Jazz definitely has its problems. For one thing, most of the songs that jazz musicians perform were written many decades ago as popular tunes. The sounds of those times were trumpets, trombones, saxophones, clarinets and flutes, guitar, piano, bass, and drums. Today’s sounds are more likely guitar, keyboard synth, drums, bass, and voice. Love songs […]

The Bridge: Learning for Life is a voluntary, not-for-credit music class at Hugh John Macdonald School that uses a rhythm-first approach to learning music. It is a privately-funded course offered through the school division’s Children’s Heritage Fund, with the support of private donors and foundations. Those are the program’s credentials, but for me, the Bridge […]

In the middle of March, Winnipeg welcomes pianist Spike Wilner to headline the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances series. His prowess at the piano is highly respected in the jazz world. Whether it’s stride piano from the 1920s, the exhilarating and highly impressive bebop style from the 40s, or the more burning hard-bop style from the […]

I think people may have forgotten what a chameleon Ray Charles was. He was an incredible singer, pianist, composer, arranger, and even an occasional saxophonist! He was also one of the first crossover artists, with hit recordings in jazz, blues, country, gospel, rock and roll, pop, and R&B. He had so many hits that you […]

Grace Hrabi has been singing since she was a kid. She says “it always felt so good to sing—like getting something off your chest, or coming home at the end of a long day.” She wandered into jazz toward the end of high school, and then joined the jazz vocal studio at the University of […]

We often lament that we are not living in the time of Bird and Diz, with lots of live music and jam sessions galore. On the other hand, in some ways we are living in an amazing time because of the resources that are so accessible. Recordings have never been more available, and wisdom from […]

Bassist Luke Sellick completed his undergraduate degree in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Manitoba in 2013, then headed to New York City for graduate work at Juilliard. Now an active member of the jazz scene in the heart of the jazz world, Luke is releasing his first recording as a leader. I […]

Listening to Mose Allison’s music properly is an exercise in alertness. He draws on jazz, R&B, and country music to come up with his sound. Lyrically, he has the intellectual flair of a beat poet and satirist combined. His voice sounds southern, hip, and uncomplicated. Allison has fans around the world, but in Britain it […]

I first met Jaleel Shaw in the 90s when he was still a high school kid. He was an up-and-coming saxophonist, and came to the Antonio Hart show I was playing in. A lot of time passed, and then we were classmates in the graduate program at the Manhattan School of Music. Along with Miguel […]

I was saddened to hear that the great Al Jarreau passed away on February 12. Al was a prolific writer and performer with a strong gospel and R&B flavour to his music. His music consistently pushed the envelope for music as a whole, infusing elements such as vocal percussion and spoken word seamlessly. His live […]

We join the community in sending condolences to the family of Bob “Moose” Jackson, elder statesman of jazz here in Winnipeg, who passed away at the end of January. He was 84. “Moose” played the upright bass, and he welcomed me here when I arrived in 2003. He was a generous, happy, kind spirit with […]

I had a chance in February to see “Beyond the Ordinary,” an exhibit of photos and watercolour paintings at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Ottawa, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. The subjects were all familiar and simple—basically leaves or blossoms—yet each image was alive with vivid colour and sensuous lines. I left […]