fall 2017
march2017
Photo: Dan Brubeck
This Issue...3 Benny Sharoni Quartet
4 Devin Gray New York Trio
5 Dan Brubeck Quartet – Celebrating the Music and Lyrics of Dave & Iola Brubeck
6 Dean Mcneill’s Lost In The Stars: Music for Trumpet, Fugelhorn, Strings, & Rhythm Section
7 The Edmonton Jazz Collective plays Charlie Austin
8 Pat Bianchi Trio
9 Yardbird Suite Jazz Orchestra
10 Assaf Kehati
11 Rubim De Toledo Cd Release
12 Harry Allen’s All Star New York Saxophone Band featuring Vincent Herring, Grant Stewart and Gary Smulyan
13 Elliott Sharp
14 Johanna Sillanpaa
15 Step In Trio
16 Azar Lawrence Quintet featuring Al McLean
18 YARDBIRD SUITE BLUES: Arsen Shomakhov Trio
19 Yardbird Suite All Stars: 100th Birthday of Thelonious Monk
20 Champian Fulton And Cory Weeds
21 Tuesday Night Sessions
22 Oded Tzur Quartet
24 Paul Shihadeh’s Holiday Reunion
25 Thursday Showcase
26 MacEwan University Faculty Jazz Ensemble
27 Yardbird Festival of Canadian Jazz
2 FALL 2017
www.yardbirdsuite.com
Yardbird Suite Jazz is a registered trademark of the Edmonton Jazz Society (1973).
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Edmonton Jazz Society’sBoard of Directors
2016 • 2017Francis Remedios • President
Dominique Roy • Vice PresidentStuart Crosley • Treasurer
David MacFarlane • SecretaryAdrian Albert • Vice President Programming
Board MembersMonique Bielech • Craig Brenan
Pam Josey • Jasiek Poznanski • Sergio Rodriguez Dave Babcock • Reg Wilkes
Yardbird SuitePROGRAMMING • Adrian Albert, Nico Arnáez,
Dave Babcock, Dan Davis, Julie King, Jasiek PoznanskiPRODUCTION • Lisi Sommer
TUESDAY NIGHT SESSIONS • Dan DavisLITTLEBIRDS DIRECTOR • Joel Gray
JAZZ FOR KIDS DIRECTOR: Sandro Dominelli & Brandy Dominelli
FINANCE • Suzanne MorterSOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS • Reg Wilkes • Sergio Rodriguez
TRANSPORTATION • Alan SpenceHouSe MANAGeR & VoLuNTeeR
COORDINATOR • Pam Josey
our Volunteer House ManagersSue Cameron • Shannon Charney • Jan Doll Julie Janczyn • Pam Josey • Gail Kelly Tracy Kolenchuk • Len Penner • Marilyn Rude Collette Slevinsky • Rhonda Smith • Karen Voller
Yardbird Suite NewsletterThe Yardbird Newsletter is published fourtimes per year by the edmonton Jazz Society.
EDITOR • Adrian Albert • Jasiek Poznanski
GRAPHIC DESIGN • Kim Deley, Critical Path Marketing Communications
DISTRIBUTION • Monique Bielech, Bill Harper
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TicketsTickets for Yardbird Suite shows are available at Tix on the Square and at the door on the night of the performance.
fall 2017
march2017
www. yardbirdsuite.com 3
CROSS-BORDER JAZZ SERIES
Benny Sharoni Quartet
WHEN...From Boston, Edmonton
FRIDAY • SEPTEMBER 22MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Benny Sharoni - saxophonesChris Andrew - pianoRubim de Toledo - bassSteve Langone - drums
bennysharoni.com
Originally from Israel and now based in Boston,
tenor saxophonist Benny Sharoni is a U.S.
bandleader, composer and arranger who is
a mainstay on the international jazz scene. A
straight ahead player who fuses together the
classic bop influences of Sonny Rollins, Dexter
Gordon and Steve Grossman (among many
others), Sharoni flavors his music with Latin
rhythms and an energetic drive that delights
audiences worldwide. He demonstrates
fervent skill on his horn that instantly lifts him
above the pack, but that’s only one element of
his winning formula. Sharoni is also
a player committed to unfettered
expression; reaching an
audience through taste,
beauty and infectious swing.
Benny’s recordings, “Eternal
Elixir” and “Slant Signature”,
captured the hearts and ears
of jazz listeners and critics,
earning tremendous acclaim
in the jazz world
“…a soaring tenor sax monster…”
~ George Fendel, Jazz Scene
4 FALL 2017
Devin Gray is an artist interested in multiple
musical directions and one who strives for
quality and sincerity in his work. His exciting
energy has compelled him towards many
different musical directions and projects.
Considered by his contemporaries as cutting
edge, Gray shows promise as an artist that will
not only move the music forward, but one who
will share his unique musical vision with the
world of music.
Devin Gray’s fresh approach to modern
drumming has enabled him to play with
many of America’s great jazz musicians.
He has performed and recorded with
innovative musicians of contrasting styles and
backgrounds such as David Liebman, Tony
Malaby, Ingrid Jensen, Michael Formanek, Nate
Wooley, Stephan Crump, George Garzone, Chris
Speed, Drew Gress, Sam Rivers, Ralph Alessi,
John O’Gallagher, Ellery Eskelin, Kris Davis,
Matt Mitchell, Uri Caine, Andrew D’Angelo, Bill
McHenry and many others.
Devin has been fortunate to perform in many
places around the globe and continues to
make peace with his audiences. He is a top call
young drummer in many modern jazz circles in
New York City as well as multiple cities on the
East Coast of America.
Making his first appearance at the Yardbird
Suite, Devin Gray will be accompanied by
saxophonist Chris Speed and bassist Drew
Gress, both of whom were here with the
Claudia Quintet in June, one of the highlights
of the 2017 TD Edmonton International Jazz
Festival.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES
Devin Gray New York Trio
WHEN...From New York
SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 23MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Devin Gray - drums Chris Speed- saxophoneDrew Grass - bass
devingraymusic.com
www. yardbirdsuite.com 5
Dan Brubeck is a renowned jazz drummer
whose original style, distinctive solos,
and mastery of odd time signatures and
polyrhythms have earned the respect of critics
worldwide. Dan’s previous CD “Lifetimes”
with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet received
exceptional critical acclaim.
On his brilliantly realized new album
“Celebrating the Music and Lyrics of Dave &
Iola Brubeck,” Dan Brubeck introduces his
parents’ remarkable and surprisingly little-
known songbook. Dan has an extensive history
of performing and recording alongside his
famous pianist father Dave Brubeck and had
long wanted to explore some of the songs and
textual settings that his parents collaborated
on over the years.
The 2-CD set on Blue Forest Records happens
to be Dan’s recording debut as a leader. Vocalist
Adam Thomas brings a soulful sweetness to
the classics as well as to unexpected gems like
“Since Love Had Its Way” and “Summer Song,”
both created with Louis Armstrong in mind,
the minor blues “Lord, Lord,” and “Strange
Meadowlark,” a superlative piece that could
easily become a standard. The quartet doesn’t
avoid the best-known numbers, offering
memorable versions of the oft-interpreted
“Blue Rondo a la Turk” and Paul Desmond’s
enduring hit “Take Five.”
CANADIAN JAZZ SERIES
Dan Brubeck Quartet – Celebrating the Music and Lyrics of Dave & Iola Brubeck
WHEN...From Vancouver, Seattle
FRIDAY • SEPTEMBER 29MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Dan Brubeck - drumsAnton Schwartz - saxophoneAdam Thomas - bass and vocalsTony Foster - piano
danbrubeck.com
6 FALL 2017
An Edmonton native and now a longtime
resident of Saskatoon, Dean McNeill is a
versatile trumpet player/composer who
regularly performs in both the classical and
jazz idioms as a soloist and as an ensemble
leader. He was the second director of the
Edmonton Jazz Society’s Littlebirds Big Band in
the 1990s and has been a full Professor at the
University of Saskatchewan for many years.
On the classical side, McNeill was featured as
a guest soloist of the New Edmonton Wind
Sinphonia’s composition “Kalla” by Allan Gilliland
which won the 2013 Western Canadian Music
Awards Classical Composition award.
One of his many jazz projects was the CD
“Complete Rebirth of the Cool”, a project
headed by composer Jeff Presslaff, which
created new repertoire as inspired by Miles
Davis’ landmark recording “Birth of the Cool”.
This project was successfully presented at the
Yardbird Suite by McNeill and Presslaff.
He has performed alongside many notable
musicians such as Tommy Banks, Jon
Balantyne, David Braid, Dee Daniels, Phil Dwyer,
Mark Frewer, Hugh Fraser, Wycliffe Gordon,
Kelly Jefferson, Molly Johnson, Ingrid Jensen,
Oliver Jones, Jens Lindeman, Bob Mintzer, P.J.
Perry, Denzal Sinclaire, Brad Turner, and Carol
Welsman, among others.
This very special evening of intimate music
features arrangements by Phil Dwyer (from
Guido Basso’s Juno Award winning CD “Lost in
the Stars”) as well as selections by Juno Award
winning composer David Braid.
A portion of the concert proceeds will benefit
the Joy McNeill Music Scholarship.
THE BEST OF ALBERTA JAZZ SERIES
Dean Mcneill’s Lost In The StarsMusic For Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Strings, & Rhythm Section
WHEN...From Saskatoon, Edmonton
SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 30MEMBERS $24GUESTS $28DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Dean McNeill - flugelhornChris Andrew - pianoJohn Taylor - bassJamie Cooper - drums
Kate Svrcek, Neda Yamach - violin 1Christine Yu, Alison Stewart - violin 2Miriam Ferguson - violaIan Woodman - cello
deanmcneill.com
www. yardbirdsuite.com 7
The Edmonton Jazz Collective unites a group
of professional jazz musicians in a unique
ensemble that showcases its members’
individual voices. The musicians are all regular
performers on the Edmonton jazz scene and
include seasoned veterans as well as recent
post-secondary performance graduates.
For this event, the Edmonton Jazz Collective
will be featuring the music of Charlie Austin.
In a career spanning four decades, Charlie has
performed across western Canada in a variety
of settings including the Tommy Banks Show
on CBC television and the ITV Concert Series
in the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps even more
importantly, Austin taught in the MacEwan
University Music Program for over thirty
years where he influenced generations of
Western Canadian jazz musicians. He is also
the author of “An Approach to Jazz Piano”, a
comprehensive jazz piano text sold around
the world. Now retired from teaching, Charlie
Austin continues to perform, teach, record and
inspire.
The Edmonton Jazz Collective is an initiative of
the Edmonton Jazz Festival Society.
THE BEST OF ALBERTA JAZZ SERIES
The Edmonton Jazz Collective plays Charlie Austin
WHEN...From Edmonton
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 6MEMBERS $20GUESTS $24DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Charlie Austin - piano Josh McHan - bass Mark Segger - drums Kent Shores - guitar Raymond Baril - saxophone Remi Noel - trombone Doug Berner - trumpet
gordongrdinamusic.com/gordon-grdina-quartet/
8 FALL 2017
Grammy nominated organist and winner of
Downbeat Magazine’s 2016 Rising Star poll,
Pat Bianchi has established himself as one of
the premier organists on the international
scene today. His command of the instrument,
harmonic prowess, rhythmic intensity and
versatility are rivaled by few.
His most recent release “A Higher Standard”,
featuring Byron Landham and Craig Ebner,
exemplifies Bianchi’s superiority and finesse in
the organ trio setting, bringing jazz standards
to a completely ‘higher’ level.
When Pat is not leading his own trio, he
performs regularly with jazz guitar icon Pat
Martino and also continues to perform with
NEA Jazz Master and saxophone legend Lou
Donaldson.
Originally from Rochester, New York, Bianchi
began playing organ at the age of seven and
was playing his first professional gigs by the
age of eleven. Pat was mentored by numerous
musicians on the Rochester music scene and
graduated with a Bachelors of Music in Jazz
Piano Performance from the Berklee College
of Music.
He has performed with such greats as Red
Holloway, Terell Stafford, Peter Bernstein,
Dakota Staton, Ralph Peterson, Tim Warfield,
George Benson and many others. Bianchi
has released six CDs as a leader and is also a
featured artist on over 30 recordings.
For his Yardbird Suite debut, Pat Bianchi
will be joined by the great guitarist Paul
Bollenback (who appeared here in 2010 with
Joey DeFrancesco) and Calgary native Sanah
Kadoura on drums.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES
Pat Bianchi Trio
WHEN...From New York
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 7MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Pat Bianchi - Hammond organSanah Kadoura - drumsPaul Bollenback - guitar
patbianchi.com
Notice of Annual General MeetingNotice is hereby given that the annual general meeting of members of the Edmonton Jazz Society (1973) will be held at the Yardbird Suite, 11 Tommy Banks Way, Edmonton, Alberta, on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of:
1. Receiving the report of the president;
2. Receiving and considering the report of the treasurer of the Society for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2017 including the appointment of the auditors for the coming year;
3. Election of the board of directors and officers of the Society;
4. Amending the Bylaws of the Society to add additional executive positions;
5. The transition of such further business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Further information regarding the business to be discussed at the annual general meeting can be obtained by contacting the Yardbird Suite at telephone 780-432-0428. Dated at the city of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta, this first day of September, 2017
www. yardbirdsuite.com 9
The YSJO will be playing the greatest hits of the Swing era, featuring the music of Glenn Miller,
Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and others.
THE BEST OF ALBERTA JAZZ SERIES
Yardbird Suite Jazz Orchestra
WHEN...From Edmonton
SUNDAY • OCTOBER 8MEMBERS $24GUESTS $28DOORS 1:30 PM - SHOW 2 PM
Raymond Baril, Dan Davis, Dave Babcock, Robin Taylor - saxophones
Joel Gray, Sergio Rodriguez, Matt Michielin, Jeff Bryant - trumpets
Allen Jacobson, Marty Majorowicz, Remi Noel, Hannah Gray - trombones
Robert Walsh - guitar
Josh McHan - bass
Dan Skakun - drums
With special guest: Mallory Chipman - vocals
10 FALL 2017
The Assaf Kehati Trio has been playing
together for the past three years. The group
have toured the United States, Colombia, Israel,
Canada, and Europe, and played at venues
such as the Blue Note in New York and the
Regattabar in Boston and jazz festivals in
Toronto, Washington D.C., Brno, Barranqulla,
Atlanta, and more.
Making his third appearance at the Yardbird
Suite, the trio will be playing Kehati’s original
compositions (such as The Almond Tree, Naked,
The Horses’ Fight) and his arrangements of
some of his favorite jazz standards (such as
When Will the Blues Leave, Someday my Prince
Will Come, Long Ago and Far Away). The music is
influenced by different genres of jazz, Brazilian
music, Israeli music, and American folk music.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES
Assaf Kehati
WHEN...From Israel, New York
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 13MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Assaf Kehati - guitarMichael O’Brien - bassPeter Traunmueller - drums
assafkehati.com
Alberta bassist and composer Rubim de Toledo
combines the influences of his Brazilian heritage
and his dedication to the jazz tradition to create
an approach to music that is refreshing and
uplifting. Boasting a diverse rhythmic palette
inspired by world music, jazz, and contemporary
music, a lure towards improvisation and a
forward-looking traditionalism, Rubim nurtures
a commanding sound and style as a bassist,
soloist, and composer.
Rubim began his professional career in
Edmonton at the age of seventeen performing
with Albertan jazz legends Tommy Banks, P.J.
Perry and Clarence “Big” Miller. Since then he
has become a sought-after sideman and a
productive bandleader.
With his fifth and newest release “The Gap”,
Rubim distinguishes himself as a composer
with a unique ability to explore jazz styles while
maintaining a sound that is modern yet inviting.
Featuring internationally renowned drummer
Jason Marsalis on half the record and Albertan
mainstay Jon McCaslin on the other, along with
pianist Chris Andrew, the disc boasts inventive
acoustic jazz trio arrangements embellished by
compelling solo improvisations.
In the past, Rubim has had the pleasure of
accompanying renowned artists like Mulgrew
Miller, Terrell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordan, Peter
THE BEST OF ALBERTA JAZZ SERIES
Rubim De Toledo: CD Release
WHEN...From Edmonton, Calgary
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 14MEMBERS $20GUESTS $24DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Rubim de Toledo - bassChris Andrew - pianoJon McCaslin - drums
rubim.com
Bernstein, Sean Jones, Jason Marsalis, Luis
Bonilla, D.D. Jackson, Victor Goines, Sheila
Jordan, Jay Clayton, Ralph Bowen, Oliver Jones,
David Braid, Denzel Sinclaire, Mary Chapin
Carpenter, the Canadian Tenors, and Laila Biali.
Rubim has worked extensively with Calgary’s
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks as musical director.
He is a passionate music educator and serves
as the section head of the bass department at
MacEwan University.
www. yardbirdsuite.com 11
12 FALL 2017
The All Star New York Saxophone Band features
Vincent Herring, Grant Stewart and Harry Allen on
tenor saxophones and Gary Smulyan on baritone
saxophone. The three tenor and baritone
saxophone section has a mellow yet exciting
sound. The swinging ensemble playing of a big
band combined with individual solo styles of
a small group make for an especially satisfying
musical experience.
Harry Allen has recorded over 70 CDs as a leader,
many more as a sideman and has performed
at festivals and jazz clubs around the world. He
has recorded or performed with Tony Bennett,
Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Johnny Mandel, Tommy
Flanagan, Maxine Sullivan, and Rosemary Clooney.
Vincent Herring’s intense, soulful, multi-noted
style and ebullient swing have excited audiences
worldwide. He has performed or recorded with
Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Hayes,
Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Horace
Silver Quintet, Jack DeJohnette, Larry Coryell,
Steve Turre, The Mingus Big Band (which won a
Grammy in 2010), Kenny Barron, Nancy Wilson,
Carla Bley, and many more.
Originally from Toronto, Grant Stewart moved to
New York City at the age of 19 and has become
a mainstay on the New York jazz scene for
many years. He has toured extensively and has
performed with Curtis Fuller, John Hendricks,
Clark Terry, Etta Jones, Bill Charlap, Brad Mehldau,
Russell Malone, Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein,
Jimmy Cobb, Harry Connick, and Cecil Payne.
Gary Smulyan is a critically-acclaimed baritone
saxophonist. He has won the Downbeat Critics
Poll, the Downbeat Readers Poll, the Jazz Times
Critics Poll and the Jazz Times Readers Poll in
the baritone saxophone category on numerous
occasions. Gary has recorded or performed with
Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Chick
CROSS-BORDER JAZZ SERIES
Harry Allen’s All Star New York Saxophone Band Featuring Vincent Herring, Grant Stewart And Gary Smulyan
WHEN...From New York, Edmonton
THURSDAY • OCTOBER 19MEMBERS $28GUESTS $32DOORS 7PM - SHOW 8PM
Harry Allen, Vincent Herring and Grant Stewart - tenor saxophonesGary Smulyan - baritone saxophoneChris Andrew - pianoPaul Johnston - bassJamie Cooper- drums
harryallenjazz.com
12 FALL 2017
Corea, Tito Puente, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Diana
Ross, as well as being a member of the Village
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
For those who favour hard-blowing mainstream
jazz, this will definitely be an evening not to be
missed.
www. yardbirdsuite.com 13www. yardbirdsuite.com 13
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES
Elliott Sharp
Elliott Sharp is an American multi-instrumentalist,
composer, and performer who has been a central
figure in the avant-garde and experimental music
scene in New York City for over 30 years. He has
released over eighty-five recordings ranging from
orchestral music to blues, jazz, noise, no wave rock,
and techno music. He leads the projects Carbon
and Orchestra Carbon, Tectonics, and Terraplane
and has pioneered ways of applying fractal
geometry, chaos theory, and genetic metaphors
to musical composition and interaction.
His collaborators have included Radio-Sinfonie
Frankfurt; pop singer Debbie Harry; Ensemble
Modern; Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan;
Kronos String Quartet; Ensemble Resonanz; cello
innovator Frances Marie Uitti; blues legends
Hubert Sumlin and Pops Staples; pipa virtuoso
Min-Xiao Feng; jazz greats Jack deJohnette, Oliver
Lake, and Sonny Sharrock; multimedia artists
Christian Marclay and Pierre Huyghe; and Bachir
Attar, leader of the Master Musicians Of Jajouka.
Sharp is a 2014 Guggenheim Fellow, and a 2014
Fellow at Parson’s Center for Transformative
Media. He received the 2015 Berlin Prize in Musical
Composition from the American Academy in
Berlin. He has composed scores for feature films
and documentaries; created sound-design for
interstitials on The Sundance Channel, MTV and
Bravo networks; and has presented numerous
sound installations in art galleries and museums.
He is the subject of a new documentary “Doing
The Don’t” by filmmaker Bert Shapiro.
In January 2005, Sharp launched his series of
interpretations of the music of Thelonious Monk,
performed on solo acoustic guitar. Released
on Clean Feed, “Sharp? Monk? Sharp! Monk!”
applies Sharp’s unique vocabulary and virtuoso
improvisational skills to Monk’s classic works in
versions that, in the words of All About Jazz “takes
the liberty to venture from any semblance of
the original or ... frequently returning to Monk’s
musical and compositional stamps”.
This concert will be one of two events at the
Yardbird Suite this fall celebrating the 100th
birthday of Thelonious Monk.
WHEN...From New York
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 20MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Elliott Sharp - guitar
elliottsharp.com
14 FALL 2017
It’s smart, it’s soulful, it’s jazz. For every style of
music that Johanna Sillanpaa explores, there’s
a vibrant color in her voice to match. Sillanpaa’s
vocals are expertly clear, gently raw, and yet
intensely bold. She performs thoughtful jazz you
can dig your heels into. She and her ensemble
have played everywhere from intimate jazz joints
to performing in front of the 60,000-plus crowds
of the Montreal Jazz Festival.
Beyond filling venues in Canada and abroad,
Sillanpaa’s previous solo albums have also
drawn their fair share of accolades and award
nominations. Johanna’s music has garnered 2007
and 2012 nominations for Western Canadian
Music Awards as well as Best Female Vocalist and
Group/Duo of the Year at the 2010 Canadian
Smooth Jazz Awards.
There’s no mistaking that this highly acclaimed
Swedish-born artist has truly come into her
own with her latest solo album “From This Side”.
The recording features Canadian Juno Award-
winning jazz bassist George Koller, internationally
renowned trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, TD Grand
Jazz winning pianist Chris Andrew and three-
time WCMA nominated jazz drummer Tyler
Hornby. From modern jazz arrangements to
catchy originals all in the name of jazz, her latest
musical statement is sure to captivate audiences
everywhere.
“I’ve always wanted to record an album that
audiences can experience live. ‘From This Side’ has a
beauty and simplicity to it that is a reflection of what
I bring with my group in concert. What you hear is
what you’ll get! I am so fortunate to have such a
stellar band as well as production team behind me
on this one. I couldn’t be more proud of how these
songs turned out. Everything on this album just
fell into place, the perfect timing both personally
and professionally as well as the perfect cast. I am
so excited for the upcoming year and bringing this
music to audiences across Canada and beyond.”
THE BEST OF ALBERTA JAZZ SERIES
Johanna Sillanpaa
WHEN...From Calgary, Edmonton
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 21MEMBERS $20GUESTS $24DOORS 7PM - SHOW 8PM
Johanna Sillanpaa - vocalsAndre Wickenheiser - trumpetChris Andrew - pianoRubim de Toledo - bassTyler Hornby - drums
johannamusic.com
01 Time After Time 3:37Cahn & Styne. Arr. Chris Andrew
02 Thing Called Love 4:14Johanna Sillanpaa. Arr. Chris Andrew
03 Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You 3:59Rogers & Hart. Arr. Tyler Hornby
04 My Love 3:41Johanna Sillanpaa. Arr. Tyler Hornby
05 Blue Skies 3:32Irving Berlin. Arr. Chris Andrew
06 Slow Down 4:13Chris Andrew & Johanna Sillanpaa
07 Closer 4:24Chris Andrew & Johanna Sillanpaa
08 Live Right 3:55Aaron Young & Johanna Sillanpaa
09 In My Dreams 3:39Johanna Sillanpaa. Arr. Chris Andrew
10 Woodstock 6:27Joni Mitchell. Arr. Tyler Hornby
11 I See Beauty 4:16Chris Andrew & Johanna Sillanpaa
Cat#: CR 052Release Date:
Mar. 17, 2017
facebook: /johannamusicpagetwitter: /johannasillan
web: www.johannamusic.com
vocals Johanna Sillanpaa trumpet Ingrid Jensen double bass George Koller piano Chris Andrew drums Tyler Hornby
ManagementStephanie Hutchinson Chronograph Records
p. 587-583-9504e. [email protected]
Publicity (Quebec)Simon Fauteux Six Media Marketing
p. 514-972-4584 e. [email protected]
Radio (USA)Lisa Reedy Lisa Reedy Promotions
p. 775-826-0755 e. [email protected]
Publicity (Canada)Eric Alper Eric Alper PR
p. 647-971-3742 e. [email protected]
Radio (Canada)Justin Lanoue Selective Hearing
p. 416-473-7478e. [email protected]
Hit #1on CanadianJazz Charts
& iTunes
JOH
AN
NA
SILLAN
PAA
FROM
THIS SID
E CR052
www. yardbirdsuite.com 15
Italian pianist Carlo Morena leads two piano trios,
one European and the other being the New York-
based Step In Trio which he created in 1994 with
bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Jeff Hirshfield.
George Schuller later assumed the drum chair. The
trio performed at the Yardbird Suite in 2015 with
Edmonton’s Dan Skakun as the drummer. Carlo
and Joe were so impressed with Dan’s playing
that they immediately requested a return visit to
Edmonton.
Step In Trio has released several albums, the most
recent of which is “As You Never Said Before”.
Although Morena has worked and recorded with
a wide variety of jazz musicians of all genres, the
music presented by the trio has, among other
styles, a contemplative almost Bill Evans-like feel.
CROSS-BORDER JAZZ SERIES
Step In TrioAmong the musicians Carlo has worked with are
many who have performed at the Yardbird Suite
including trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, saxophonists
Dave Liebman, Steve Slagle, Thomas Chapin, and
Gary Smulyan, bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz,
vocalist Jay Clayton, and guitarists John
Abercrombie and Kurt Rosenwinkel.
Joe Fonda has performed at the Yardbird Suite
on several occasions with the Michael Musillami
Trio and with drummer Barry Altschul. He has also
worked with many of the most prominent names
in improvised jazz including Anthony Braxton,
Archie Shepp, Lou Donaldson, Dave Douglas,
Curtis Fuller, Randy Weston, Carla Bley and Billy
Bang. He adds a very solid, dynamic feel to any
group in which he participates.
WHEN...From Italy, New York, Edmonton
FRIDAY • OCTOBER 27MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Carlo Morena - pianoJoe Fonda - bassDan Skakun - drums
carlomorena.comjoefonda.com
Saxophonist Azar Lawrence is known for his
contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner,
Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Woody
Shaw. Lawrence was the tenor saxophonist
Tyner used following John Coltrane’s death.
Born in Los Angeles in 1952, Lawrence’s
musical studies began at age five, Azar’s
professional music life began in his late teens
when he was asked to join Elvin Jones’ band
The Jazz Machine.
During his years performing with Elvin Jones
and later with McCoy Tyner, he was also a
music executive and songwriter including
three songs for Earth Wind & Fire’s “Powerlight”
album and performing on keys on that disc.
As a leader his seminal work “Bridge into the
New Age” in 1974 was lauded as a classic.
His discography is diverse with names like
Frank Zappa, Busta Rhymes, Woody Shaw’s
“Moontrane”, and “Dark Magus” by Miles Davis.
After many decades being off the recording
scene, Lawrence returned to the jazz scene
in the mid-2000s. His 2010 release “Mystic
Journey” placed him amongst jazz’s elder
statesmen. His bold style reminds the listener
of the energy, spirituality and emotion that
John Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders and others
brought to jazz in the 1960s and 1970s. He
rekindles the memory of one of the most
explosive eras in jazz history, channeling
the fiery spirit of Coltrane’s legacy. He never
discards the solid musical values in his sinewy
hands since halcyon days as a sideman
with McCoy Tyner. Unlike most Coltrane
wannabes, he lived and breathed the music
of the turbulent 60s, playing with Coltrane’s
contemporaries and peers.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES
Azar Lawrence Quintet featuring Al McLean
WHEN...From Los Angeles, Montreal
SATURDAY • OCTOBER 28MEMBERS $28GUESTS $32DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Azar Lawrence - saxophonesAl McLean - tenor saxophoneBenito Gonzalez - pianoJeff Littleton - bassTony Austin - drums
azarlawrence.comalmclean.com
16 FALL 2017
In 2015, Azar Lawrence and Montreal’s Al
McLean issued “Conduit” which captures two
giants of the saxophone in a mesmerizing
recording. The result is magic. ‘Conduit’ is
iconic, and remains true to the most classic
of jazz recordings. Perhaps it is because
this session revolves around the theme
of spirituality, that the music has such
a penetrating, powerful drive. Together,
Lawrence and McLean cast a distinctive
modern light on iconic jazz standards,
but their affinity to post-Coltrane jazz is
unmistakable.
Along with Al McLean, Azar Lawrence returns
for his third visit to the Yardbird Suite with the
always exciting pianist Benito Gonzalez and
bassist Jeff Littleton. New to the group this
time around is drummer Tony Austin probably
best known as a member of the collective
West Coast Get Down and as one of the
drummers on Kamasi Washington’s “The Epic”.
www. yardbirdsuite.com 17
18 FALL 2017
Russian singer, songwriter and guitar player
extraordinaire Arsen Shomakhov is an electric
blues performer who is truly dedicated to the
style’s roots yet who never hesitates to borrow
means of expression from other genres.
In 2005, Arsen Shomakhov travelled from his
native Russia to Memphis to compete in the
International Blues Challenge. Two years later,
he won the new talent contest at the King
Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas.
He soon relocated to Vancouver, where he
formed the Arsen Shomakhov Trio. He was
nominated for a Maple Blues Award for his
2010 album “On the Move” which reached
number 1 in Canada on the Roots Music Report
airplay charts and hit Top 25 Blues Albums of
the Year worldwide.
Working hard to make a name for himself
and his trio, Arsen has performed for a variety
of festivals across the Europe, United States
and Canada including the King Biscuit Blues
Festival, the Waterfront Blues Festival and the
Montreal International Blues Festival.
YARDBIRD SUITE BLUES
Arsen Shomakhov Trio
WHEN...From Vancouver
FRI & SAT • NOVEMBER 17 & 18MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Arsen Shomakhov - guitar, vocalsBruce O’Neill - bassChip Hart - drums
arsenshomakhov.ca
“Shomakhov’s singing is strong and his excellent guitar work pays rare attention to tonal variety and to creating strong rhythms as well as fleet-fingered, inventive solos.”
- Blues Review
“Shomakhov’s strengths are his formidable guitar playing across the spectrum of blues and r&b styles, his songwriting and his knack for finding good obscure material to cover”
- Downbeat
www. yardbirdsuite.com 19
2017 marks the centenary of the birth of one
of the great icons of jazz - Thelonious Monk.
To mark this special event, Craig Brenan
will be directing the Yardbird Suite All Stars
performing the arrangements from a 1968
West Coast Columbia Records recording of the
Thelonious Monk Big Band entitled “Monk’s
Blues”.
A big band recording by Thelonious Monk
was an unusual and infrequent occurrence.
He had previously recorded tentets at Town
Hall in New York in 1959 and 1963. For
“Monk’s Blues”, he travelled to Los Angeles
where producer Teo Macero (famous for his
work with Miles Davis) assembled a big band
featuring stalwarts such as Bob Brookmeyer,
Conte Candoli, Charlie Rouse and Ernie Watts.
Oliver Nelson was engaged to write the
arrangements. “Monk’s Blues” turned out to
be the last studio sessions recorded by the
legendary pianist.
Among the famous Monk
tunes included on the
original vinyl release
were “Little Rootie Tootie”,
“Brilliant Corners”, “Trinkle,
Tinkle” and “Straight, No
Chaser”. “Blue Monk” and
“Round Midnight” were
added to the CD
reissue in 1994.
THE BEST OF ALBERTA JAZZ SERIES
Yardbird Suite All Stars: 100th Birthday Of Thelonious Monk
In addition, the Yardbird Suite All Stars will also
be performing Monk tunes by other arrangers
including some arrangements written
specifically for Joe Henderson plus a few small
band songs to recreate collaborations by Monk
and John Coltrane.
WHEN...From Edmonton
FRI & SAT • NOVEMBER 24 & 25MEMBERS $24GUESTS $28DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Jerrold Dubyk, Kent Sangster, Ray Baril, Jeremiah McDade, Dave Babcock - saxophonesSergio Rodriguez, Doug Berner, Allan Gilliland - trumpetsCraig Brenan, Marty Majorowicz, Matt White, Ken Read - trombonesChris Andrew - pianoRubim de Toledo - bassJamie Cooper - drums
20 FALL 2017
Born in Oklahoma, Fulton was mentored by
the late great trumpeter Clark Terry and bassist
Major Holley before eventually moving to New
York where she has become a world class jazz
pianist and vocalist with international acclaim.
Now a mainstay on the vibrant New York
jazz scene, she has performed with musical
royalty such as Lou Donaldson, Frank Wess,
Eric Alexander, Buster Williams, and Louis
Hayes. Her swinging style and charismatic
performances have made her a guardian of the
legacy of jazz.
Recognized as a Rising Star by the Downbeat
Magazine Critic’s Poll, Champian’s “galvanizing
presence” (the New Yorker) and her alluring
musical presentation have made her “a
charming young steward of the mainstream
Jazz tradition.” (The New York Times).
Fulton is ambitious about recording her music.
As a leader she has several recordings to her
credit while still in her twenties. Her 2016
release “After Dark” featured the music of
Dinah Washington.
CROSS-BORDER JAZZ SERIES
Champian Fulton and Cory WeedsNow comes her first date for Posi-Tone where
she unleashes her creativity to spellbind the
audience until they are “Speechless.” Listeners
are invited to sit back and dig the mesmerizing
sounds as Fulton bravely embarks on her
first ever record of entirely instrumental
performances. With an amazing program
featuring her own original compositions, she
delivers a tour de force demonstration of her
pianistic prowess. With a straight forward,
swinging and soulful presentation that covers
a wide variety of styles, sounds, and moods,
Champian succeeds in delivering a stunning
revue that will certainly leave every listener
“Speechless” and bring bright moments to jazz
fans everywhere.
WHEN...From New York, Vancouver
FRIDAY • DECEMBER 1MEMBERS $24GUESTS $28DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Champian Fulton - piano and vocalsCory Weeds - saxophoneRuss Botten - bassJoe Poole - drums
champian.net
TUESDAYNIGHT
SESSIONS
www. yardbirdsuite.com 21
SEPTEMBER 26 JOEL JESCHKE TRIO
OCTOBER 3 ANDREW GLOVER QUARTET
OCTOBER 10ExPERIENCE POINTS
OCTOBER 17DAN SKAKUN QUARTET
OCTOBER 24STEFAN KIJEK QUARTET
OCTOBER 31THOM BENNETT QUINTET
NOVEMBER 7PREQUAL
NOVEMBER 14KATE BLECHINGER QUARTET
NOVEMBER 21FUSIONAUTS
NOVEMBER 28DOUG ORGAN QUARTET
DECEMBER 5SANDRO DOMINELLI TRIO
TUESDAYNIGHT
SESSIONS
September - December 2017
TICKETS - MEMBERS & GUESTS(including Silver & Gold Memberships): $5
DOORS 7:30 PM - SHOW 8 PM
On Tuesday nights - Edmonton’s best jazz players and up-and-coming musicians arrive to play together. The evening begins with a one hour set from the featured band - followed by a jam session. Our Tuesday Sessions are a weekly event for local jazz musicians to play together and network - and provide an opportunity to mentor the younger musicians wanting to gain experience as they grow their own careers. Join us for our Tuesday Sessions - a terrific opportunity to hear some live jazz in a relaxed concert environment. Buy Tuesday Session season pass for $100. Valid for all Tuesday Sessions for one year from the date of purchase. Not valid for any other night.
www. yardbirdsuite.com 21
22 FALL 2017
Oded Tzur is a New York City based
saxophonist, composer and bandleader.
His work draws influence from the art of
storytelling and explores relationships
between ancient and modern musical
traditions. His two albums on Enja Records
have earned his music the title: “A new
type of Swing”, and won extraordinary
critical acclaim in Japan, South Africa,
Europe, Russia and the United States. Tzur’s
unique language of improvisation takes
the listener on a journey many describe
as “musical storytelling”, and evokes deep
contrasts between silent passages and
dramatic crescendos.
“Translator’s Note”, Tzur’s second album as
a leader, was released this year. It is both
a departure from and a continuance of
“Like a Great River”, his debut which was
released in 2015 and received rave reviews
around the world.
Before recording “Like a Great River”, Oded
went through a long process of studying
Indian classical music. “In a way, the album
was an attempt to explore whether the
contents of that tradition can be applied
to the jazz scene of 2015 New York” says
the saxophonist, “whether a raga can be
placed on top of a moving bass and still
adhere to its rules of melodic movement.
And whether that would make sense.”
As the quartet continued to perform
its music around the world, Tzur has
gained a better understanding of these
traditions and their internal dialogue. “The
similarities are nuanced and hidden deep
under the surface, but uncovering them
is well worth the effort” he continues, “As
Joseph Campbell had put it: ‘Myths are
public dreams; dreams are private myths’.
Music is a private dream made public.”
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES
Oded Tzur Quartet
WHEN...From New York
SATURDAY • DECEMBER 2MEMBERS $24GUESTS $28DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Oded Tzur - tenor saxophoneNitai Hershkovits - pianoPetros Klampanis - bassOfri Nehemya - drums
odedtzur.com
www. yardbirdsuite.com 23
Paul Shihadeh’s career as an electric bassist
spans over 30 years, with local and worldwide
live and recording accolades in jazz, funk,
fusion, R&B and pop. After graduating from
Berklee College of Music in Boston, Shihadeh
returned to his native Edmonton where he
had the privilege to play with the city’s finest
such as Tommy Banks, the late Bob Stroup,
PazzPort, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and
Alfie Zappacosta to name a few, in addition
to countless recording sessions, commercials,
television productions and international
concert tours with platinum selling artist Roger
Whittaker.
While in Edmonton, Shihadeh also served as
head of the Bass Department at Grant MacEwan
College. Since moving to the United States
15 years ago, Shihadeh enjoyed featured
appearances at the famed Baked Potato and
La Va Lee clubs in Los Angeles with rock fusion
band Cosmosquad, Tribal Tech’s Scott Kinsey
and guitarist Scott Henderson, as well as the
CROSS-BORDER JAZZ SERIES
Paul Shihadeh’s Holiday Reunion
great pleasure of uniting with Edmonton’s Tim
Feehan on numerous recording sessions.
Since 2004, he has lived in Las Vegas with his
wife and two sons where he plays nightly for
Cirque du Soleil’s internationally renowned
show, “O”, at the Bellagio Hotel. Paul is thrilled
to return to Edmonton at the Yardbird Suite to
perform alongside a select group of Edmonton’s
finest musicians he is proud to call friends.
WHEN...From Los Vegas, Edmonton
THURSDAY • DECEMBER 7MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Paul Shihadeh - electric bassShelley Jones - vocalsAndrew Glover - piano and keyboardsJim Head - guitarDave Babcock - saxophonesBob Tildesley - trumpetSandro Dominelli - drums
YEG THURSDAYSHOWCASE
24 FALL 2017
SEPTEMBER 28 KENT SANGSTER’S ELECTRIC BANDKent Sangster presents a new project exploring original composition with elements of electronics, open improvisation and funk-based grooves.
Kent Sangster - saxophones & EWIPeter Belec - guitarChris Andrew - keyboardsJohn Taylor - electric bassJamie Cooper - drums
OCTOBER 5 LEONARD PATTERSON GROUPJoin Leonard Patterson for an evening of original music combining the melodic and harmonic sensibilities of folk music with jazz improvisation.
Leonard Patterson - drumsCraig Brenan - tromboneStefan Kijek - pianoJosh McHan - bass
October 12MALLORY CHIPMANJoin award-winning vocalist Mallory Chipman and her band for an evening featuring jazz interpretations of Cohen classics, as she celebrates the release of her sophomore album, Rags & Feathers: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen.
Mallory Chipman - voiceBrett Hansen - guitarChris Andrew - piano & keyboardsJosh McHan - bassJamie Cooper - drums
NOVEMBER 30 BRETT HANSEN TRIOBrett Hansen presents a new take on the classic guitar trio format, featuring original compositions and renditions of familiar pieces.
Brett Hansen - guitarsJosh McHan - bassAndrew Miller- drums
YEG THURSDAYSHOWCASEfeaturing Edmonton’s Best
The YeG Thursday Showcase provides our audiences the opportunity to hear the best jazz artists edmonton has to offer in a 90-minute concert set. For decades edmonton musicians have been counted amongst the finest anywhere, so we created a special night just for them. The music presented on Thursdays will be varied, offering something for every jazz listener and always with a distinct local flavour. Join us at 8pm on selected Thursday evenings to hear the best in edmonton jazz.
www. yardbirdsuite.com 25
September - December 2017
TICKETS - MEMBERS $11 GUESTS $15
DOORS 7PM - SHOW 8PM
THE BEST OF ALBERTA JAZZ SERIES
MacEwan University Faculty Jazz Ensemble
WHEN...From Edmonton
FRI & SAT • DECEMBER 8 & 9MEMBERS $22GUESTS $26DOORS 7 PM - SHOW 8 PM
Ray Baril - saxophonesKent Sangster - saxophones, EWICraig Brenan - tromboneChandelle Rimmer - voiceJim Head - guitarTom Van Seters - pianoRubim DeToledo - bass
MacEwan University’s Jazz and Contemporary
Popular Music Program showcases an
outstanding faculty of performing jazz
educators, many of whom are nationally
recognized and award winning recording
artists. The MacEwan University Jazz Ensemble
( MUFJE) will present a weekend of original
works as well as some historically important
selections from the jazz repertoire.
More than just a building, MacEwan University’s Allard Hall is a space where creativity and innovation thrive. A space for
students and faculty to fuel their passions, hone their craft, take risks and imagine fearlessly.
BING THOM CM, Architect AIBC, AAA, FRAIC, AIA
“The fundamental values of society exist in arts and culture. Your values reside in your head, but arts and culture reside in your heart; and when you bring your heart and head together, you achieve great things.”
Join us in our year of celebration. MacEwan.ca/ComeTogether
Allard Hall opensSeptember 27
MacEwan.ca/ComeTogetherMoving the Arts Downtown
26 FALL 2017
November 3 - 11, 2017
eleventh annual
FESTIVAL LINEUP WILL BE ANNOUNCED OCTOBER 2017
www. yardbirdsuite.com 27
EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY11 TOMMY BANKS WAY(Corner of 102 St & 86 Ave)EDMONTON AB T6E 2M2
PM40047729
All SHOwS BEgIN AT 8PM (DOORS OPEN AT 7PM) *wITH THE ExCEPTION OF THE OCTOBER 8 SHOw
SEPTEMBERSeptember 22Benny Sharoni QuartetMembers $22/Guests $26
September 23Devin Gray New York TrioMembers$22/Guests $26
September 29Dan Brubeck Quartet – Celebrating the Music and Lyrics of Dave & Iola BrubeckMembers $22/Guests $26
September 30Dean Mcneill’s Lost In The Stars: Music for Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Strings, & Rhythm SectionMembers $24/Guests $28
OCTOBEROctober 6The Edmonton Jazz Collective plays Charlie AustinMembers $20/Guests $24
October 7Pat Bianchi TrioMembers $22/Guests $26
October 8Yardbird Suite Jazz Orchestra Members $24/Guests $28Doors: 1:30PM, Show: 2PM
October 13Assaf KehatiMembers $22/Guests $26
October 14Rubim de Toledo CD ReleaseMembers $20/Guests $24
October 19Harry Allen’s All Star New York Saxophone Band featuring Vincent Herring, Grant Stewart and Gary SmulyanMembers $28/Guests $32
October 20Elliot SharpMembers $22/Guests $26
October 21Johanna SillanpaaMembers $20/Guests $24
October 27Step In TrioMembers $22/Guests $26
October 28Azar Lawrence Quartet featuring Al McLeanMembers $28/Guests $32
NovemberNovember 3 - 11Yardbird Festival of Canadian Jazz (lineup to be announced October 2017)
November 17 & 18Arsen Shomakhov TrioMembers $22/Guests $26
November 24 & 25Yardbird Suite All Stars: 100th Birthday of Thelonious MonkMembers $24/Guests $28
DECEMBERDecember 1Champian Fulton & Cory WeedsMembers $24/Guests $28
December 2Oded Tzur QuartetMembers $24/Guests $28
December 7Paul Shihadeh’s Holiday ReunionMembers $22/Guests $26
December 8 & 9MacEwan University Faculty Jazz EnsembleMembers $22/Guests $26
At a Glance...
Visit yardbirdsuite.com
Buy a Yardbird Suite pass to any five shows for $100. Pass is only good for current edition of our programme. Buy a Tuesday Session season pass for $100. Valid for all Tuesday Sessions for one year from the date of purchase.
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