Results for "jazz"

Jean-Michel Leblanc

Born: September 29, 1994

Jean-Michel Leblanc is a multi-instrumentalist and composer active in in Quebec, Canada. As a sideman, he participated as an accompanist, arranger and co-composer for various artists such as "Mégane Cyr" and progressive rock band "Citizens", and is now an active member of experimental musical ensembles "The Plastic Waste Band" and "Le Jager". His work with these groups, coupled with his numerous activities as a freelance musician, led him to perform all around Quebec and Canada. ​ As a composer, he synthesizes his hard rock roots with his passion for cinematic music and his love of modern pop with his fascination of contemporary classical music

Leonie Evans

Born: June 10, 1988

Leonie Evans has been performing since the age of 5 and has never stopped. As well as her own music she plays Jazz, Blues, Country, Gospel and music from Latin America. She's played and sat in on vocals, guitar or washboard with the likes of Tuba Skinny, C.W. Stoneking, Frog & Henry, Honky Tonk Sail, Blue Mockingbirds, Ragtime Nightmare, Old Fish Jazz Band, Sam Doores and many more.

Ferenc Nemeth

Born: May 20, 1976

FERENC NEMETH is an accomplished and versatile musician who continues to push the boundaries of jazz drumming and composition. Nemeth has since the early days of his career, been one of the most sought after drummers both, in his native Hungary as well as in the United States. Coming from a musical family, his unique dynamism and versatility was fostered from a very early age. An exciting performer and imaginative collaborator, Nemeth is well regarded for his work with the Lionel Loueke Trio and GilFeMa and has also travelled, performed and collaborated extensively as a bandleader, co-leader, sideman and educator as well as initiating creative projects of his own. From his early days at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Thelonius Monk Insitute of Jazz in Los Angeles, Nemeth has learned from and worked with the world’s finest jazz musicians and groups including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Terence Blanchard, the Billy Childs Trio, Bob Sheppard, Dave Carpenter, John Clayton, Jimmy Heath, The Henry Mancini Orchestra amongst others

The Toots Project

When accordionist Toots Thielemans turned his attention to the chromatic harmonica, in occupied Belgium in the 1940s, he picked a chameleon of an instrument which was to lead to a musical career without boundaries. Was it something about this unique and rarely-heard instrument which took him into the worlds of bebop bands, electric funk, brazilian jazz and film & TV scores? Or was it the highly-personal voice of this soft-spoken North European gentleman which endeared him to the vanguard of American musicians and composers, from Charlie Parker to Quincy Jones, Benny Goodman to Jaco Pastorius? In a concert programme endorsed by Thielemans himself shortly before his death in 2016, harmonica maestro Phil Hopkins joins some of the UK’s most inventive jazz musicians to explore the eclectic repertoire of Toots

Jonathan Saraga

Born: August 26, 1987

Jonathan Saraga is a New York City-based trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, educator and Doctor of Musical Arts. He won the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Solo Competition in 2007 and competed as a finalist in the 2009 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. He has been selected for four intensive and/or residency programs including the 2011 School for Improvisational Music Summer Intensive Program, the 2015 Banff International Summer Intensive Program in Jazz and Creative Music, the 2019 Banff Early Fall Musicians in Residence program and the 2021 Chashama chaNorth Artist in Residence program. Additional residency related accolades include finalist status in the 2021 Haleakala National Park Artist in Residence program and waitlist status for the 2021 Millay Colony of the Art’s Core Residency program. Jonathan has also competed as a finalist in three jazz-trumpet vacancy auditions—the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (2020), U.S. Navy Band Commodores (2021) and the Air Force Academy Band (2021). In 2022, he became a selected member of the Recording Academy’s New York Chapter.

George Lake BIG Band

Active since: March 1, 1995

With lots of brass, a little sass, and plenty of pizzazz, the award-winning George Lake BIG Band would be happy to swing for you sometime soon. Their finely tuned repertoire draws on the timeless appeal of the greats; Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw and arrangements by modern swing artists like The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and The Brian Setzer Orchestra. This distinctive blend has given the George Lake Big Band a unique style that continues to win fans from every generation. Simply put, they can really swing!

Petr Cancura

Born: April 23, 1977

Born in Eastern Europe, brought up in the wilderness of the Great White North, and later thrust into the urban Jungle of New York City, it is no surprise that Petr Cancura’s musical pallet is as wide as it is. A saxophonist with a vast knowledge of Jazz, Balkan, African and American folk traditions, Petr performs on banjo and mandolin as well as on the medium format black & white camera… all of which influences each other into a Roots Song & Improvising music machine with a visual sensibility. Petr, now based in Ottawa, Canada, is the Program Director of the Ottawa Jazz Festival, two-time Artist-In- Residence of Carleton University, and was the Musical Director of the National Arts Center’s Crossroads Series, reimagining the songs of current Canadian Songwriters for an all-star jazz cast

Yuko Mabuchi

Born: June

In the world of music, there are artists who follow trends and those who create them. Yuko Mabuchi firmly belongs in the latter category. Hailing from Japan, she is currently taking the global music scene by storm, showcasing her awe-inspiring talent as a pianist while staying true to her roots.

At the tender age of four, Yuko found her rhythm in the world of classical piano in her hometown of Fukui. However, she didn't stay confined to just one genre. Growing up, she was drawn towards American R&B, Hip-Hop, and Blues, but it was jazz that struck a chord deep within her.

In fact, jazz captivated her so much that she dedicated her post-high school years to studying jazz piano. This early initiation into a multitude of genres fueled her music into an exotic mix, making it as unique as the artist herself.

Shimpei Ogawa

Born: January 19, 1994

Born in Okazaki, Aichi, Japan in 1994, Shimpei started playing electric bass at the age of 13. He would quickly switch to an upright bass after participating in a local jazz big band workshop and falling in love with the art of jazz. He started taking lessons from Tsuyoshi Shimada and played in the Okazaki Junior Jazz Orchestra: “Beans” where he would learn the styles of Count Basie and other legendary musicians from the “swing era”. 　Shimpei moved to Tokyo in 2012 and started playing in local venues while studying jazz and classical bass with Osamu Koichi and Yasuyuki Se respectively

Dylan Taylor

Born: March 29

My first instrument was cello, then electric bass. When I found Jazz the upright bass found me. I have spent most of my life in Philadelphia except for a few years studying with John Patittucci in New York. Also studied with Buster Williams, Dennis Sandole and Al Stauffer. Played for many years and recorded with Ken Ulansey and Heath Allen, also with the Tom Lawton trio at the four seasons Hotel and Tony Williams Quartet at the Ritz Carlton. Was a long time member of Bobby Zankel's big band, made two records with them and a trio record with Edgar Bateman. I have also recorded with Larry Coryell and Mike Clark, Butch Ballard and Sam Dockery, Khan Jamal, and Kelly Meashey among others.