2020-2021 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

DERRICK GARDNER CONDUCTOR AND TRUMPTER
​BASIE STRAIGHT AHEAD - SUN, NOVEMBER 15, 2020 - Cancelled!
1:00 PM, 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM - SOPAC
​We will do our best to feature Derrick at a future date.
Born in Chicago, IL, jazz trumpeter Derrick Gardner quickly made his mark on the New York City jazz scene after arriving in the Big Apple in 1991. Derrick was a member of the Count Basie Orch. from 1991 to 1996. He has also worked with a tremendous litany of jazz artist and ensembles to include Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Band, Harry Connick Jr.’s Big Band, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orch., The Vanguard Jazz Orch. and Swiss tenor player Roman Schwaller’s European sextet. Derrick formed his sextet, The Jazz Prophets, in 1991, and 29 years later it continues to be the primary vehicle of his distinctive, hard-driving music. As jazz journalist Ken Franckling points out “Derrick is “a Clifford Brown disciple with tinges of Freddy Hubbard and Woody Shaw thrown in for good measure, all in service of a sound and a band that are extending the funky soul-swing evolution.”

Charlotte Martin vocalist
​Soul with a Capital 'S' - Sun, November 29, 2020 - Cancelled!
1:00 PM, 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM- CCFM
We will do our best to bring Charlotte at a future date.

Charlotte Martin has captivated audiences with her expressive vocal styling’s and dynamic stage presence across Canada, the US and Europe. Blessed with a beautiful powerful voice and impressive range, Charlotte quickly generated attention and admiration in her hometown of Toronto; where her outstanding talents were showcased with Toronto’s best R & B bands. In 1976 she released her first single, an arrangement of “Dancing in the Streets” that climbed the top 40 charts on Canadian Radio. She has performed on radio jingles, television commercials and music videos. She has performed with Gino Vanelli, and as a vocal coach for Courtney Love.
 
Since Charlotte moved to Winnipeg, she has worked with the Ron Paley Big Band, Walle Larsson and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and performed at the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, and Jazz on the Rooftop at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. She created and performs her concert show “Simply the Best- The Tina Turner Experience”.
 


​Trio Bembe Amber Epp, Rodrigo Munoz and Victor Lopez
Feliz Navidad
Sat, December 12, 2020 - 1:00 PM, 4:30 PM - WAG
& Sun, December 13, 2020 - 1:00 PM, 4:30 PM - WAG 

Trio Bembe plays infectious Latin music from around the world. Having chased their passion from the snowy Canadian prairies to Cuba, Chile, and Argentina, this trio is overflowing with rhythmic energy.
CHARITO, VOCALS
CHEEK TO CHEEK - ​SUN, FEBRUARY 14, 2021- 1:00 PM, 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM - WAG

Recognized as one of the most individual and creative jazz vocalists in today's Japan jazz circuit, Charito is acclaimed by critics, musicians and audiences as one of the most powerful and talented artists. She has definitely notched a place for herself in Japan's exclusive music world, and is now gaining note abroad. She has ten albums released with most recordings done in US, Canada and Brazil.
DEL BARONI, VOCALIST - Del will perform at a future concert

​Del Baroni is a graduate of the University of Miami where he majored in music (jazz and vocal). While in Florida, he taught college level music as well as performing as a vocalist and bassist both in "live" and studio engagements. He moved his family to Georgia and has been busy in the Atlanta music scene ever since.
With an appreciation for American standard music, jazz, and the artists who had a public impact with both live and recorded performances, Del came up with the "ON THE AIR" concept. He purchased some vintage broadcast microphones and set out to recreate the excitement of live broadcasts as well as intimate jazz club settings. This started with a love for Frank Sinatra's music and vocal style.
JENNIFER HANSON, VOCALIST
THE BEST IS YET TO COME - SUN, MAY 2, 2021 - 1:00 PM, 4:30 PM & 7:30 PM - WAG

The youngest of seven children, Jennifer Hanson learned to love 30's and 40's era standards at her father Bill's knee. In order to get just a little attention ...in the midst of all those kids, she began singing them for anyone who would listen around 1972, and then after her short, but throat blistering career in rock ’n’ roll, actually got paid to sing the really good stuff around 1993.
Jennifer's reputation for great vocal chops and notoriety for countless public appearances singing national anthems at NHL games, and touring the country with her band, began to attract the attention of a new audience among jazz fans.
Her torchy, seductive vocal style is among the finest in the current generation of jazz singers, while her stage presence is that of the classic generation of singers like Rosemary Clooney, Julie London and Vera Lynn. She's definitely not just another voice in the crowd.