The 8th Annual Brantford International Jazz Festival
Performer Biographies - Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015
Karen Thornton
THE MAIN STAGE
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
Karen has been an active musician for a number of years in the GTA, first as a singer-songwriter performing solo piano and vocals in coffee houses in her teens. Over the years Karen fronted her own R&B Band, Jazz Trio and continued to perform primarily as a solo artist. Her latest CD “Rain Down On Me” is a return to her roots as a singer-songwriter and is a collection of originals that features some of the area’s finest musicians.
Heillig Manoeuvre
THE MAIN STAGE
1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
Heillig Manoeuvre is a quartet of top Canadian jazz players who produce delightful, friendly instrumental “conversations”. They have a recent recording “toons” and another one in the works and are ready to build on their recent gigging and festival experiences.
The leader and main composer, bassist Henry Heillig, was one of the co- founders of Latin-funk band Manteca. This Juno winning ensemble released 10 LPs and CDs and toured the world’s major festivals, from Stockholm to the Hollywood Bowl. From 1980 to 1996, Henry also toured and recorded with some of Canada’s top children’s entertainers Sharon, Lois and Bram as well as Eric Nagler, for whom he produced three albums and the music for 5 seasons of Eric’s World TV.
Aside from constantly freelancing as a player, Henry has been the musical director for the Canadian award shows the Genies (film) and Geminis (television). He has composed music for film and documentaries and continues to produce recordings and live projects.
Saxophonist Alison Young is a fairly recent addition to the Canadian jazz scene but has already been working with Roberta Hunt’s Red Hot Ramble, and has toured in Europe several times with Big Rude Jake’s swing band. She steadily works with a variety of ensembles and adds an “old soul” quality of playing to Heillig Manoeuvre.
Pianist Stacie McGregor has had a steady career playing in Kollage, the hard-bop band led by drummer Archie Alleyne. She has also been featured in bassist Brandi Disterheft’s band which led to the opportunity to perform in the company of Herbie Hancock and Dave Brubeck. She has several of her own recordings and performs regularly with Jim
Heinemann’s Dream Band.
Drummer Charlie Cooley was Heillig’s rhythm section mate in Manteca for over 20 years. He has toured with some of Canada’s biggest acts, Kellylee Evans, Sass Jordan, The Guess Who, Prairie Oyster, Jimmy Rankin, and many others. The long playing history between Charlie and Henry have given them the description of “playing as one”.
Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
THE MAIN STAGE
3:15 PM to 4:15 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
For more than thirty years, Canadian flutist and saxophonist Jane Bunnett has been bridging the gulf between Cuba and North America, introducing jazz audiences to some of the finest musicians that the island has to offer. Through her longstanding ensemble Spirits of Havana, Bunnett has provided early opportunities to such future greats as Dafnis Prieto, Yosvany Terry, Pedrito Martínez, and David Virelles, and also becoming a Canadian national treasure as well as an internationally acclaimed jazz artist in the process. Now, with her new sextet Maqueque, she introduces the world to some of Cuba’s most promising female musicians, injecting her own music with an invigorating dose of youthful energy in the process.
On their self-titled debut, Maqueque blends scintillating Afro-Cuban rhythms, folkloric influences, exhilarating jazz, and soulful vocals into an utterly intoxicating blend. Vocalist Daymé Arocena, percussionist Magdelys Savigne, drummer Yissy García, bassist and tres guitarist Yusa, pianist Dánae Olano, and bassist Célia Jiménez join the four-time JUNO Award winner, two-time Grammy® Award-nominee, and Officer of the Order of Canada to create a dynamic and hard-driving sound that should suffice to silent any doubts from the boys’ clubs of jazz or Cuban music.
The band’s name was provided by Arocena’s grandmother, a practitioner of the Afro-Cuban Yorùbá religion. It translates to “the spirit of a young girl,” which perfectly captures the vibe of the group and the song that shares its name. “I imagine that’s what I was like as a ten-year-old girl,” Bunnett says. “I was very energetic, I could be sweet and I could be feisty. That’s Maqueque.”
The all-female line-up provides the band with a unique energy, Bunnett says. “There’s a very happy energy about it,” she describes. “All of the women are very supportive of each other. I’ve seen a couple of all-women groups in Cuba that are geared toward tourists and can border on being pretty cheesy. What we’re doing is creative and collaborative and involves a lot of the Afro-Cuban elements that stem out of traditional folkloric music.”
That sort of collaboration is what excites Bunnett about the music and has kept her returning to Cuba for so many years. “One of the things that I really love about music is to collaborate with the different personalities who are out there, because everybody can always bring something very different to the table. In Cuba, there’s so much music happening and a lot of the time it’s of a collaborative nature; I always imagine it’s like 52nd Street in its heyday,” she explains. “When I go there I feel that I’m surrounded by a lot of creative energy. There’s an enthusiasm about embracing the arts, and music is primary to everybody’s lives there, even people who aren’t musicians.”
SHAKURA S’AIDA
THE MAIN STAGE
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
SHAKURA S’AIDA: AN INTERNATIONAL ARTIST WHO CALLS CANADA HOME:
Born in Brooklyn, New York. Raised in Switzerland. A long-time Canadian who lives in Toronto. That’s Shakura S’Aida, a truly international artist whose involvement in the Canadian music scene has been ongoing for the almost 25 years. Along the way, she has enriched the jazz, blues and classic R&B communities with her soulful voice, enthusiastic personality and commitment to her deep soul music.
Shakura takes her music wherever there’s an audience. In the past two years alone she has performed in the Caribbean, Moscow, Dubai, Romania, Switzerland, Canada, the United States, Australia, Austria, Italy, Germany, France, Macedonia, and helped organize a festival in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Whether she’s speaking Swiss-German, French or English, Shakura instantly connects with her audience — and at the same time richly demonstrates the multiculturalism that Canada prides itself on.
Shakura S’Aida — pronounce her name “Shack-oora Sigh-ee-da”— began performing at a young girl. Her first steps into music began with a Toronto community band called Mystique, which found her belting out tunes alongside Deborah Cox, and then became the lead singer in a 13-piece world music band, Kaleefah, that would later be nominated for a Juno Award.
Shakura’s long-simmering career initially moved into high gear in 2008 with a triumph at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, when she earned the runner-up position, competing against more than 100 bands from more than 20 different countries.
A final word:
“I am truly blessed by all the incredible opportunities I have had,” says Shakura. “My life has been filled with amazing adventures; I can’t wait to see what happens next.
- 2013 Juno Award Nominee-Best Blues Album of the Year
- 2013 Blues Music Awards Nominee-Contemporary Female Artist
- 2013 Indie Music Awards Nominee-Blues Artist of the Year
- 2013 Maple Blues Awards: Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Recording/Producer (w/Howard Ayee & Scott Cable) and Songwriter of the Year (w/Donna Grantis)
James Anthony
THE LOCAL STAGE
1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
A natural musician at age 10, played Ontario Place at 15 and turned pro at 17. James’ experience in the music industry is reminiscent of legendary players of the past. Throughout his career he has been a most sought after side- man. His first Road experience was with “Reggae star” Jay Douglas and then the last version of Edward Bear in 1974. In 1980 his band Mondo Combo (on RCA engineered in part by Daniel Lanois).
From 1972 till now, James has played on countless records as a session man including jingles, films, documentaries such as Friday the 13th Biker Bash, Common Grounds and lately writing the jingle for “Fantasy Island “in New York. .Now in 2015 he owns Sound Investments Recording Studio in Burlington and is enjoying the success of his recent CD ‘Some People Get it’.
Playing, Singing, Song Writing with heart and honesty is what he does best and he will leave his audience with a feeling of complete musical satisfaction that is sure to propel James Anthony into the hearts of listeners and fans of the guitar everywhere.
Corner Pocket
THE LOCAL STAGE
2:30 PM to 3:15 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
Corner Pocket is celebrating 10 year’s of music making this year. The group began as a duo with Paul Monné on guitar and Al Newhouse on saxophone performing background music for various private events in the Brantford area. They soon evolved to include the vocal talents of Jamie Macdonald-Thompson and the bass skills of Joel Banks. Although Corner Pocket still often performs as a smaller group, the emphasis currently is on the larger ensemble which is performing at this years BIJF. This group includes original members Monné, Newhouse and Macdonald-Thompson as well as Chris Nemeth on drums, Dan Bohemier on bass and Jon Berec on trumpet and vocals. The sextet explores a wide repertoire of music ranging from early jazz & swing, classic R&B, 70’s rock and contemporary pop. This current line-up of the band has proven popular performing for wedding receptions, corporate events and community festivals throughout southern Ontario.
Corner Pocket is thrilled to return for the third time to the Brantford International Jazz Fest and would like to thank Frank and Nancy DiFelice for all their hard work bringing quality music into the Brantford community.
For more info. on Corner Pocket please visit: www.corner-pocket.ca
Cheri Maracle
THE LOCAL STAGE
4:15 PM to 5:00 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
Cheri Maracle is a multi- award nominated Singer and Actress from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Ontario. Cheri has been performing in Canada, the U.S. and Europe in the last 20 years, and has extensive music, theatre, television & film credits to her name. Cheri’s early music influences began in Women’s traditional handrum group Tiyoweh. She then penned two original music albums, Closer To Home (2006), and If I Am Water (2013), to critical acclaim, both available on iTunes.
Cheri’s original music style is jazz fueled, percussion driven, layered with her trademark smooth sultry smokey vocals… at once evocative, haunting and unforgettable. Her recent release, jazz Cd, titled Ache of Love, reflects her passion for fiery torch driven diva inspired songs, and is her most complex writing so far.
Cheri has been performing with her quartet in the last three years at various jazz and blues festivals across the country. She also frequently performs original compositions and contemporary and classic Jazz standards, locally, with her piano partner of 12 years, Brendan Peltier. Together they incite an enveloping and inviting expressive sound that keeps them being invited back to perform at festivals, and gin-joints across Canada.
Michael Morabito Quartet
THE NEXT GEN STAGE
1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
The Mike Morabito Quartet is a jazz quartet based out of the Greater Hamilton Area. The quartet is made up of some of Mohawk College’s finest, most devoted musicians. The members of the band include Mike Morabito (Saxophone), Alex Tomowich (Piano), Devon Savas (Bass), and Matthew Pullicino (Drums). Our various musical interests have come together through the influence of the Mohawk College music program. While this quartet is still very new we hope to be heard playing all around Southern Ontario for many years to come.
Avery Raquel
THE NEXT GEN STAGE
2:30 PM to 3:15 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
A triple threat performer, Avery has acted in various film, television and animation projects for the likes of Spielberg, Dreamworks and Disney. Avery has also performed in various professional stage musicals across Canada, including Mary Poppins and Secret Garden. Avery’s greatest passion however, is singing.
At 14 years old, Avery’s captivating jazz performances have garnered many awards and have shown her to be a well-versed live performer with a passion for music and entertainment. Avery has performed in many jazz festivals across Ontario, performing with the likes of June Garber, Dave Restivo, Rob Reed, Larry Bodner and Lou Pomanti. She’s had the pleasure of learning beside such artists as Adrean Farrugia, Sophia Perlman and the iconic Marilyn Maye. She’s also sung in New York City at the Metropolitan Room and the famous Birdland Jazz Club, wowing audiences with her solo performances.
Promoting her upcoming debut album ‘Life Lessons’, along with her professional jazz trio with Mike Pelletier on Bass, Rob Fekete on piano, and Adam Fielding filling in for Joel Haynes on drums, Avery is excited to perform once again at the Brantford International Jazz Festival.
For more information or to contribute to her album campaign, please visit www.averyraquel.com
High Rendition Jazz Band
THE NEXT GEN STAGE
4:15 PM to 5:00 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
High Rendition Jazz is an award-winning assembly of talented high school aged musicians from the Halton Region of Ontario, Canada.
Our vision is to be a recognized high performance youth jazz band, making our communities a better place to live, by playing great jazz. This is fulfilled not only through the exceptional musical capabilities of our musicians, but also through the volunteers and parents whose dedication and hard work behind the scenes enables these kids to keep doing what they love – playing great jazz.
Founded in 2008, High Rendition Jazz is a volunteer and not-for-profit youth jazz band based in Oakville, Ontario. High Rendition Jazz operates under the musical direction of Carmen Gassi. High Rendition Jazz was awarded Gold at both the Regional and National levels, in the Instrumental Jazz Division at MusicFest Canada.
We provide a growth environment by challenging musicians personally and artistically through local, regional and national performances and competitions.
Subourbon Street
THE DIXIELAND STAGE
1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
2:30 PM to 3:00 PM
4:15 PM to 4:45 PM
Sept. 20, 2015
Bringing “New Orleans” Jazz to Ontario, Subourbon Street is making a name for itself as one of the few bands in this area to offer the energetic and authentic instrumentation of the world-renowned style often referred to as “Dixieland”.
The members have a passion to keep traditional jazz music alive and thriving. Subourbon Street has enjoyed entertaining audiences since 2005 at regional Ribfests and Jazz Festivals, as well as in far away and unique places like Lake Nipissing (on a boat!) and the Mardi Gras Parade at the Canadian National Exhibition in 2011.
Tickets are now available for our 2015 headline performer:
Saturday, September 19, 2025 at The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts
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