Many people feel excluded, even cheated, when the word talent appears. The talent concept is fascinating to me because it presents ability as a phenomenon that is just there—as though someone just popped out of his or her momma able to play the trumpet, sink a hole in one or paint the Mona Lisa. In […]

When guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli takes to the stage in November as part of this season’s Izzy Asper Jazz Performances, audiences can settle in for a feast of classics from the American Songbook, delivered with panache. Born in 1960, Pizzarelli began to play guitar at the age of six, following in the footsteps of […]

Karrin Allyson began her musical journey learning classical piano, first from her mother then later earning her degree as a classical piano major. Moving through several genres, she found jazz to be the right vehicle for her artistic voice. Born in Kansas City, now based in New York City, this three-time GRAMMY nominated artist will […]

The Christmas season will be a whole lot merrier this year for anyone who enjoys great music, as Toronto-born vocalist Denzal Sinclaire will join the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra for its December concert. Sinclaire’s smooth timbre and joyful approach to singing have been winning over listeners around the world. He seems to have effortless control over […]

I first knew Martha Brooks as an award-winning novelist, but she’s also an accomplished jazz vocalist. Her CD Change of Heart was named the outstanding jazz album at the Prairie Music Awards a few years back. When did you start singing jazz? I started this singing life back home at Pelican Lake, where my husband, […]

Calling all trombone players—the brass department at the University of Manitoba has booked in one of Canada’s top trombonists for a two-day weekend seminar in mid-November. Al Kay is one of Toronto’s busiest musicians, performing and recording for nearly three decades. For the last fifteen years, he’s been the lead trombone with Rob McConnell’s Boss […]

Jean Baptiste, or Django, Reinhardt was a nomadic, outlandish, self-taught musician who couldn’t read music or words. His towering contribution to music makes him one of the most influential jazz guitarists of all time and the single most important jazz musician to emerge from Europe. Those who worked with him say Reinhardt was ingenious, charming, […]

One of September’s THIN AIR Mainstages introduced audiences to new work by three high-powered science fiction writers: Nick DiChario read from Valley of Day-Glo, Robert Charles Wilson read from Julian Comstock, and Robert J Sawyer read from Wake. After the intermission, the four of us had a free-wheeling conversation about these books and this genre. […]