2019/20 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

Marco Castillo, guitarist
LINDO MARAVILHOSO!- Sun, February 9, 2020• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • CCFM

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Kiko Freitas, drummer
LINDO MARAVILHOSO!- Sun, February 9, 2020• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • CCFM ​​
Drummer World's 2019 winner of “Best Drummer-World Music” is the WJO's very special guest for a rare opportunity to hear Samba and Bossa Nova played at its finest. One of the most in-demand drummers in Brazil, Freitas has toured the world with João Bosco, and has performed with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Michel Legrand, John Patitucci, and most of Brazil's top tier musicians over the course of his long and distinguished career. Winnipeg guitarist and singer Marco Castillo joins us for a concert that promises to be Lindo Maravilhoso!

Jayme Giesbrecht  vocalist
Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and other seasonal favourites
- Sat, December 7, 2019 - 3:00 pm • WAG
& Sun, December 8, 2019 - 2:00 pm • WAG

​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. 

Quinn Greene  actor
Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and other seasonal favourites -
Sat, December 7, 2019 - 3:00 pm • WAG
& Sun, December 8, 2019 - 2:00 pm • WAG

​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. 

Philippe Cote trombonist, radio host/producer, educator/community builder
​Alliance - Sun, November 17, 2019• 2:00 pm • SOPAC

Composer, saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and improviser, Montreal-based Philippe Côté is a musical explorer at the crossroads of jazz and classical. 
Master of Music (M.Mus.), Philippe studied classical orchestration under the supervision of respected Canadian composer John Rea. Philippe’s work was shaped by his time spent in New York, the scene of two seminal moments for the composer: his encounter with long-time mentor David Binney, and his first experience with Lennie Tristano’s teaching method, learned from pianist Marc Copland.
David Braid pianist and composer
​Alliance - Sun, November 17, 2019• 2:00 pm • SOPAC
David Braid is a Steinway Artist, a Special Associate Artist of Sinfonia UK, an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto, a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, and a visting adjunct professor at the Danish National Academy of Music (Odense). He is a recipient of the Ontario Foundation for the Arts’ prestigious prize: ’Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award for Keyboard Artistry.’

Sherrie Maricle drummer, Leader of DIVA Jazz Orchestra
For Swing Sake - Sun, October 27, 2019• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG

From the drum set Sherrie Maricle leads The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, her quintet FIVE PLAY and co-leads the 3Divas.  Her bands have performed at many of the world’s most acclaimed music venues; from Lincoln Center to the Hollywood Bowl and Jazz Festivals around the globe, and she has won awards including a 2014 Ovation award for “Best Music Direction - Tappin Thru Life;” the 2009 Mary Lou Williams-Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award and a 2013 State Department grant to tour Vietnam with FIVE PLAY. 

2018/19 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

Rodrigo Muñoz, Papa Mambo
Fiesta Cubana - Sun, April 28, 2019• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG
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Created by Chilean-born classical guitarist Rodrigo Muñoz in 1989, Winnipeg’s Papa Mambo started out as a spirited party band and soon became recognized as one of the most skillful, exciting and important innovators in Canada’s Latin music scene.  This ten piece ensemble has played the Jazz Winnipeg Festival almost every year of the Festival's existence as well as the Montreal Jazz Fest, the Vancouver Jazz Fest, The Halifax Jazz Fest and The Winnipeg Folk Festival mainstage (twice). 
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David Braid pianist and composer
​Born to be Blue - Sun, Match 17, 2019• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG
David Braid is a Steinway Artist, a Special Associate Artist of Sinfonia UK, an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto, a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, and a visting adjunct professor at the Danish National Academy of Music (Odense). He is a recipient of the Ontario Foundation for the Arts’ prestigious prize: ’Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award for Keyboard Artistry.’

Jayme Giesbrecht  vocalist
Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and other seasonal favourites
​- Sat, December 8, 2018- 3:00 pm • WAG
& Sun, December 9, 2018- 2:00 pm • WAG

​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. ​

Ken Peplowski  clarinetist
I Remember When - Sun, November 11, 2018• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG

​In 1980, Ken moved to New York City and was soon playing in all kinds of settings, from Dixieland to avant-garde jazz.  Four years later, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone.  Ken Peplowski is a Buffet-Crampon artist, and plays the R-13 clarinet, with a Portnoy mouthpiece and Van Doren German-cut reeds. He also plays a Yamaha tenor sax and a Berg Larsen mouthpiece.

Al Kay trombonist, Head of the Brass Department at Humber College, Toronto
Bourbon Street Parade - Sun, October 21, 2018• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG

Al Kay is a prolific musician and has recorded and/or performed with hundreds of the very best artists and entertainers such as True North Brass, Ella Fitzgerald, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, Tony Bennet, Aretha Franklin, Maria Schneider, Frank Sinatra, Slide Hampton, and All Star Brass.  He has been a feature performer across Canada, toured seven seasons with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra, and performed with dozens of brass bands, concert bands, big bands, and jazz ensembles.

Chris Butcher trombonist, radio host/producer, educator/community builder
Bourbon Street Parade - Sun, October 21, 2018• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG

Chris Butcher is a musician firmly established as a representative of the global music village, transcending genre and cultural predisposition, and pleasing audiences across the world. Chris moved to Toronto in his early twenties and quickly built a solid reputation as one of Canada’s top trombone players in the most diverse musical scene on the planet, playing in the groups of many of the country’s most prestigious artists including Jane Bunnett, Jay Douglas, Hilario Duran, Archie Alleyne and Kevin Breit among countless others. 

2017/18 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

Robert Young jazz vocalist
How the West Was Swung • Sun, May 6, 2018 • 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG

Robert Young is a Winnipeg raised, Calgary based Jazz crooner.
The style and influence, phrasing, and aura of the late great Frank Sinatra has had a huge influence in Rob’s life and vocal development, as has the elements of the Great American Songbook.  From national Jazz Festivals, public and private performances, duos to eighteen-piece Big Bands, Robert has been performing music in the style of Sinatra across North America since 1998.

Scotty Barnhart trumpeter|composer|educator|director
Back to Basie|Sun, October 22, 2017• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG

Scotty Barnhart is an internationally acclaimed Jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator, author, and is the Director of The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra. A featured trumpet soloist with the orchestra for over twenty years, he's a two-time Grammy Award winner, appears on three critically acclaimed recordings with pianist Marcus Roberts, and over fifteen others with artists as diverse as Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Ray Charles, and Tito Puente. Acknowledged as an authority on the history of Jazz trumpet, he has given two keynote lecture-demonstrations at The International Trumpet Guild Conference and continues to give lectures and seminars at universities in South America, Japan, China, Europe, South Africa, and all across the United States. 

2016/17 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

Sasha Boychouk clarinetist|saxophonist|
Back In Town! • Sun, May 7, 2017 • 2:00pm/ 7:30pm • WAG

Master clarinetist/saxophonist Sasha Boychouk returns to his old stomping ground where he will help the WJO bring the 2016/17 season to a rousing conclusion. Sasha was instrumental in the formation of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, and it is fitting that we feature him to mark our 20-year journey. We’ll feature Sasha on Artie Shaw’s Clarinet Concerto and Begin The Beguine, as well as other classic big band clarinet repertoire.

David Braid pianist•composer•recording artist•educator
Made in Canada: Concerto for Jazz Orchestra • Sun, Mar 19, 2017 • 2:00pm/ 7:30pm • WAG

David Braid is a Steinway Artist, a Special Associate Artist of Sinfonia UK, an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto, a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, and a visting adjunct professor at the Danish National Academy of Music (Odense). He is a recipient of the Ontario Foundation for the Arts’ prestigious prize: ’Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award for Keyboard Artistry.’

Ariane Jean singer•songwriter•​recording artist
​ La Vie En Rose • Sun, Feb 12, 2017 • 2:00pm / 7:30pm • WAG

Toujours occupé et bien rempli d’inspiration, le bol d’Ariane Jean est un véritable Juke-box de chansons empruntées et originales. Née dans une famille de musiciens, Ariane grandit dans un environnement créatif. Inspirée par les chanteurs et musiciens qu’elle entendait chez elle et à la radio, Ariane apprit à chanter par oreille et, après plusieurs années de pratique maison, elle se lança sur scène pour la première fois.

Andrina Turenne guitarist•vocalist•recording artist
​ La Vie En Rose • Sun, Feb 12, 2017 • 2:00pm/ 7:30pm • WAG

Andrina's undeniable joie de vivre spreads like wildfire on the prairies of her native Manitoba. A total keener and performer since childhood, Andrina finds her greatest love in music and her biggest reward standing in front of an audience. Her teenage years saw her lending her fiery vocal style to local funk and blues bands, playing late into the cold Winnipeg nights to keep warm.

PJ Perry saxophonist•bebopper•composer•recording artist
Swingin’ the Blues • Sun, Nov 13, 2016 • 2:00pm/ 7:30pm • WAG

PJ Perry has shared the stage with countless jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Michel LeGrand, Tom Harrell, Rob McConnell, Slide Hampton, Fraser McPherson, Tommy Banks, Joe LaBarbera, Clarence “Big” Miller, Red Rodney and many more talented artists, to numerous to list here. Recently, he was a featured soloist on the hit 2010 Broadway production of Come Fly Away, highlighting the songs of Frank Sinatra and the choreography of Twyla Tharpe.  

Jimmy Greene saxophonist•composer•recording artist•educator
​Mission Statement: The Music of Jimmy Greene • West End Cultural Centre (WECC)
Sat, Oct 22, 2016  7:30pm • Sun, Oct 23, 2016  2:00pm/7:30pm

Jimmy Greene’s debut recording for Mack Avenue, Beautiful Life, is a celebration of the life of his 6-year-old daughter, Ana Márquez-Greene, whose life was tragically taken, along with 19 other children and 6 educators, on December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The album garnered two Grammy® nominations: one for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and the other for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for Greene's arrangement of his composition "When I Come Home," featuring vocalist Javier Colon.

2015/16 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

Stefán Stefánsson saxophonist•composer•jazz maestro
Besame Mucho • Sun, May 8, 2016 • 2:00pm/ 7:30pm • WAG

Born in Hafnarfjörður near the capitol of Iceland, Reykjavík in 1957 Stefan started playing music at an early age.  At first he banged on the drums with a fierce interest in latin music as well as jazz.  As a teenager he started studies at Sigursveins Music School in Iceland on flute.  About 17 he started playing the saxophone and has done that since.
Stacey Nattrass vocalist•music educator•musical theatre
Besame Mucho • Sun, May 8, 2016 • 2:00pm/ 7:30pm • WAG
Stacey Nattrass is an accomplished and beloved Winnipegger with years of experience in jazz, classical music and musical theatre. She was the regular anthem singer for the Manitoba Moose, at both Wpg arenas, for 14 years and now for the Jets at the MTS Centre