2021-2022 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS
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International Women's Day Celebration
featuring Sol James - Thursday, March 10, 2022 7:30 pm Sol James is a force to be reckoned with, with a voice to match. At home in multiple styles including jazz, soul, country and folk, Sol has used the past decade+ to perform, tour, support other artists, and release recordings of her own original music, cementing her reputation as a sought-after professional vocalist and performer. Her stage presence is vivacious, sincere, and charmingly funny, with a strong and agile voice that can either shake the paint off the walls or soothe you to your soul. An accomplished musician, she has completed two degrees: The University of Manitoba Jazz Studies program in 2008, and the Canadian Mennonite University Music Therapy Program in 2020. |
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Up Jumped Spring
featuring Helen White on vocals - SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2022, 2:00 pm Seasoned jazz singer and pianist Helen White enjoys performing in every location - whether it's a big glitzy show in a theatre with an 8-piece band; an outdoor patio as a duo; or in a hotel lounge or casino playing solo. She is a regular at all the main jazz venues in Winnipeg and has been delighted to be a guest artist with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra many times. White has recorded three full-length studio albums (two of original material) and in 2022 will be recording her much-awaited next jazz album! With a Masters in Jazz Performance (U of M, Canada) and a BA Hons in Creative Music Sound Technology and Performance (ARU, Cambridge, UK), White taught vocals and piano for two decades but is now concentrating on her performing. Recently, White joined a 6-piece rock band called "Rock The House" who specialize in 60s - 90s rock. They perform in legions, bars and at festivals and showcases all over the province and are tremendous fun to be a part of! |
Marco Castillo
BOSSAMBA - October 13, 2021
Marco was born in the capital of Samba, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Estácio de Sá University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1994. As an educator he has presented several Brazilian music workshops at the University of Manitoba for the faculty of music, Long and Mquade, Royal Manitoba Music Conservatory as well as teaching music, coaching for Spanish and Portuguese.
Castillo has 35+ years of experience in the music industry, have toured and performed in many festivals in North America and around the globe, recorded and produced many musical projects, collaborated with great names locally and abroad such as the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra do Maestro Guio de Moraes, Ron Paley Big band, Trio Irakitan, Rosa Marya, Claudya (Evita), Luiz Carlos Batera (Banda Black Rio), Marcio Montarroyos (Ney Matogrosso, Elis Regina, Jobim), George Coligan (American Jazz Pianist), Rubão Sabino (Gilberto Gil) and Kiko Freitas (João Bosco) among others. In 2015 Marco was a finalist with his original “Forró no Canadá” for the Viña del Mar music festival in Chile, one of the most important music festivals in Latin America, which is broadcasted and seen by over millions of fans around the world.
BOSSAMBA - October 13, 2021
Marco was born in the capital of Samba, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Estácio de Sá University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1994. As an educator he has presented several Brazilian music workshops at the University of Manitoba for the faculty of music, Long and Mquade, Royal Manitoba Music Conservatory as well as teaching music, coaching for Spanish and Portuguese.
Castillo has 35+ years of experience in the music industry, have toured and performed in many festivals in North America and around the globe, recorded and produced many musical projects, collaborated with great names locally and abroad such as the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra do Maestro Guio de Moraes, Ron Paley Big band, Trio Irakitan, Rosa Marya, Claudya (Evita), Luiz Carlos Batera (Banda Black Rio), Marcio Montarroyos (Ney Matogrosso, Elis Regina, Jobim), George Coligan (American Jazz Pianist), Rubão Sabino (Gilberto Gil) and Kiko Freitas (João Bosco) among others. In 2015 Marco was a finalist with his original “Forró no Canadá” for the Viña del Mar music festival in Chile, one of the most important music festivals in Latin America, which is broadcasted and seen by over millions of fans around the world.
Stacey Nattrass, vocalist
WELCOME BACK - October 24, 2021
Stacey Nattrass may be most recognized as the regular anthem singer for the Winnipeg Jets, but she finds herself equally at home on the musical theatre stage, the classical concert hall or in front of a big band jazz orchestra. This is Stacey’s fourth appearance with the WJO having recently been featured in the “Divas of Jazz” Live At Home concert last spring. She has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and has been seen in musical theatre productions at Rainbow Stage and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. By day, you will find Stacey teaching choral music at Collège Garden City Collegiate in Seven Oaks School Division.
WELCOME BACK - October 24, 2021
Stacey Nattrass may be most recognized as the regular anthem singer for the Winnipeg Jets, but she finds herself equally at home on the musical theatre stage, the classical concert hall or in front of a big band jazz orchestra. This is Stacey’s fourth appearance with the WJO having recently been featured in the “Divas of Jazz” Live At Home concert last spring. She has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and has been seen in musical theatre productions at Rainbow Stage and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. By day, you will find Stacey teaching choral music at Collège Garden City Collegiate in Seven Oaks School Division.
Niall Cade- Saxophonist
DUKE ELLINGTON AND CHAOS AT NEWPORT - November 3, 2021
“… a powerful young tenor saxophonist... he has a big sound and tremendous facility, but he also has an open, philosophical nature that gives his musical ideas reach and depth…”
After living in New York City for the six years, saxophonist and composer Niall has recently moved back to his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
While living in New York, Niall performed with such jazz luminaries as the Philip Harper Quintet, the Quincy Davis Quintet, the Big Jimmy Greene Band, the Kenny Carr Group, the Steven Feifke Quartet, and Bobby Sanabria’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Niall has performed at several internationally renowned jazz venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Kitano, the 55 Bar, the Jazz Gallery, and the Bar Next Door.
A versatile instrumentalist, Niall has been featured in concert across a variety of genres, performing on stage with several Pop and R&B, groups including Mac DeMarco, Royal Canoe, Moses Mayes, Luciano. Niall is also an avid composer and has been written commissioned pieces for both film and dance projects.
Having returned to Winnipeg in the summer of 2021, Niall immediately began working on a variety of projects and participating in a number of organizations. Currently, Niall teaches Applied Jazz Saxophone at Brandon University, performs with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, and leads his own projects, including helming the six-piece jazz-funk group Faux Pas Funk. Niall has also joined the roster of Color Red recording artist Apollo Suns and will be touring with the group throughout 2021 and 2022.
In 2019, Niall was a semifinalist in the inaugural Michael Brecker International Jazz Saxophone Competition, traveling to Eilat, Israel as a part of the Red Sea Jazz Festival.
DUKE ELLINGTON AND CHAOS AT NEWPORT - November 3, 2021
“… a powerful young tenor saxophonist... he has a big sound and tremendous facility, but he also has an open, philosophical nature that gives his musical ideas reach and depth…”
After living in New York City for the six years, saxophonist and composer Niall has recently moved back to his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
While living in New York, Niall performed with such jazz luminaries as the Philip Harper Quintet, the Quincy Davis Quintet, the Big Jimmy Greene Band, the Kenny Carr Group, the Steven Feifke Quartet, and Bobby Sanabria’s Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Niall has performed at several internationally renowned jazz venues including Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Kitano, the 55 Bar, the Jazz Gallery, and the Bar Next Door.
A versatile instrumentalist, Niall has been featured in concert across a variety of genres, performing on stage with several Pop and R&B, groups including Mac DeMarco, Royal Canoe, Moses Mayes, Luciano. Niall is also an avid composer and has been written commissioned pieces for both film and dance projects.
Having returned to Winnipeg in the summer of 2021, Niall immediately began working on a variety of projects and participating in a number of organizations. Currently, Niall teaches Applied Jazz Saxophone at Brandon University, performs with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, and leads his own projects, including helming the six-piece jazz-funk group Faux Pas Funk. Niall has also joined the roster of Color Red recording artist Apollo Suns and will be touring with the group throughout 2021 and 2022.
In 2019, Niall was a semifinalist in the inaugural Michael Brecker International Jazz Saxophone Competition, traveling to Eilat, Israel as a part of the Red Sea Jazz Festival.
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Ron Robinson Narrator
WEST SIDE STORY SUITE - November 21, 2021 Taller on radio, Ron Robinson is the former CBC radio host of the Weekend Morning Show and the first host of Nightlines, an eclectic mix of new music produced by jazz fan Ross Porter. Ron can be heard hosting Pages: Radio for Readers and co hosting the cleverly named Saturday Morning Show with his wife, Carol McKibbon on CKUW FM, 95.9. He appeared in three one man shows at the Winnipeg Fringe as his favourite DWEMS ( Dead White European Males). He once approached Lenny Breau during a smoke break at a Winnipeg trio performance to tell him, “ I don’t know much about jazz, but I sure like what you do." |
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Trio Bembe Amber Epp, Rodrigo Munoz and Victor Lopez
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Quinn Green, Narrator
MUSIC FROM A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS - December 15, 2021 Quinn Greene is a prolific comedian, actor, writer, director, and producer. Quinn co-produced and co-directed the hit stage show Evil Dead: The Musical (Winnipeg 2018) and plays Bernie The Giant Recycling Raccoon in the popular Manitoba Recycle Everywhere commercial campaign. |
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Jayme Giesbrecht, Vocalist
MUSIC FROM A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS - December 15, 2021 Springing from her vocal roots in a small church in Winkler, Jayme Giesbrecht has broadened her repertoire from traditional gospel spirituals and hymns, to the soul classics of Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Tina Turner. Through collaborations with jazz pianist John Alexiuk and blues man JP Lepage, Jayme was able to record and release her debut album To Keep You From Falling in 2016, which was sponsored by Golden West Broadcasting. As a co-host of CFAM 950’s morning show, she has become well-known on the air as an informed advocate for Manitoba musicians, and regularly interviews and highlights new artists on the weekly program Made in Manitoba. |
