Shannon Butcher

Reintroducing Shannon Butcher: Words We Both Could Say If you want to define the musical essence of Shannon Butcher's new debut solo album, Words We Both Could Say, imagine jazz, pop and rock living in perfect harmony. Following a glorious five-year run as a member of the acclaimed Swing Rosie, Butcher now offers ten dynamic interpretations of modern hits like Tears For Fears' "Mad World" and Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman." These are more than just dramatic contrasts: they're a new chapter of expression in Butcher's expanding vocabulary as a jazz interpreter and performer. "Jazz isn’t about one label or style; it’s not about one person or time," says Butcher. "It’s about the freedom to bring together all of your experiences and sing in the moment using every aspect of your musical personality." Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Shannon Butcher has been singing since the age of six. Influenced by her parents' Frank Sinatra music collection, Butcher learned jazz at Cawthra Park Arts High School, inspired in part by a performing visit from future international superstar Diana Krall. Later, Butcher pursued post-secondary classical music studies at the University of Toronto. "I really wanted to learn about my instrument," she recalls. "I think all the pedagogy we have on the human voice is really based in classical music. This new style of singing we use with jazz is a little more visceral. I appreciate the fact that I had the voice training that I have so I can manipulate my instrument." Vocal lessons with Jo-Anne Bentley, Elaine Overholt and former Nylons singer Micah Barnes -- as well as piano lessons from Frank Falco -- also helped Butcher find her signature style. But it was her run with Swing Rosie, an Andrews Sisters-styled trio formed with Kira Callahan and Chantelle Wilson, that first brought Shannon Butcher to public attention. Swing Rosie probably could have lasted forever, but the trio felt it was time to transition from the '40s to their individual muses, enabling Butcher to arrange and record Words We Both Could Say and appear in such high profile events as the recent Oscar Peterson Tribute Concert, where she shared the stage with Molly Johnson, David Braid and Sophie Milman.

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