The Jazz Wench
November 2000

Jane Bunnett
Artist Profile by
Teri Harllee

Ritmo + Soul
Reviewed By
Jim Santella

The Jazz Wench
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By Teri Harllee

The image of this diminutive, pretty, blonde woman with her crew of Cuban ex-patriots is more than a little incongruous. I wondered how she became so engrossed in Cuban music and where she was taking it. I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical. But the first thing that caught my attention when I turned on my CD player was her phenomenal technique. This is not a woman who is getting by on her looks – no lurid poses on her CDs, folks. Jane Bunnett is playing straight and fair – she’s rising to the top on well-deserved critical acclaim.

And her interest in Cuban music? It stems from a vacation she took to escape a Toronto winter. Funny how the most benign events can change our lives. Today she plays jazz festivals throughout the world, taking her road band, The Spirits of Havana, with her. On her Cuba-inspired CDs she doesn’t use Cuba’s foremost musicians - she showcases them. This is a woman who’s in it for the love of the music, if ever anyone was.

When did her involvement in this musical form begin? Over fifteen years ago, in 1984. Long before the current rush to jump on the Cuban bandwagon.

Bunnett’s background is impressive, ranging from early classical training on piano and clarinet, to studies with renown jazz artists (Barry Harris, Steve Lacy) on piano and soprano sax, to self-taught flute. She has recorded with jazz artists Don Pullen and Dewey Redman and with Cuba’s most esteemed musicians.

Recently, Bunnett completed a documentary about the making of music in Cuba that she will show at jazz festivals in the next year. She started a foundation (Spirits of Music) that has been acquiring instruments for Cuba’s music conservatory children for years now. She’s recorded eleven CDs and received a nomination for Canada’s Juno Best Album 1988 award (similar to the U.S. Grammy). Her CD, Spirits of Havana was picked by the All-Music Guide as one of the top 300 jazz discs of all time. Her current release, Ritmo + Soul (Blue Note) is nothing short of magical.

But there’s too much to tell you about this jazz diva here, so check this out: www.janebunnett.com