Results for "Toronto"

Allison Au

Allison Au (pronounced "ow") is JUNO award winning saxophonist, composer and arranger. Highly regarded for her distinctive and imaginative voice, Allison has been lauded as “a new jazz ambassador” for Canada.

Born to a Chinese father and Jewish mother, and raised in the multicultural metropolis of Toronto, Allison fell in love with music as a young child. Her father’s eclectic collection of vinyls and CDs exposed her to a wide array of musical styles. Struggling to find a sense of belonging in her biracial identity, the unhinged freedom of improvisation captivated Allison and quickly became her lab for self-expression and exploration. 

Teri Parker

Born: April 1, 1986

Teri Parker (MA, BMus) is a jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader based in Toronto, Canada. Born into a musical family, Parker gravitated towards the rich history and creative possibilities of jazz while still in high school; when it came time to apply for post-secondary schooling, she was accepted into the University of Toronto’s prestigious Jazz Studies program. It was at U of T that Parker had the opportunity to study with prominent educators who would prove foundational in her development as an artist, including celebrated instrumentalists and composers such as Dave Restivo, David Braid, and Phil Nimmons, Director Emeritus of Jazz Studies. After graduating from U of T, Parker continued her studies independently; as the winner of successive grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council, she was able to continue learning with world-renowned artists in New York and Europe, including Sophia Rosoff, Aaron Goldberg, Guillermo Klein, Fred Hersch, and Enrico Pieranunzi. 

The Nimmons Tribute: Volume 2 - Generational

by John Chacona
June 30, 2023

Anyone who listened to Canadian radio after the adoption of the so-called Canadian Content requirement in the '70s probably heard a lot of Phil Nimmons' music. To be sure, the clarinetist, composer and arranger had achieved some recognition south of the 49th parallel through his RCA recordings of the '50s but, by choosing to base his ...

Vocalist And Songwriter Nicky Schrire Leads Canadian Quartet On 'Nowhere Girl,' First Album In Ten Years

April 30, 2023

Blurring the lines between jazz, singer-songwriter and folk traditions, ‘Nowhere Girl’ is the shimmering new quartet album from British/South African/Canadian vocalist and songwriter Nicky Schrire. RELEASED 9 JUNE 2023 ON ANZIC RECORDS Vocalist and composer Nicky Schrire was born in London and grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. She moved to New York City to ...

Duncan Hopkins

Canadian double bassist, composer and arranger Duncan Hopkins

has been working at the highest levels of jazz for almost thirty years.

In that time he has worked with such jazz legends as Norma

Winstone, Bobo Stenson, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Scott

Hamilton, Houston Person, Warren Vache, Ed Bickert, Mark Murphy,

Peter Appleyard, Bobby Watson, Jeremy Pelt, Byron Stripling, Dianna

Krall, Kenny Wheeler, Sam Rivers, Harry Allen and Edward Simon to

name but a few and playing in clubs and venues such as the

National Arts Centre in Canada, Royal Festival Hall in England and

TRE, The New Album By Brazilian Guitarist Rodrigo Simoes

March 24, 2023

TRE is Rodrigo Simoes' new concept album through Canadian jazz label Three Pines Records. Rodrigo Simoes is a Brazilian jazz guitarist and composer. He performs regularly in Montreal and the region. With TRE, we find the DNA of Rodrigo Simoes' sound: Latin guitar, Afro-Brazilian grooves and jazz fusion. Added to this is the inspiration of the ...

Christian Overton

Originally from Sudbury Ontario, Christian Overton is now one of the most in demand trombonists and composers in Toronto in every scene from jazz and rock to salsa, R&B, theatre work and everything in between. He has a degree from Humber College where he studied with some of the nation’s top jazz musicians including Pat LaBarbera, John MacLeod, and Alistair Kay. Christian has also completed a Masters degree at the University of Toronto studying with Kelsley Grant, Gary Kulesha and Tim Ries. 

Jazz collaborations include:  Hermeto Pascoal, John Clayton, The Panamanian Big Band featuring Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Miguel Zenon. Also Kurt Elling, Bobby Shew, Guido Basso, Peter Appleyard, Jane Bunnett, Bill Dobbins, The Art of Jazz Orchestra, Jens Lindemann & the Order of Canada Band, Christine and Ingrid Jensen, The LaBarbera Brothers, The Don Thompson Big Band, John MacLeod's Rex Hotel Orchestra, Turboprop, The Carn Davidson 9, The Heavyweights Brass Band, NOJO and Gary Morgan’s Panamerican All Stars as well as many other acts. Christian was also featured on the Cuphead video game soundtrack which reached #1 on the billboard jazz charts in 2019.

2022: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 29, 2022

Current events impacted the jazz world in significant ways throughout 2022. In its third year, the coronavirus pandemic continued to lurk in some settings, while others recovered in robust fashion. Russia's war on Ukraine was felt by musicians and triggered an outpouring of support for its victims. Initiatives to ensure greater equity in jazz advanced. The ...

Neil Brathwaite

Neil Brathwaite was raised in Montreal, Quebec, with West Indian roots from Barbados. Introduced at the age 7 to classical music, he studied piano with Daisy Sweeney (the sister of Oscar Peterson) and was initiated into jazz by listening to the music his father played in the house. Brathwaite began playing alto sax in high school while getting experience playing with local R&B bands in Montreal. He later went on to complete his music education in Toronto attending the Humber College music program and studying under Pat LaBarbera.

Throughout his career he has worn many hats including leading a successful commercial R&B act B-Fun with their versiion of Bruce Cockburn's “Wondering Where the Lions Are”). He's also been the co-host and musical director for a Canadian television show (The Toronto Show) and co-founder and musical director of the former Toronto annual urban showcase Bump N' Hustle.

Fernanda Cunha

Born: November 5

Fernanda Cunha is a Brazilian jazz singer from Rio de Janeiro. She grew up with an affinity for both the music of her home country as well as jazz. She has toured Brazil, Europe, and North America, performing at prestigious international jazz festivals.

She has released 10  solo albums in Brazil with worldwide distribution.

Fernanda has been a regular performer in Canada from coast-to-coast-to-coast for many years.  

Regular appearances at jazz festivals in Canada have helped to carve out a fan base for Cunha’s post-bossa groove, and in 2019 she moved to Ontario, Canada.