presenting some of canada’s finest jazz musicians · jazz generations tuesday, november 11 7:30...

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EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY 11 TOMMY BANKS WAY (Corner of 102 St & 86 Ave) EDMONTON AB T6E 2M2 Our 36th Year, Issue 5 – November /December 2008 Publication Mail # 40047729 Tommy Banks and P.J. Perry Turtleboy Chandelle Rimmer and Joel Gray Jim Head Steve Kirby Alain Bédard Auguste Quintet See Page 9 for November/ December Yardbird Suite Programming NOVEMBER 8-15, 2008 Presenting Some of Canada’s Finest Jazz Musicians

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EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY11 TOMMY BANKS WAY(Corner of 102 St & 86 Ave)EDMONTON AB T6E 2M2

Our

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9

• TommyBanksandP.J.Perry

• Turtleboy

• ChandelleRimmer andJoelGray

• JimHead

• SteveKirby

• AlainBédard AugusteQuintet

See Page 9 for November/December Yardbird Suite Programming

november 8-15, 2008

Presenting Some of Canada’s Finest Jazz Musicians

THEYARDBIRDCREW

Edmonton Jazz Society’sBoard of Directors

2007•2008Jasiek Poznanski • President

Adrian Albert • Vice-PresidentShelley Chebry • Secretary

Paul Wilde • Treasurer

Board MembersDave Babcock • Chris Brown

Pam Josey • Craig Magill

Yardbird SuiteProgramming • Adrian Albert, Julie

King, Craig Magill, Jasiek PoznanskiProduction • Lisi Sommer

Jam SeSSionS • Dave BabcockRaymond Baril

LittLebirdS director • Joel GrayFinance • Suzanne Morter

PreSS reLeaSeS • Paul WildetranSPortation • Alan Spence

HouSe manager & VoLunteercoordinator • Pam Josey

Yardbird Suite Jazz is a registered trademark of the Edmonton Jazz

Society (1973).

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY11 TOMMY BANKS WAY

EDMONTON AB T6E 2M2

Our Volunteer House Managers• Bill Hume • Judy Hume • Pam Josey • Tracy Kolenchuk • Rhonda Netterfield • Mary Richards • Marilyn Rude • Rosalynn Ruptash • Suzanne Slade • Collette Slevinsky • Karen Voller • Gail Wozny

Yardbird SuiteNewsletterThe Yardbird Newsletter is published fivetimes per year by the EdmontonJazz Society.

editorS • Adrian Albert, Jasiek Poznanski

adVertiSing • Shelley Chebry

newSLetter deSign • Vikki Wiercinski

graPHic Layout • Kim Deley, Critical Path Marketing Communications

diStribution • Monique Bielech,Shelley Chebry, Bill Harper

Printing • Nisku Printers (1980) Ltd.

www.yardbirdsuite.com

Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement# 40047729

YARDBIRDSUITE11 Tommy Banks Way (corner of 102 St & 86 Ave)Edmonton, Alberta T6E 2M2Phone: (780) 432-0428

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SATURDAY • NOV 8

Tommy Banks - pianoP.J. Perry - alto saxBobby Cairns - guitarJohn Taylor - bassDan Skakun - drums

Tommy Banks and P.J. PerryFrom Edmonton

SUNDAY • NOV 9

Jonathan Lindhorst - saxophoneRyan Butler - guitar/effectsAdam Miller - drums/voice

MEMBERS $12GUESTS $16

TurtleboyFrom Montreal

Doors 7:30pmShow 8pm

www.myspace.com/turtleboytrio

MONDAY • NOV 10

6:30pm - 9pmADMISSION FREE

Come down and listen to some great big band sounds.

Littlebirds Big Band Workshop with Don Berner

TUESDAY • NOV 11

Festival Jam Session“Tenor Madness” featuring Dave Babcock, Dino Dominelli and Jerrold Dubyk along with Chris Andrew on piano, Mike Lent on bass and Sandro Dominelli on drums.

Doors open at 8:30pm with the session starting at 9pm.

Tickets just $3.00 for everyone! Don’t miss it!

Tommy Banks - pianoP.J. Perry - alto saxBobby Cairns - guitarJohn Taylor - bassDan Skakun - drums

MEMBERS $20GUESTS $24

Tommy Banks and P.J. PerryFrom Edmonton

Doors 8pmShow 9pm

WEDNESDAY • NOV 12

Chandelle Rimmer - vocalsKent Sangster - saxophoneChris Andrew - piano

John Taylor - bassSandro Dominelli - drums

MEMBERS $14GUESTS $18

Chandelle RimmerFrom Edmonton

Doors 7:30pmShow 8pm

Joel Gray - trumpetDon Berner - clarinet, saxophoneRob Thompson - piano

Doug Berner - bassJohn Newton - drums

Joel GrayFrom Edmonton

www.pjperry.com

ADVANCETICKETS • TICKETMASTER.CA

• for more info •Yardbirdsuite.com

780-451-8000

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THURSDAY • NOV 13

Jim Head -guitarChris Andrew - pianoJohn Taylor - bass

Jamie Cooper - drums

MEMBERS $14GUESTS $18

Jim Head QuartetFrom Edmonton

Doors 7:30pmShow 8pm

FRIDAY • NOV 14

Steve Kirby - bassKent Sangster - saxophoneDave Morgan - trumpet

Chris Andrew - pianoSandro Dominelli - drums

MEMBERS $16GUESTS $20

Steve KirbyFrom Winnipeg/Edmonton

Doors 8pmShow 9pm

SATURDAY • NOV 15

Frank Lozano - saxJean-Christophe Beney - saxAlex Grogg - piano

Alain Bédard - bass Pierre Tanguay - drums

MEMBERS $16GUESTS $20

Alain Bédard Auguste QuintetFrom Montreal

Doors 8pmShow 9pm

• for more info •Yardbirdsuite.com

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Tommy Banks and P.J. PerrySaturday, November 8MEMBERS $20 • GUESTS $24

A special performance by jazz legends Tommy Banks and PJ will be an exciting opening to this year’s Yardbird Jazz Festival. Tommy Banks will be presented with an Honorary Licentiate from Conservatory Canada as part of their annual Convocation ceremony to be held at Taylor University November 8, 2008. Conservatory Canada is a national, accredited music examination system. It is their tradition to present Honorary Licentiates to Canadian musicians who have made a significant contribution to the world of music and music education.

The performance by Banks and Perry recognizes the conservatory’s new jazz curriculum and examination system, the first of its kind by a Canadian organization. Students can now be musically assessed on the performance of contemporary styles of music such as Swing, Blues, Rock. Successful candidates receive secondary school credits for such accomplishments.

Conservatory Canada Executive Director, Victoria Warwick, is excited by Senator Banks’ willingness to accept the Licentiate. “Conservatory Canada wants to keep music students studying longer. We are all aware of the wonderful benefits gained through music study and we feel that young people will stick with their private lessons if the music is engaging and familiar for them. And what better role model than Tommy Banks, well known politician and jazz musician. I know the students attending convocation to receive medals and scholarships will be inspired and motivated by the words and music of this very accomplished musician.”

TurtleboySunday, November 9MEMBERS $12 • GUESTS $16

Inspired by such great musicians as Paul Motian, Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell, and Jim Black, the bass-less jazz trio Turtleboy from Montreal combines free collective jazz and instrumental rock to create a truly unique musical experience. More often than not, the emphasis is placed more on a group sound and collective improvisation, rather than any one person’s individual solo. The band has worked tirelessly developing this concept in order to create a seamless blend of total music.

Turtleboy was formed in July, 2007, and has recently completed their debut album. They were recently voted Montreal’s #2 jazz act. They will be promoting the disc at their Yardbird Suite debut which will follow several weeks at the prestigious Banff Centre’s Fall Career Development Residency as recipients of the TD Fellowship Trust Scholarship.

“... stripped-down and heartfelt...A fresh new discovery”L’Off Festival de Jazz de Montreal

Chandelle RimmerWednesday, November 12MEMBERS $14 • GUESTS $18

Upon graduation from Grant MacEwan College with a Major in Vocal Performance, Ms. Rimmer has been an active singer in the Edmonton area. She has also directed the Festival Singers in Sherwood Park and the MacEwan Jazz Choir and Contemporary Choir. She now teaches some of the vocal performance classes at MacEwan.

In 1993, Chandelle returned from the

Jazz GenerationsTuesday, November 11 7:30 pm

Bill Eddins unites jazz stars of today and tomorrow with the power of full orchestra in memorable night of jazz standards, bebop and scat. Crooner Denzal Sinclaire, teenage sensation Nikki Yanofsky, and local legends P.J. Perry and Tommy Banks perform music by Ella Fitzgerald, George and Ira Gershwin, Charlie Parker and more!

P.J. Perry

Denzal Sinclaire

Tommy Banks

Nikki Yanofsky

Tickets on sale now!www.edmontonsymphony.com

780-428-1414 Dress Circle $65 • Terrace $55 • Orchestra $45 • Upper Circle $25 • Gallery & Orchestra Front $20

Student & senior discounts available. Agency fees apply

• for more info •Yardbirdsuite.com

prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She was a recipient of numerous scholarships and awards including Most Outstanding Vocal Performer for the 1992-93 academic year.

Since returning from Berklee, Ms. Rimmer has been a local clinician in jazz scatting and singing, has recorded commercials for radio and television and continues to be a busy musician in Edmonton. Chandelle has been instructing vocal students for many years, specializing in jazz, pop and country music.

Joel GrayWednesday, November 12MEMBERS $14 • GUESTS $18

Joel Gray has spent 15 years as a freelance trumpet player and educator in Edmonton and its surrounding areas. Joel attended the music programs at MacEwan College and the University of Alberta. As a music educator, he teaches trumpet at MacEwan College, Keyano College, the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta, and directs the Littlebirds Big Band.

Joel is a regular performer with many local artists and ensembles, including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Opera, the Tommy Banks Big Band, the New Orleans Connection, the Don Berner Sextet, the Urbanites, Trembita, Hot Cottage, and Capital Brass. He is a veteran in the orchestra pit, having performed many professional musical theatre productions at the Citadel Theatre, as well as in other venues. He has graced the stage alongside such greats as Tommy Banks, Kent Sangster, and P. J. Perry, to name a few.

Jim HeadThursday, November 13MEMBERS $14 • GUESTS $18

Jim Head has played with many artists including Tim Hagans, Sheila Jordan, Kirk MacDonald, Lew Tabackin, P.J. Perry, John O’Gallagher, Rob McConnell, Owen Howard, Dave Restivo, Andre White, Campbell Ryga, John Stetch, Keiran Overs, Hugh Fraser, Chet Doxas, Doug Riley, Jane Bunnett, Jim Vivian, Pat LaBarbera, Steve Wallace, Chris Tarry, and Steve Slagle.

He has also worked with a number of pop, folk, and blues artists, including Jann Arden, Serena Ryder, and Darrell Scott.Jim’s first CD as a leader, Mind’s Eye, features Josh Rager on Rhodes, Jim Vivian on bass, and Owen Howard on drums. Since 2007, Jim is Guitar Section Head in the Music Program at MacEwan.

Steve KirbyFriday, November 14MEMBERS $16 • GUESTS $20

Before coming to Winnipeg from New York in 2003, jazz bassist Steve Kirby had established an enviable career, performing, recording and touring with some of the biggest names in jazz including Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Abbey Lincoln, Steve Turre, James Carter, Slide Hampton, Joe Lovano, Lester Bowie and John Hicks. He continues to be a busy performer and clinician in Canada and the United States.

Kirby came to Winnipeg to be the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Manitoba in 2003 and since his arrival has also become the artistic director of the Izzy Asper Jazz Performance series, advisor to the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, director of the university’s summer jazz camp, and editor of dig! Magazine.

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• for more info •Yardbirdsuite.com

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He received the 2006 Xerox Manitoba Jazz Educator of the Year Award. As a contributor to Coda Magazine, he writes frequently on the Prairies’ jazz scene including a laudatory article on our own Yardbird Suite in the May/June 2008 50th anniversary issue of the magazine.

February, 2008, saw his first Yardbird Suite appearance as a part of saxophonist Ralph Bowen’s group. In May, he released a CD with guitarist Larry Roy called “Wicked Grin”, an album which shows a wide range of styles, several distinct personalities, a great deal of wit and subtlety and a beautiful overall sound.

Alain BédardSaturday, November 15MEMBERS $16 • GUESTS $20

Montreal bassist Alain Bédard has been a force on Quebec’s music scene since the ’80s. The president and founder of the important jazz label Effendi, he formed his acclaimed Auguste Quintet in 1994 and since then has performed numerous times throughout Quebec as well as abroad. Alain recently performed at the Jazz Festival in Vancouver with Jazzlab and Chinese jazz vocalist/instrumentalist Coco Zhao. Auguste Quintet’s current CD, Sphere Reflexion, is inspired by the music of Thelonious Monk. While paying homage to the great jazz pianist/composer, Bédard and company add their own contemporary twist to the tradition. This hip ensemble plays contemporary acoustic jazz informed by rich and modern, soaring and dynamic compositions.

®

• HecubusTrio

• MartyMajorowicz

• RobThompson

• BrenanBrothers

• RalphAlessi& ThisAgainstThat

• CharlieAustin

• NellieTravis

November-December2008

SATURDAY • NOV 22

Marty Majorowicz - tromboneJerrold Dubyk - tenor saxophoneTom King - piano

Jeff Johnson - bassJamie Cooper - drums

MEMBERS $12GUESTS $16

Marty Majorowicz QuintetFrom Edmonton

www.martymajorowicz.com

FRIDAY • DEC 5

Ralph Alessi - trumpetTony Malaby - saxophoneAndy Milne - piano

Drew Gress - bassMark Feber - drums

MEMBERS $20GUESTS $24

Ralph Alessi & This Against ThatFrom New York

www.ralphalessi.com

10 YARDBIRDSUITE• EVENTS • YARDBIRDSUITEDoorsat8pm,Showat9pmunlessotherwisestated

FRIDAY • NOV 21

Mo Lefever - guitarThom Golub - bassJohn Newton - drums

MEMBERS $10GUESTS $14

Hecubus TrioFrom Edmonton

www.molefever.com

FRIDAY • NOV 28

Rob Thompson - pianoKent Sangster - saxophoneMo Lefever - guitar

John Taylor - bassSandro Dominelli - drums

MEMBERS $12GUESTS $16

Rob ThompsonCD Release EventFrom Edmonton

SATURDAY • NOV 29

Craig Brenan - tromboneJim Brenan - tenor saxophoneTom King - piano

Rubim De Toledo - bassDana Hall - drums

MEMBERS $18GUESTS $22

www.jimbrenan.com • www.danahallmusic.com

SATURDAY • DEC 6

Charlie Austin - pianoDoug Berner - trumpetGreg Dust - bass

Jamie Cooper - drums

MEMBERS $12GUESTS $16

Charlie Austin TrioFrom Edmonton

Brenan Brothers BandFrom Edmonton/Calgary/ChicagoSpecial Guest: Dana Hall

with the help of the alberta Foundation for the arts and mount royal college, the brenan brothers present “the throwdown”

11YARDBIRDSUITE• EVENTS • YARDBIRDSUITEDoorsat8pm,Showat9pmunlessotherwisestated

FRI & SAT • DEC 12 & 13

Nellie Travis - vocalsJimmy Guiboche - guitarGraham Guest - piano, keyboards

Dave Bridges - bassBill Hobson - drums

MEMBERS $18GUESTS $22

YARDBIRD SUITE BLUES: Nellie Travis with the Jimmy Guiboche BandFrom Chicago

www.NellieTravis.com

Hecubus TrioFriday, November 21MEMBERS $10 • GUESTS $14

Hecubus formed in 2005 in order to explore improvised music with a focus on modern reinterpretations of standard jazz repertoire. The group infuses tunes old and new with elements of electronica, funk, dub, and any other styles as the spirit moves.

Marty MajorowiczSaturday, November 22MEMBERS $12 • GUESTS $16

Marty Majorowicz is a rising star in the Canadian music scene. Although he is young, he has enjoyed a diverse career including stints with the Canadian Forces and on cruise ships. Marty has been featured on CBC recordings with Tilo Paiz and has appeared at the Saskatoon Jazz Festival and the Revelstoke Blues and Beats Festival. Marty has shared the stage with Juno winners Hugh Fraser and Johnny V, and Grammy winning Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdes. A recent

graduate of the BMus/BEd program at the University of Alberta, he maintains a busy schedule of performing and composing.

“Marty Majorowicz is one of the most talented and driven young musical artists I have had the pleasure of working with in many years. As a totally literate artist, he has the rare ability to participate in a vastly wide range of musical environments and participate in the most inspired manner.”

Hugh Fraser, two time Juno winner

Rob ThompsonFriday, November 28MEMBERS $12 • GUESTS $16

Rob Thompson began playing piano at age six, and started exploring jazz in his teens. After attending Grant MacEwan Community College and the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Rob began performing professionally around Western Canada and abroad. He has studied privately with Joanne Brackeen, D. D. Jackson, and John Stetch. Rob has also been honoured to play as a sideman with artists like Slide Hampton, Hugh Fraser,

SHOWINFORMATION • PERFORMERBIOS

and P.J. Perry, among others.

He counts many jazz greats among his influences, including Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Brad Mehldau, and Jacky Terrason. Rob’s playing is considered modern, energetic, inspired, and accessible.

Brenan Brothers BandSaturday, November 29MEMBERS $18 • GUESTS $22

Trombonist, composer and educator Craig Brenan has been an active performer throughout Canada. A graduate of the New England Conservatory where he received his Master’s degree in Jazz Performance, Craig has had the opportunity to work and study with George Russell, Slide Hampton, Bob Brookmeyer, Danilo Perez, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi and Marty Ehrlich. Craig Brenan is also the first trombonist in Canada to perform with a complex system of digital harmonizers and looping devices, creating a new sound for the trombone. Craig is a member of the Modo Trio which has released three CDs to date with a fourth on the way featuring keyboardist Wayne Horvitz.

Craig has appeared with almost every jazz musician and jazz group in Edmonton, including the Tommy Banks Big Band and Latin group Bomba!, plus groups outside of Edmonton, including the Bob Brookmeyer Big Band, Jim McNeely Big Band, the Gunther Schuller Jazz Orchestra and the Hugh Fraser Orchestra.

Jim Brenan established himself as a top-notch performer and educator in the Canadian jazz community before accepting the position of Coordinator of Jazz Studies at The School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Auckland.

His time was well spent in the South Pacific having performed and recorded with New Zealand’s most talented Jazz musicians. After completing two years in New Zealand Jim returned to Canada to become Coordinator of Credit Music at Mount Royal College in Calgary.

Jim holds a Bachelor in Jazz Studies from St. Francis Xavier University and a Masters in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he studied with renowned master saxophonist Ralph Bowen.

Jim has recorded two CD’s under his own name the most recent titled “The Spectre”. “...this album is the result four like minded musicians recording music they love to play, it showcases the dynamic nature of Brenan’s saxophone virtuosity, and the overall ease with which the band performs together”. The new CD features Western Canada’s best jazz musicians: Chris Andrew on piano, Rubim de Toledo on bass, and Ron Samsom on drums with compositions by all members of the band.

For their first CD, recorded on one day in March, 2008, the Brenan Brothers brought to Edmonton Dana Hall on drums, Geoffrey Keezer on piano, Ralph Bowen on alto saxophone, Terell Stafford on trumpet, and Rubim de Toledo on bass to record with them. This collection of original music is the culmination of many years of discussion by Jim and Craig. With both of their individual projects recently recorded (Jim Brenan Quintet’s The Spectre and Craig Brenan’s Modo Trio with Wayne Horvitz) they both found time and energy to collaborate on something they have both been wanting to do yet never quite found the time to accomplish.

The list of exceptional artists that Dana

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SHOWINFORMATION • PERFORMERBIOS

Hall has performed, toured, and/or recorded with reflects the diverse and varied approaches of his music-making in the fields of jazz and popular music and includes Branford Marsalis, Ray Charles, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Horace Silver, Michael Brecker, Nicolas Payton, Kurt Elling, Benny Green, Frank Wess, Ken Peplowski, Wycliffe Gordon, Russell Malone, Frank Foster, George Coleman, Betty Carter, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Bobby Hutcherson, Wallace Roney, Diana Krall, Harold Mabern, Renee Rosnes, Clark Terry, the Mingus Big Band, Steve Lacy, Muhal Richard Abrams, Eric Alexander, Buster Williams, Gary Bartz, David Murray, Bobby Broom, Lester Bowie, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Shirley Scott, Sonny Fortune, Joe Williams, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Billy Harper, Patricia Barber, Rick Margitza, Tim Hagans, Ralph Bowen, Bud Shank, Phil Woods, Von Freeman, Kenny Barron, Maria Schneider, Jackie McLean, Mulgrew Miller, Hamiet Blueitt, the Woody Herman Orchestra, Joe Henderson, Curtis Fuller, Charles McPherson, and Oliver Lake, among others. Additionally, Hall is both a member of the Terell Stafford Quintet and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and formerly a regular member of the prestigious Grammy-nominated Carnegie Hall Jazz Band under the musical and artistic direction of trumpeter, and Dizzy Gillespie protégé, Jon Faddis.

In addition to his active schedule as a full-time student and freelance musician with a number of jazz, popular, and world music ensembles, he is also an active clinician and educator. He has served as a faculty member of the undergraduate college at the University of Chicago teaching courses in world music and was a member of the faculty at Columbia College Chicago, teaching a select number of private students. Mr. Hall is also a member of

the Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Directors Academy and Essentially Ellington faculty, under the musical and artistic directorship of Grammy and Pulitzer prize winner Wynton Marsalis. In the summer of 2000, Mr. Hall joined the faculty of the distinguished musicians and educators at the Merit School of Music, continuing his mission to assist in bringing quality education to music and arts students in the City of Chicago. Mr. Hall is also a member of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz’s Jazz in America Program and the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Artists Residency Program.

Dana Hall uses and endorses Yamaha Drums, Bosphorus Cymbals, and Pro-Mark Drumsticks.

Ralph Alessi & This Against ThatFriday, December 5MEMBERS $20 • GUESTS $24

Since 1991, trumpeter/composer/educator Ralph Alessi has been an active member of the New York jazz and improvised music scene as both sideman and leader. Called “…a highly-in-demand, adventurous virtuoso who can handle just about anything” (L.A. Weekly), Alessi has performed and recorded with the likes of Steve Coleman, Uri Caine, Don Byron, Ravi Coltrane, Sam Rivers, Fred Hersch and many other of the great innovators in jazz and improvised music.

As a leader, Alessi has four recordings to his name: Hissy Fit, Vice & Virtue, This Against That (voted one of the top ten records of 2002 by Jazz Times) and the second disc released by This Against That in 2007 entitled Look.

New releases on the horizon for Alessi

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• for more info •Yardbirdsuite.com

SHOWINFORMATION • PERFORMERBIOS

include Open Season (on the RKM music label) featuring his band Modular Theatre, a quartet date featuring Jason Moran and a new This Against That record.

With its innovative compositions and dynamic improvising, This Against That tows the line between jazz, pop and contemporary classical music. The group has toured Europe and the United States extensively over the past four or five years. Sean Patrick Fitzell of All About Jazz describes the music as “…edgy enough to appeal to the creative set, while not too far flung for modern mainstream listeners.” The other members of the group – Tony Malaby, Andy Milne, Drew Gress and Mark Ferber - are all stalwarts of the New York jazz scene.

As an educator, Alessi has been a member of the faculties at Five Towns College and the Eastman School of Music. He is currently the founder and director of the School for Improvisational Music (www.schoolforimprov.org), a non-profit entity currently holding improvisational music workshops in Brooklyn. Since 2002, he has been on the jazz faculty at New York University.

“Look is an hour’s worth of wonderfully warm, human music. Intelligent, entertaining, and stimulating.”

Dave Wayne, jazzreview.com

Charlie AustinSaturday, December 6MEMBERS $12 • GUESTS $16

Charlie has played in a variety of professional musical situations in both British Columbia and Alberta including the Tommy Banks show on CBC and the ITV series of concerts produced in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Through these productions he has accompanied artists such as, Mel Torme, Henry Mancini, Vicki Carr, Connie Stevens, Carol Lawrence, Julius LaRosa, Bob Magrath, Frank Gorshin, Rich Little, and Conway Twitty. Other engagements include the Secon City TV series, and CBC’s Jazz Canadiana. He has worked with visiting singers to the Yardbird Suite including Trudy Desmond, Jeri Brown, and Flora Ware amongst others.

After teaching as a full time professor at the MacEwan Music Program for over 30 years, Charlie has been developing a solo jazz piano style, along with a piano trio ensemble. His trio will be playing originals, standard jazz fare, and some vocals. A consistent presence at the Yardbird Suite Jams, he lends support to both emerging musicians and veterans in the jazz jam scene. Now “retired” from teaching Charlie has an open mind towards learning and listening to all music and looks forward to playing and recording.

The trio will be heard along with Doug Berner on trumpet as a special guest player added to the mix.

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SHOWINFORMATION • PERFORMERBIOS 15

Nellie TravisFriday & Saturday, December 12 & 13MEMBERS $18 • GUESTS $22

Nellie “Tiger” Travis’s love affair with music goes all the way back to southern Mississippi with a childhood filled with singing at church functions, weddings and talent competitions. She originally hails from Mound Bayou, Mississippi, and during the mid 1980’s she was lead vocalist for the Mississippi based group “SSIPP”, opening for acts from Dee Dee Warwick to Ray Charles. During this period she also recorded extensively in Memphis.

Since relocating to Chicago in 1992, Nellie has become an R & B and blues staple in Chicago. Her passionate, soulful, melodic voice commands the stage. Nellie’s expressive tone and fresh contemporary originals have made her a blues force to be reckoned with. She has worked with many blues greats including Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Bobby Rush, Tyrone Davis, Otis Clay, Buddy Miles, Artie “Blues Boy” White, Little Milton, Willie Clayton, Benny Latimore, and Shemekia Copeland.

She won the 2006 Chicago Blues Diva Contest and has won over Chicago audiences with her performances at the Chicago Blues Festival. Her many overseas tours have included performances in Germany, Brazil, Italy and Japan.

Nellie Travis released her debut CD in September, 2000, entitled “I Got It Like That” (Tiger Belle) as well as a Japanese backed CD featuring Shun Kikuta entitled “Heart & Soul” (Blue Sox) . In 2002, she released a live CD entitled “Nellie Tiger Travis…Live at Sweet Georgia Browns”. For Southern Soul fans, the most fortuitous development in Travis’s career was her collaboration with Southern

Soul composer Floyd Hamberlin, who produced Nellie’s latest two CDs. “Wanna Be With You”, (Liaison, 2005), became an underground smash on the “Southern Soul” circuit, and her latest CD “I’m A Woman” (CDS Records, 2007) is getting excellent reviews.

For her appearance at the Yardbird Suite, Nellie Travis will be backed up by an all star Edmonton band led by Jimmy Guiboche on guitar, Dave Bridges on bass, Graham Guest on keyboards and Hammond organ, and Bill Hobson on drums. Jimmy Guiboche is also the bandleader of the Sleepers, Edmonton’s top blues band.

“Nellie Travis has arrived fans, she is a phenomenal southern soul diva. She blends the sounds of Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples and Patti Labelle all rolled up in one. Her show is a must see.”

www.bluescritic.com

ADVANCETICKETS • TICKETMASTER.CA

• for more info •Yardbirdsuite.com

780-451-8000

YARDBIRDSUITE• ATAGLANCE • YARDBIRDSUITE

tHe yardbird Suite iS a concert Venue. during tHe SHow, PLeaSe turn oFF your ceLL PHoneS and PagerS.

For upcoming shows visit www.yardbirdsuite.com

M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A Y S U N D A Y 1 2

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dominellimembers $20 • Guests $24

GravitasQuartet

See October issue for show information

Morgan Childs Quintet

See October issue for show information

members $20 • Guests $24 members $12 • Guests $16

Tommy Banks & PJ Perry Turtleboy

members $16 • Guests $20 members $16 • Guests $20

Alain Bédard Auguste Quintet

Littlebirds Big Band Workshop

“Tenor Madness

Festival Jam Session

Chandelle Rimmer & Joel Gray

Jim Head Quartet

members $14 • Guests $18 members $14 • Guests $18

Steve Kirby

members $10 • Guests $14 members $12 • Guests $16

HecubusTrio

Marty Majorowicz

Quintet

members $12 • Guests $16 members $18 • Guests $22

Rob Thompson CD Release

Event

Brenan Brothers

Band

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Jam session

dandavis

members $18 • Guests $22

YARDBIRD SUITE BLUES: Nellie Travis with the Jimmy

Guiboche Band

Charlie Austin Trio

members $20 • Guests $24

Ralph Alessi & This Against

That

Jam sessionJerrold dubyk

Jam session

JimHead

Jam sessionnathan

ouellette