Georgian Sound Festival – Jazzmania, Thornbury & Clarksburg
Posted by John Malloy on 04/29/2011
Jazzmania
Friday, April 29, 2011 8:00pm – 12:00am
Venues in Thornbury Clarksburg
Friday evening, Jazzmania sets the stage for the main public events. With eight live jazz bands already signed to play at eight different venues around Thornbury and Clarksburg, you get to see all eight for one great ticket price. And the quality of this year’s line up is eye popping! What’s more, you are bussed free of charge to all of the venues throughout the evening.
Allister Bradley
Allister Bradley didn’t think much about how to describe himself until early 2005, when he was embraced by radio programmers who told him he was a terrific match for Smooth Jazz radio. Up to that time, Allister had no idea what the Smooth Jazz genre was all about – he just wrote from the heart and infused his songs with the jazz-inspired harmonies that had played in his head since he first heard and played popular jazz standards as a young performer. It all makes sense, though, when you hear him play and sing his way through timeless classics like “All The Way”, “It Had To Be You”, or “I Could Write A Book”. He also sings more contemporary tunes by the likes of Harry Connick Jr. as well as his own songs which earned nominations for Best Original Composition at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (2006, 2009). This singer/songwriter/pianist may not be a strictly-jazz artist, but the ingredients of fine jazz have always found their way into his musical creations. Look for a smooth and sometimes humorous interpretation of your favourite standards, plus a host of songs that appeal to lovers of story and melody, when Allister comes to Thornbury for the Georgian Sound Festival.
http://www.allisterbradley.com
Appearing at: Bruce Wine Bar
Aura and Friends
When her 1972 performance with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at Carnegie Hall received a long standing ovation, Aura Rully’s career took off. She toured with Duke for the next three years, later with Quincy Jones and has shared the stage with a who’s who of jazz legends including Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. Aura’s sense of melody is stunning and her four octave range permits incredible vocal acrobatics as she scats with ease. Accompanying Aura are four great musical veterans.
On piano is Paul Hoffert, jazz recording artist, television performer, off-Broadway musical author, film composer and co-founder of the rock group Lighthouse whose records sold millions. Inducted into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 he was awarded the Order of Canada in 2005.
Bassist Henry Heilig began playing professionally in West Africa where he was exposed to a wild mixture of players and musical styles. Returning to Canada he founded Manteca, a Juno winning ensemble that produced eight albums and toured the world’s major music festivals. He has also been the musical director for both the Genie and Gemini awards shows, and has composed music for films and documentaries.
Since the 1980’s, versatile drummer Charlie Cooley has done studio work, live shows and toured the world with names like Long John Baldry, Manteca, Leonard Cohen and Amanda Marshal. Currently the house drummer for the Gemini Awards, Juno Awards, East Coast Music Awards and Canada Day, Charlie has also performed with Anne Murray, Prairie Oyster, Jimmy Rankin, George Fox, The Guess Who and Sass Jordan.
Guitarist Andy Harasymczuk has been playing with many of Canada’s top jazz players for over 25 years in groups ranging from duos to Big Bands. He has also acted as the impresario for both the Millpond Centre for the Arts and the Gibson Centre for the Arts and he owns the Alliston Ontario based Modern Conservatory of Music that lists an incredible cast of instructors and students who have gone on to study at Canada’s finest colleges and Universities. Collectively, Aura and Friends have more than 150 years of professional performance experience at the highest level. Top that!
Appearing at: L E Shore Library Gallery
Bill King and Stacy Bulmer
Pianist-composer-publisher Bill King is a multi-talented individual whose recording and production credits include ‘Live! In Session’ by Liberty Silver; ‘Magnolia Nights, Moment’s Notice’ by Bill King and the Jazz Report All-Stars, ‘From The Heart’ a tribute to piano great Oscar Peterson, ‘East Side Symphony – Sophie Milman’s self titled debut which has topped 100,000 sales worldwide amongst several others. These projects highlight King’s versatility as both keyboardist, composer and arranger. King is a two- time recipient of the National Jazz Award producer of the Year and voted The Paul Hoeffler Jazz Photographer of the Year. King published the international music magazine The Jazz Report.
Originally from Cambridge, Ontario, Stacey Bulmer is a recent graduate of Sheridan College’s highly regarded Music Theatre Performance program and is now based in Toronto. She is a member of the Bill King’s Rockit88 band, with which she has performed at various events including the Toronto International Jazz Festival andCanada’s Walk of Fame. In addition to being active in the Toronto theatre scene, Stacey was the winner of both the Canadian and Ontario Open singing competitions last year, and was a finalist on Canadian Idol. When Stacey isn’t singing, she is doing crazy characters and impressions for her sketch comedy videos and dreams of one day performing on Saturday Night Live! Her musical influences include Tom Waits, Christina Aguilera, Gavin DeGraw, Freddie Mercury, Susan Tedeschi and the Beatles
Appearing at: The Dam Pub
Blue Room Blues Band
The core musicians of BLUE ROOM are veteran live and studio players, featuring: Brian Neller’s big, bluesy, passionate vocals; Fraser Lawrason’s solid bass lines and backing vocals; Paul Sanderson’s soaring blues rock guitar; Norm Ryan’s fluid and inspired saxophone; Frank Watt and Pat Quinn’s seasoned drum grooves.
Blue Room was a finalist in the 1997 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search, runner-up in 1998, and second runner-up in 2000! Since 1997, the band has played in major blues venues around Toronto, including the Silver Dollar Room, The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, and Chicago’s. Sharing the bill with the likes of John Hammond and Jully Black, Blue Room has also played the JVC Jazz Festival, The Beaches International Jazz Festival, First Night Toronto at the SkyDome, and Lloyd’s Blues Music Festival, featuring B.B. King, and Buddy Guy.
It’s fairly difficult not to like a tightly cohesive band with a great vocalist, and this one is no exception. Brian Neller mans the lead microphone with an alternating croon and slightly nasal grittiness that always complements the various musical styles exhibited here.
http://www.blueroommusic.com/
Appearing at: The Ironworks Arts and Event Centre
Fig Leaf Jazz Band
The “Figs” are now into 31 years of ‘mayhem’ playing traditional jazz music. Among others, the band has performed with the Climax Jazz Band, Peter Appleyard, and the Huronia Symphony. They do lots of benefits and fundraisers and are the house band for the Simcoe Jazz Society. The line-up includes John Potts on trumpet and vocals, Jim Purdie on clarinet, Roger Kerslake on trombone and vocals, Geoff Mulholland on piano, Bruce Rumble on bass, David Rawlings on banjo and vocals and Ted Fry on drums and vocals. Like old cheese, they are aging well (and smell about the same).
http://www.figleafjazz.com
tgfry@sympatico.ca
Appearing at: Marsh Street Centre
Lisa Hutchinson and The Big Little Band
Lisa Hutchinson & The Big Little Band
With a wealth of combined professional experience, Lisa and her band skilfully interpret jazz and blues standards in a high-energy, musically diverse, event performance. They look forward to seeing all the Jazzmania “regulars” and meeting new-comers at this year’s festival! Be sure to put them on your “must see” list for Friday night Jazzmania.
Lisa Hutchinson – Vocals
Lisa Hutchinson has been entertaining audiences as the feature vocalist with the Georgian Sound Big Band and with small local ensembles since 2002. A product of the highly regarded Humber College and Ottawa Jazzworks programs, Lisa has performed with top Canadian jazz names including Norman Amadio, Bernie Senensky, Joe Huron and Ronnie Douglas.
Joe Huron – Guitar
Joe Huron has been a quiet force on the Canadian jazz scene for well over 25 years. Educated at Nanaimo’s Malaspina College and Toronto’s York University, Joe furthered his study of the jazz guitar with Canadian icon, Roy Patterson. During his career, Joe has played The Victoria, Vancouver, Barrie, Collingwood, Orillia and Georgian Sound Jazz Festivals and performed with a long list of top Canadian Jazz artists.
Richard Jackson – Drums
Over a career of more than twenty years, Richard Jackson has performed in dozens of Countries on several continents; for Royalty in West Africa, The Governors General of Canada and Australia and at International music festivals. His studies have taken him to the Ontario College of Percussion and Music, to West Africa and Cuba to apprentice under Master Drummers and Drum Makers, and to learn from world renowned drummer
and educator Jim Blackley.
Peter Loudon – Bass
A professional bass guitar player for more than 20 years, Peter Loudon got his musical education “on the job” playing with his musical family. He has played the Barrie, Orillia, Georgian Sound and Marisposa Festivals. Playing with the Ronnie Douglas Blues Band, Peter shares a nomination for a Maple Leaf Blues Award for the album Big Brother, which also won an Aboriginal Music Award and a Real Blues Magazine Award in 2001.
Mark Hathaway – Saxophone
Mark earned his Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music/Jazz Performance at York University where he was also awarded the Oscar Peterson scholarship for jazz studies. Mark has played with a host of talented musicians including Norm Amadio, Lenny Boyd, Barry Romberg, Kiran Overs, Reg Shwager, Terry Clark, Jim Vivian, Sean Bray, Mark Kelso, George Koller, Ted Warren, Jake Langley, Joe Huron, Louis Lefaive, Ronnie Douglas, Rick Greensides, and Kelly Davis. Mark’s travels have taken him to the Montreal Bistro, the Rex Hotel and many jazz festivals including Toronto, Oakville, Barrie, Orillia, and Markham. He is currently sharing his love of music with our next generation of musicians as a music teacher and Chair of the Arts Department at Innisdale Secondary School in Barrie.
Appearing at: Bridges Tavern
Louis Lefaive and The Kings of Swing
This most entertaining and versatile band combines jazz and fun to reach the highest level. Hold on to your seats listening to this well-known and talented group, with Louis Lefaive on trombone, vocals and keyboard, Russ Strathdee tenor and baritone sax, Rick Patenaude on drums, Ken Meyer, bass and vocals and Kelly LeFaive on jazz violin
Appearing at: Piper’s Restaurant & Tavern
Mike Grace Quartet
The Mike Grace Quartet is something very special. Its leader, bassist Mike Grace, holds Masters Degrees in drums, bassoon, clarinet and bass and a PhD in Clarinet. He has travelled the world with jazz bands he has developed during a 35 teaching career.
Pianist John McLellan is a thirty year career educator whose jazz ensembles have recieved numerous Gold Standard awards. As a performer he has played with Canada’s top jazz musicians including Phil Nimmons, Rob McConnell, and Peter Appleyard.
Drummer Steve James is a veteran instructor whose command of diverse musical styles permits performing for eighteen years with the Stardust Big Band and playing with Backroom 11, a tribute band to classic soul/funk and R+B.
They are joined by Gene Parker, whose extraordinary versatility on all the saxes, clarinet, flute, piccolo, trumpet, trombone, vibes and piano always astounds audiences. Gene has played with the biggest names in the business; names like Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., J.C Heard and Dizzy Gillespie. When not teaching, Gene leads a Vibe Trio, a Jazz Quartet, The Parker/Cook Jazz Quintet, The Parker/Wolkins Big Band with trumpeter Ric Wolkins, and a very hot 5 piece party band.
To borrow a line from the Sun Times’ Bill Henry, these jazz veterans know “how to shape the notes, how to lift the music from the page and how to make it tell a story.” It doesn’t get better than this!
Appearing at: Sisi on Main
Parsons and Brown
Parsons and Brown offer “the softer side of jazz”, providing easy listening music for upscale dining, cocktail parties, weddings and other special venues and events and are extremely pleased to once again be a part of this Festival.
Fred Parsons has been playing music since the age of five. Fred travelled extensively while in university with a pop-rock-jazz group called the Exception and played bass guitar with the Johnny Downs Orchestra and trombone with Orchestra London. A career music educator, Fred taught at Lorne Avenue Public School in London, where he was responsible for starting the music program, then John Diefenbaker Secondary in Hanover for 6 years, and West Hill Secondary in Owen Sound for 22 years. During his career he also remained very active in the music scene of this area, continuing to perform with the Exception with brother Phil and drummer Gord Dandeno, the Georgian Bay Symphony (trombone, French horn, trumpet and percussion), the Stardust Big Band, the Alpha Jazz Band with Earl Georgas, Frankie “D” and the Dreamers, Quorum, and with the duo Parsons & Brown. More recently he has played with The Noodle Factory, a very unique jazz ensemble featuring some of the area’s top jazz musicians! Fred brings his unique combination of keyboard and foot bass to Parsons & Brown’s performance at Jazzmania.
David Brown exhibited his talent for art and music at a very young age. In his teen years, the drums won out. He & his musical friends started playing at high school dances. Soon offers came from other venues. By the age of 18, J. Smith & the Majestics were a hot entertainment item in Toronto and surrounding area. David later traveled professionally with many groups, the most notable of which are the Diamonds and the Four Aces. In time, the life of a musical vagabond lost its appeal. Georgian Bay has always been a strong inspirational force in David’s life, so moving to Owen Sound was a natural. Since the performing side of music had been missed for several years, he sought out other musicians who had the same desire to share their musical talent. David has had the opportunity to play with noteable local musicians such as Don Buchanan, Peter Rissi, and Charlie Bell. He is now providing the percussion with Fred Parsons in Parsons & Brown and also Jailhouse Rock Elvis concerts.
Appearing at: Simplicity Bistro (formerly Sterios) The Cheese Gallery
Shawn Mei Trio
Shawn Mei (pronounced “May” – of Italian and Irish descent) has been performing at bars and ightclubs since the age of fifteen. Although club owners were unaware of his age at that time, Mei began working with his father’s jazz quartet and gradually branched out to pursue his own musical interests. His rigorous performance schedule has enabled Shawn to develop a unique piano and vocal style that includes Blues, Funk, Rock and Jazz. A native of Barrie Ontario, Canada, Mei performs throughout Central and Southern Ontario at local clubs, Casinos, the Muskoka resort circuit as well as live concert venues and festivals.
This swingin’ trio consists of Shawn Mei on piano & vocals, Graham Hilliam on tenor & alto with Neil Mavor on drums. Mei’s piano stylings (blues, funk, jazz) along with his popular crooning style (Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bouble etc.) will complete your dining experience! But “fasten your seat belts” as the trio “Breaks up the house” with Louis Prima, Colin James, Brian Setzer, and many more! Bring your dancin’ shoes and a “shout chorus!” The Shawn Mei Trio is a definite Festival “Must See” experience!
http://www.shawnmei.com/
shawnmei@rogers.com
Appearing at: The Mill Cafe at Harbour Mews
www.georgiansoundfestival.ca
Posted by 
