Every musician fantasizes about recording an album. Here are a few things to think about before jumping into the recording process. 1. Why are you making an album? What’s unique about you and what you have to say? 2. Who will play on it? Who are you already comfortable playing with? Line up some gigs […]

Here in Winnipeg, when someone says Papa Mambo, people know the music right away—it’s fun, it’s lively, it’s danceable, and it’s our very own. The big sounds of Latin jazz, salsa, and cha cha cha always get people moving, no matter where they are. Chilean-born Rodrigo “Papa Mambo” Muñoz put his salsa band together in […]

Juno-award winning pianist Hilario Durán will be bringing some Cuban heat to Winnipeg this April when he performs with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. The Cuban import has a busy musical career. His trio—Roberto Occhipinti on bass and Mark Kelso on drums—has just wrapped up a tour, and he’s working now with them on a new […]

I was surprised to see a lone mic stand and guitar on the stage at Joe’s Pub. Where were the drums, the piano, the saxophones? I was only in NYC for five days, and wanted to make sure I spent my nights wisely. Wise is an understatement! Gretchen Parlato’s performance that evening was one of […]