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| LOCAL STAGE Saturday |
Zoe Blair was born into a musical family, and was able to sing the tunes of
songs long before she could speak the words. Zoe started her formal vocal
training in 1998 with Irena and Jose Hernandez. She has been the
recipient of many music scholarships and awards over the years. Most
recently, Zoe graduated with honours from the prestigious Music Theatre
Performance Program at Sheridan College. Though currently pursuing an
undergraduate degree in law, she has never lost her passion for music and
performance. Zoe has been performing with bands in various styles, such
as jazz, swing, blues, and classic rock for the past 8 years. Zoe is very
honoured and excited to be performing at Brantford’s International Jazz
Festival, amongst so many other extremely talented musicians!
songs long before she could speak the words. Zoe started her formal vocal
training in 1998 with Irena and Jose Hernandez. She has been the
recipient of many music scholarships and awards over the years. Most
recently, Zoe graduated with honours from the prestigious Music Theatre
Performance Program at Sheridan College. Though currently pursuing an
undergraduate degree in law, she has never lost her passion for music and
performance. Zoe has been performing with bands in various styles, such
as jazz, swing, blues, and classic rock for the past 8 years. Zoe is very
honoured and excited to be performing at Brantford’s International Jazz
Festival, amongst so many other extremely talented musicians!
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Kevin Muir started his musical career on violin, added the acoustic bass a while
later, and after realizing how much cooler the bass was, shifted to that instrument
full-time in university. He had a great time earning his music composition degree
from the University of Western Ontario), but figured out that a career in 20th century
classical composition was something less than lucrative. He’s been performing as a
bassist full time ever since, travelling across the continent in various musical guises.
Kevin’s been the bass player with the Stratford Festival Orchestra since 1993.
Always a fan of jazz and improvisation as well as contemporary classical music,
Kevin occasionally he re-emerges as a composer, and has had his works performed
to very small crowds in very small venues here and there. A native of Brantford,
Kevin currently resides with his wife, his son, two dogs, two cats and a horse in the
middle of a field somewhere outside of St. Marys, Ontario
Chris Norley is a jazz guitarist, vocalist, teacher and composer based near London,
Ontario, Canada. An active member of the regional jazz scene, he leads his own
jazz groups, and has performed in various jazz, funk, pop, rock and country bands,
as a solo act, and freelance musician. He has studied jazz guitar with Canadian
guitar legend Lorne Lofsky, and is a multiple nominee for Best Jazz Artist at London’
s Jack Richardson Music Awards. Chris has had performed with international
recording artists: Lorne Lofsky, Pat LaBarbera , Kirk MacDonald, Bob Mover Mark
Eisenman, Alex Dean, Mike Murley (Timewarp
Richard Brisco is a versatile and passionate drummer based out of Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. Since graduating with a bachelor of music in jazz performance
from the University of Toronto, Richard has performed internationally on six
continents. As a member of the Toronto Samba-Jazz Connection, Richard has been
performing with harmonica virtuoso, Hendrik Meurkens since 2006 and is currently
active in and around Toronto, performing in clubs and major jazz festivals such as
The Toronto and Montreal Jazz Festivals.
later, and after realizing how much cooler the bass was, shifted to that instrument
full-time in university. He had a great time earning his music composition degree
from the University of Western Ontario), but figured out that a career in 20th century
classical composition was something less than lucrative. He’s been performing as a
bassist full time ever since, travelling across the continent in various musical guises.
Kevin’s been the bass player with the Stratford Festival Orchestra since 1993.
Always a fan of jazz and improvisation as well as contemporary classical music,
Kevin occasionally he re-emerges as a composer, and has had his works performed
to very small crowds in very small venues here and there. A native of Brantford,
Kevin currently resides with his wife, his son, two dogs, two cats and a horse in the
middle of a field somewhere outside of St. Marys, Ontario
Chris Norley is a jazz guitarist, vocalist, teacher and composer based near London,
Ontario, Canada. An active member of the regional jazz scene, he leads his own
jazz groups, and has performed in various jazz, funk, pop, rock and country bands,
as a solo act, and freelance musician. He has studied jazz guitar with Canadian
guitar legend Lorne Lofsky, and is a multiple nominee for Best Jazz Artist at London’
s Jack Richardson Music Awards. Chris has had performed with international
recording artists: Lorne Lofsky, Pat LaBarbera , Kirk MacDonald, Bob Mover Mark
Eisenman, Alex Dean, Mike Murley (Timewarp
Richard Brisco is a versatile and passionate drummer based out of Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. Since graduating with a bachelor of music in jazz performance
from the University of Toronto, Richard has performed internationally on six
continents. As a member of the Toronto Samba-Jazz Connection, Richard has been
performing with harmonica virtuoso, Hendrik Meurkens since 2006 and is currently
active in and around Toronto, performing in clubs and major jazz festivals such as
The Toronto and Montreal Jazz Festivals.
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Justin Snikkar is a native Torontonian born of Finnish/Scottish descent. He
moved to Brantford at the age of 10 and spent his high school years here before
returning to Toronto.
Justin has loved music since early in life and influenced by a wide array of genres
he listened to whatever was available near the turntable or cassette player. He
started learning guitar at age 12 and in his teens was heavily influenced by bands
such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Justin switched to bass at 18 and soon joined a working rock band. Always
searching for new ideas he regularly participated in the weekly Sunday night blues
jam at Grossman’s Tavern for the next few years.
At 20 he started busking in downtown Toronto full time to support himself, first with
many trios and quartets with music ranging from rock to jazz, then teaching himself
drums when the city outlawed full bands on the street. He also attended Humber
College at the same time to expand his musical thirst becoming absorbed by the
music of Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and Frank Zappa.
By 28 Justin sailed the high seas working for various cruise ship companies
performing in the house show bands honing his skills in a broad variety of musical
styles, all while being able to see many parts of the world.
Justin returned home at 33 and has been teaching and playing/recording with
various bands continuously to present.
Now at 39 Justin is releasing his first all original jazz cd that ranges in a mix of
styles that range from traditional swing, latin and funk.
moved to Brantford at the age of 10 and spent his high school years here before
returning to Toronto.
Justin has loved music since early in life and influenced by a wide array of genres
he listened to whatever was available near the turntable or cassette player. He
started learning guitar at age 12 and in his teens was heavily influenced by bands
such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Justin switched to bass at 18 and soon joined a working rock band. Always
searching for new ideas he regularly participated in the weekly Sunday night blues
jam at Grossman’s Tavern for the next few years.
At 20 he started busking in downtown Toronto full time to support himself, first with
many trios and quartets with music ranging from rock to jazz, then teaching himself
drums when the city outlawed full bands on the street. He also attended Humber
College at the same time to expand his musical thirst becoming absorbed by the
music of Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and Frank Zappa.
By 28 Justin sailed the high seas working for various cruise ship companies
performing in the house show bands honing his skills in a broad variety of musical
styles, all while being able to see many parts of the world.
Justin returned home at 33 and has been teaching and playing/recording with
various bands continuously to present.
Now at 39 Justin is releasing his first all original jazz cd that ranges in a mix of
styles that range from traditional swing, latin and funk.
