2018/19 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

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, Guido Basso, Aretha Franklin, Maria Schneider, Frank Sinatra, Warren Vache, Slide Hampton, Lighthouse, Bill Watrous, Wayne Bergeron, and All Star Brass. Al performs regularly with the bands of John MacLeod, Roberto Occhipinti, Hilario Duran, Lighthouse, Kirk MacDonald, Brian Dickinson, and his own 5 and 10 trombone jazz ensembles. He has been a feature performer across Canada with the leading orchestras of Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, 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. As a leader of The Heavyweights Brass Band Chris has been behind one of the brightest lights to emerge on the Canadian music scene.  Chris Butcher illustrates a promising portrait of an influential career in music. 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. Chris is now resident of New Orleans after coming down frequently over the years to study with Delfeayo Marsalis and soak up the roots of the music.
On special occasions Chris has played and recorded with some of the finest international artists like Quincy Jones, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, The Treme Brass Band, Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Ernest Ranglin, Giovanni Hidalgo, Broken Social Scene, Dubmatix, David Clayton-Thomas and many more . In 2015 Chris was awarded Emerging Artist of the Year at the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. He also formed Street Brass, a community based ensemble that teaches and performs brass band music of the Americas. 2018 promises to be a year of continued growth as Chris splits time between studying/playing in the great city of New Orleans, touring with the California based Mad Caddies, and his many ongoing projects in Toronto.

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

​Ken Peplowski “When you grow up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing in a Polish polka band, you learn to think fast on your feet”, says Ken Peplowski, who played his first pro engagement when he was still in elementary school. “From my first time performing in public, I knew I wanted to play music for a living.” Peplowski met Sonny Stitt while on the road with the Dorsey band, and studied with him.
In 1980, Ken moved to New York City and was soon playing in all kinds of settings, from Dixieland to avant-garde jazz. “Everything’s a learning experience in jazz music – there’s always an element of the unpredictable.” In 1984, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone
“What’s in the future? “Who knows? I love all kinds of music, and I’d like to find more opportunities to bridge the gaps between different musical styles – I consider myself an interpreter of material – if something interests me, I try to put my own spin on it, without thinking or worrying about playing in any style. Basically, I like a challenge, I’m a sucker for a good melody, and I love playing for audiences, big or small.”
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.

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

​Jayme Giesbrecht first took to the stage 20 years ago, in a small church in 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.
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David Braid pianist and composer
​Born to be Blue - Sun, Match 17, 2019• 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm • WAG
Hailed in the Canadian press as "one of his country’s true renaissance men when it comes to music" (The Ottawa Citizen), and "a jazz genius to call our own" (Maclean’s Magazine), Braid is an eight-time Juno nominee, and winner of three Juno Awards for his solo piano recording, ’Verge’, large ensemble recording, ’The David Braid Sextet Live.’, and small ensemble, "The North". Braid concertizes his original music and improvisations in the UK, Scandinavia, Continental Europe, Russia, China, Australia, The United States, and Canada. Combining the discipline of European classical music with the spontaneity of jazz, Braid’s music is described as "brilliant" (Montreal Gazette), "wide-ranging, exploratory" (South China Morning Post), "une force poétique" (Le Soleil) and "hauntingly beautiful" (The Globe & Mail).
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.’
His arrangements and compositions were an integral part of the Chet Baker-inspired film, ’Born to Be Blue’ and his jazz score received praise for its "contemporary patina without sacrificing period authenticity" (The Times, UK). He also won ’Best Original Score’ and ’Best Original Song’ at the 2017 Screen Awards.
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). The ensemble has two CDs to its credit plus several original singles. Papa Mambo has also recently embraced Afro Cuban music on a symphonic level, having performed sold-out shows both with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. 

2017/18 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS

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. Hal Leonard published his groundbreaking book, The World of Jazz Trumpet – A Comprehensive History and Practical Philosophy worldwide in December 2005 to rave reviews.

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 .
He was inspired to pursue his musical path as a result of ownership of the Beat Niq Jazz Club and Bistro Piq Niq in Calgary. His interaction and resulting performances with many of Canada’s renowned jazz players such as Juno Award winner P.J. Perry, and Calgary’s own Juno nominated
Al Muirhead have had a great influence on his career. 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. 

2016/17 SEASON GUEST ARTISTS


​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.
“I want to give a sense of how Ana lived,” Greene says. He fulfills that mandate with an intense, cohesive, genre-spanning program, juxtaposing the hardcore instrumental jazz for which...read more...

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

Bebopper, def: “a disciple of swing and improvisation…”

PJ Perry has shared the stage with countless jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Michel LeGrand, Pepper Adams, Kenny Wheeler, Tom Harrell, Rob McConnell, Slide Hampton, Herb Spanier, Bobby Shew, 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... He has provided guidance to generations of young musicians, inspiration to his peers, and thrilled audiences with his heartfelt and brilliant improvisations...read more...

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. In early 2001...read more...

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. Appuyée par les professionnels de l’industrie au Manitoba, et au...read more...

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

Hailed in the Canadian press as "A jazz genius to call our own" (Macleans Magazine), multi-Juno Award winner and Steinway Piano Artist David Braid has performed concerts of his original music and improvisations across The United States, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Australia, Brazil and Canada...
...Recently awarded Jazz Pianist of the Year in Canada, Braid is also a recipient of SOCAN Composer of the Year, recognizing his output of over one hundred works including compositions for solo piano, jazz ensembles chamber groups, and symphony orchestras. He has released nine recordings, garnering six Juno nominations and two Juno awards; he is also a…read more...
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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. 

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. After various musical studies, amongst them studies with...read more...

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 has appeared in Miss Saigon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Footloose with Rainbow Stage Inc., as well as My Fair Lady with MTC. Stacey comes from a very musical family. Both her parents sang at the Hollow Mug dinner theatre, her dad is an accomplished accordionist and her aunt is opera singer Tracy Dahl. Stacey performed and studied in the University of Manitoba's music program and now gets classrooms of kids singing as a choral teacher in the Seven Oaks School. Division. She was also the regular anthem singer for the Manitoba Moose, at both Wpg arenas, for 14 years and now for the Jets at the MTS Centre.