epp to Joni Mitchell on vinyl in his sunny Osborne Village apartment. Amber, having grown up with classical music lessons and only one radio station in Steinbach, had never heard of her! She immediately got hooked, and soon the duo was creating shows featuring jazzy re-imaginings of Mitchell's music and other Canadian favourites. What started as playing together in the University of Manitoba's Jazz Program blossomed into a 20-year musical partnership.
"I credit Keith with widening my musical scope, particularly with Canadian musicians," Amber says. "He showed me connections between bands like the Tragically Hip and The Guess Who and jazz sensibilities. He introduced me to Canadian bands like Arcade Fire and The Bros. Landreth. Keith convinced me that even though it wasn't jazz, they were still worth a listen. Together, we find creative ways to share their music beyond simply covering their tunes."
Keith says: "I remember performing together with Amber at the Monday Night Hang at the Freehouse. We were both there every week for a couple of years, and were both serious about improving our craft. Amber pushes herself as an artist, performing in multiple languages and is a highly skilled pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. She is a good friend, and I enjoy collaborating with her because she is open to experimenting with music and seeing what happens."
In 2019, Keith moved to Aotearoa/New Zealand to teach and coordinate the Jazz Program at the University of Auckland. Luckily, he'll be in Winnipeg for a holiday visit and the duo is excited to reunite in concert, along with drummer Daniel Roa and bassist Julian Bradford. They'll present reimagined versions of songs by well-loved Canadian artists, and introduce some fantastic tunes by New Zealand artists as well.
Keith Price is a Canadian-born guitarist/composer now based in Auckland where he serves as a Lecturer in Jazz at Auckland University. He first learned chords from his grandfather on a dark-red hollow-bodied guitar, but after hearing the intensity and rawness of John Coltrane at the age of fifteen, he was irrevocably drawn into the world of jazz.
Keith studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and the University of Manitoba before completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in jazz at Brandon University, where he studied with internationally recognized pianist and composer Michael Cain. His omnivorous listening habits are the foundation of his expressive musical style, which combines old jazz, new jazz, folk, noise, and funk. His sound is a mixture of colours, textures, and flavours from a range of genres and influences, filtered on stage through the process of improvisation. Whether performing with a double-quartet, a trio, or as a solo guitarist, Keith’s musical focus is on openness, imagination, and the search for a shared connection with fellow musicians and audiences alike.
Imagine a child that always sings at the dinner table. One who gets sent outside by a mother who can only hear “The Lonely Goatherder” so many times. A little girl that, having played a song on the piano with her fingers, tries it with her toes. This same child follows her family around the globe, from adventures in Australia, to climbing the Grand Canyon, to getting trapped in Mayan caves. Such an upbringing is sure to release a unique and fiery personality. Adventure, discovery, and joy culminate in the music of Amber Epp. All at once alluring and uplifting, Amber shares her joy for life and excitement in the undiscovered in each performance. With heartstrings pulled by the freedom of jazz and the rhythm of Latin music, she unites her favorite styles in a delightful way.
Evan Miles Quartet
Sunday, January 14 at 7pm
Jazz pianist Evan Miles is a new, yet active member of Winnipeg’s jazz scene. Evan discovered a passion for jazz in middle school, as it fulfilled his yearning for an outlet for creativity and improvisation. He went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from the University of Manitoba, of which he is a recent graduate. Evan has led his own groups at various concerts including the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Mardi Jazz, the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, and Red Haus Live, as well as contributing as a composer, arranger, and performer for the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra.
Tetyana Haraschuk
Sunday, January 21 at 7pm
A trio characterized by their dynamic fluidity, “freaky alien” textures, rule-breaking grooves and disregard for genre boundaries. Their sound makes audiences “take another look at music as a whole” and is described as “a pivotal addition to modern jazz.” Leader Tetyana Haraschuk’s compositions are labeled “refreshing”, “evocative”, “intelligent”, with “so much feeling” by audience members, and by award-winning soundtrack composer Alfons Conde, as “laidback with touches of weirdness… sounds totally deliberate. All in all, it sounds like Tetyana.”
This Canadian trio features guitarist Kyle Cobb, bassist Devon Gillingham and composer/drummer Tetyana Haraschuk. Different iterations of the trio have performed in three different countries, including at the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival in Canada, the world-renowned Jimmy Glass Jazz Bar in Valencia, Spain, as well as in Brazil. Their debut album, which includes a vibraphonist and two vocalists, was recommended for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize, a Canadian artistic merit award.
Leader Tetyana Haraschuk is a Ukrainian/Canadian drummer and composer. She holds a Bachelor in Jazz Performance from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Contemporary Performance and Production from the Berklee College of Music. Tetyana has played with JUNO award-winning artists in Canada, and her music has taken her to different places around the world. An accomplished composer and arranger, Tetyana has independently released an album, EP, as well as two singles of her original music. She is the artistic director of Until The Sun Comes, a musical documentation of Ukrainian war stories, in collaboration with documentary film company Ice River Films.
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra | Tidal Currents: East Meets West album release
Sunday, January 28 at 7pm
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (WJO) is Canada’s first community-based, non-profit professional jazz orchestra. Founded in 1997 (registered charity in 2000), the WJO has matured to become an important part of Winnipeg’s cultural landscape, reflected in the ongoing support the organization receives from the Manitoba Arts Council, the Winnipeg Arts Council, the Winnipeg Foundation, and other sponsors. The mandate of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is to be an instrumental force in the promotion and development of big band jazz in Manitoba and beyond, through performance, composition, recording and education.
The new album Tidal Currents: East Meets West is based on the compositions conductor/composer Jill Townsend and saxophonist Christine Jensen brought to the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival in 2022 - a Canada Council-supported work commissioned by the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, bringing together these considerable writing talents.
The Knappen Street All-Star Band
Sunday, February 4 at 7pm
Combine clawhammer banjo and soprano sax, mix with a killer rhythm section rooted in the Afro-Cuban tradition, add melodies that can both swing and cry, laugh and dance; throw in some stories and classic tunes of the last century, plus some catchy dance moves, garnish with silver-smooth back-up vocals and mix with care. Et voilà! The Knappen Street All-Star Band’s signature sound! Audiences have voiced their appreciation for this group and their music from Whitehorse to Winnipeg, from Salmon Arm to Halifax.
INGIA
Sunday, February 11 at 7pm
Joyce German is a talented South Sudanese Canadian jazz saxophonist and vocalist known for her unique fusion of African influences and jazz—a rising star in Winnipeg's vibrant jazz scene. Joyce has captivated audiences with her dynamic performances and original compositions that incorporate South Sudanese traditional songs. She collaborates with various bands in the city, showcasing her impressive skills as a musician. Not only is she a great saxophonist, but her captivating voice sets her apart from other musicians in the scene. Joyce deeply appreciates the rich cultural history and art form that is jazz and brings her unique perspective to the genre. She is passionate about promoting African music, especially her South Sudanese roots.
INGIA is Joyce's middle name and represents her essence and where she comes from. The name is also her grandmother's name, which means joy. As a stage name, INGIA incorporates African music influences, focusing on South Sudanese music and R&B, gospel, hip hop, and jazz. INGIA is an acronym that stands for Intention, Nurture, Gratitude, Inspiration, and Amplify. These values are at the core of Joyce's music, intentionally created to nurture others, express gratitude, inspire, and amplify African and Black American music and people. Joyce is poised to make a significant impact in the industry. Keep an eye out for this young and talented jazz musician as she continues to make her mark.
Ken Gold/Ron Halldorson Quartet
Sunday, February 18 at 7pm
Saxophonist Ken Gold and guitarist Ron Halldorson have been working together in various groups for the past 35 years. Much of that has been as a duo for some extended gigs in Winnipeg (Blaze Bistro, Inferno’s). They share a common interest in great tunes from diverse musical genres, including bebop, country, pop, blues, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian music.
Ken Gold has been active in the Manitoba music scene for the past 40 years. As a saxophonist, he has played and recorded with many ensembles and groups, including the WJO, the WSO, Ron Paley, Finjan, Remy Shand, and more. He is an original member of the Latin jazz/Afro-Cuban dance band Papa Mambo.
Ron Halldorson is a Manitoba music legend. A multi-instrumentalist on guitar, bass, pedal steel, and other strings, he has been a first-call musician for six decades now. Ron played bass in the sensational Lenny Breau Trio during the 1960s.
For this show, Ken and Ron are joined by Eric Platz on drums and Marika Galea on bass, who are both faculty members at the Brandon University School of Music.
Jennifer Hanson + Her Handsome Lads
Sunday, February 25 at 7pm
Jennifer Hanson is a Canadian musician with a repertoire as broad as the Canadian Shield. Whether she’s singing national anthems at NHL and CFL Games, or dancing on stage with Fred Penner, her witty banter and seductive vocal style leaves audiences wanting more. As the official anthem singer and musical coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Jennifer keeps fans pumped with her fresh take on blues, funk, R&B and rock. Like the Staples Center preparing for the Grammys, Jennifer cleans up well. Whether it’s corporate parties or the need to impress that cousin who keeps talking about how he knows Drake, Jennifer’s performances for noteworthy corporations and celebrities have kept her in high demand.
Winner of the 1999 Prairie Music Award for best jazz recording for her first record, “Something Cool,” Jennifer’s reputation for everything from classic ballads to sultry jazz standards and gritty rock n’ roll have drawn fans of all ages. In addition to her powerful vocals, Jennifer’s stage presence has the intimacy of hanging out with your hilarious best friend.
Sigurdís
Sunday, March 3 at 7pm
Channeling isolation, darkness, and light is fundamental to Sigurdís' musical world, having spent her formative years growing up in the rural area of Northern Iceland.
Now based in Denmark, Sigurdís completed her master's degree in composition and jazz piano from the Danish National Academy of Music in 2023 achieving the highest possible grade for her project. She is a student of the Canadian composer and pianist David Braid, whose mentorship since 2018 significantly impacts her development as a musician.
Sigurdís composes for large and small jazz ensembles and was a finalist in the 2023 Nordic Composer Contest, organized by Odense Jazz Orchestra. She is also a vocalist, with one of her projects involving imaginative new settings of jazz standards. Her debut single "I Get Along Without You Very Well," has surpassed 100,000 streams on Spotify and can be heard on Youtube.
For this show, Sigurdís will be joined by local Canadian musicians, promising a diverse musical experience. The performance will feature Sigurdís' original instrumental and vocal compositions, with lyrics in both English and Icelandic, as well as re-imagined popular tunes.
University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra
Sunday, March 10 at 7pm
The University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra, led by Jonathan Challoner, is one of many performing ensembles from the Desautels Faculty of Music’s innovative and dynamic Jazz Studies program. Each year, this group studies and performs a wide range of big band music. Their repertoire ranges from classic pieces by Duke Ellington and Thad Jones to new works by Canadian composers including Tara Davidson, Ernesto Cervini and Christine Jensen.
Jonathan Challoner is one of Canada’s most versatile and creative voices on the trumpet. Growing up in Qualicum Beach, BC, he was surrounded by a wonderful community of mentors and educators including Phil Dwyer, Ingrid Jensen, and Arnie Chycoski. He went on to become an integral part of Toronto’s vibrant and diverse music scene, then relocated to New York City to study at the Juilliard School. He is currently on faculty at the University of Manitoba and can be seen performing internationally with many of the world’s most acclaimed jazz, classical, salsa, musical theater, and pop artists.
Onna Lou
Sunday, March 17 at 7pm
Onna Lou is an Argentinian-Canadian artist who made Winnipeg her home in 2016.
With a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production from world-renowned Berklee College of Music, and another in Classical Music Composition from Universidad Católica Argentina in Buenos Aires, Onna Lou is an internationally recognized, highly-educated musician and artist who is well known for her heartfelt lyrics and ability to blend traditional folk with contemporary sounds.
In 2022 she released her chart-topping album Diamante with the support of Canada Council for the Arts, which reached 15 weeks on the Earshot Charts, having peaked at #1 on three Charts in Canada. She ranks among the 2.1% of female-identifying producers in the industry today, who also writes, plays instruments on, and records her own music.
Onna Lou has been nominated for Global artist of the year at the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2022 she did her first Canadian tour performing in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, London, and Ottawa. She performs in her home country Argentina regularly as well. She is working on the production of her third album to be released in October 2024 (singles will start dropping in April leading to the album) which has received the support of Manitoba Arts Council for its creation.
Her songs are consistently played across the country, and have been featured across the CBC radio network, CKUA, and many more. She's also been featured on TV, newspaper, radio, and podcasts in Canada, Argentina, Mexico, USA, and other countries.
Onna Lou's explorations into a new sound for her live shows include two cellos on stage creating a very unique and deeply beautiful show. She is also often seen on stage with her guitar playing solo, with her duo with multi-instrumentalist Julian Vidal, and with her new quartet format.
Niall Cade
Sunday, March 24 at 7pm
Niall Cade recently moved back to his hometown of Winnipeg in 2021 after living in New York City for six years. While abroad, Niall performed with such jazz luminaries as the Philip Harper Quintet, the Quincy Davis Quintet, the Big Jimmy Greene Band, the Kenny Carr Group, the Steven Feifke Quartet, and Bobby Sanabria’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra.
Niall has performed at several internationally renowned jazz venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Kitano, the 55 Bar, the Jazz Gallery, and the Bar Next Door. In 2019, Niall was a semifinalist in the inaugural Michael Brecker International Jazz Saxophone Competition, travelling to Israel as a part of the Red Sea Jazz Festival.
Dr. Henry Band
Sunday, March 31 at 7pm
Portage and Mainers are reknowned for treating their seasonal affective disorder by staying inside to rock and roll when it's 40 below but here's a new remedy: a house call from Dr. Henry, ready to treat your SAD with an exciting hit of groovy, hip-shaking, Afro-fusion jazz!
Dr. Henry Band's three core musicians met in Winnipeg after moving from Nigeria for higher education pursuits. Their cool sound is shaped by their West African roots as well as familial influences, musical inspirations and collaborations with fellow Winnipeggers. In their vibrant and colourful musical mosaic, you can hear Afro-beat inspired by its master, Fela Kuti, as well as neo-soul and polyrhythmic jazz. It's delightfully infectious and an instant cure-all. Call the Dr. Henry Band for whatever ails you.
Fabio Ragnelli
Sunday, April 7 at 7pm
Originally from Toronto, Ontario, drummer Fabio Ragnelli is a JUNO Award-winning drummer and has been an in-demand sideman performing, recording, and touring with a number of artists over the last ten years. Ragnelli has toured nationally and internationally, performing at venues such as Massey Hall, The Owl, Koerner Hall, Place des Arts, The 55 Bar, Cornelia St. Café, The National Arts Centre, SMOKE Jazz Club, The Cotton Club in Tokyo, Birldland, SF Jazz Center, The Blue Note Jazz Club, and has also performed at a number of jazz festivals including Haiti, Halmstad, Monterey, and Montreal, among others. Fabio is the Assistant Professor of Jazz Drumset at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
A Little Sondheim with Zachary Rushing
Sunday, April 14 at 6:30pm + 8:30pm
Presented by Izzy Asper Jazz Performances in co-production with Jazz Winnipeg
When Stephen Sondheim died at 91 in 2021, he was one of the 20th century’s most celebrated and influential lyricist-composers. His work included beloved Broadway shows like West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods.
A consummate storyteller, Sondheim’s lyrics are “scrupulously literate and resonant with complex ideas or emotional ambivalence” (New York Times), providing a window into the psyche of both character and lyricist.
Zachary Rushing, a Seattle-born jazz singer and songwriter now based in Winnipeg, names Sondheim among his most important musical influences. Blessed with an ethereal voice and a natural warmth and expressiveness on stage, he is the perfect person to bring these songs to life for a Winnipeg audience.
Izzy Asper Jazz Performances is pleased to partner with Jazz Winnipeg for this fabulous evening of song. The Club on the lower level of the Fort Garry Hotel feels a lot like a New York jazz club, one of Izzy Asper’s favourite places to be.
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Zachary Rushing is a jazz vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, and arts administrator living on Treaty One Territory. His musical world encompasses many genres and styles, but is always deeply rooted in the Great American Songbook.
Whether performing originals, standards, or covers of favourite composers ranging from Cole Porter to Stephen Sondheim, Zachary is a natural storyteller with a gift for interpreting lyrics. Often drawing comparisons to Mel Torme, his smooth and velvety singing style lends itself to songs of a golden vintage.
Zachary can be heard working in various groups around Winnipeg both as a bandleader and sideman. You may also catch his alter ego, Lady Muse, fronting the funky band Lady Muse & The Inspirations. When not performing, he spends his work days fostering community in the local music scene as the Programs Manager at Jazz Winnipeg. He lives in Wolseley with his partner and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
The Buhr Quartet
Sunday, April 21 at 7pm
Glenn Buhr is well-known as a composer, performer, and producer. He initiated the WSO New Music Festival in 1992, and his music has been performed by jazz musicians and classical ensembles all over the world, including The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Button Factory Band with Reg Schwager, the Birmingham Royal Ballet Orchestra, and the Detroit Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, among many others. He's also composed creative arrangements for several pop singers, including Sarah Slean, Ron Sexmith, and Madeleine Peyroux.
In 2002 he put together his roots/jazz unit, The Buhr Quartet, which featured Richard Moody on fiddle, and the late Greg Lowe on acoustic guitar, along with Buhr, and bassist Gilles Fournier. After a few tours, the quartet went into a hiatus in 2006 while Buhr was writing works for larger jazz groups and started performing with some Toronto musicians on experimental improvisational music in many different genres. Now, after re-settling in Winnipeg in 2020, The Buhr Quartet is reborn with Al Beardsell replacing Greg Lowe, and sax/vocalist Paul Balcain replacing Richard Moody, who has re-settled on the west coast. This show is the debut of the band with this new line-up.