Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
  • Events 2022-23
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    • 2022-23 Online Series
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    • St. James Infirmary Blues
    • Swing Cabaret Fundraiser
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    • Women in Jazz Symposium >
      • Women in Jazz Bios
    • Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop
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      • Big Band Workshops
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      • CD Details - Voices
      • CD Details - Twisting Ways
      • CD Details - Suite 150
      • CD Details - Suite Messiah
      • CD Details - Steppin’ Out
    • Musician CDS >
      • Bjorn Thoroddsen
      • Jeff Presslaff
      • Richard Gillis
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    • DONATE
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    • Who We Are
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  • Events 2022-23
    • 2022-23 Concerts
    • 2022-23 Ticket options
    • 2022-23 Online Series
    • Guest Artists 2022-23
    • St. James Infirmary Blues
    • Swing Cabaret Fundraiser
    • Jazz Winnipeg Collaboration
    • WJO Honour Jazz
  • Education
    • Women in Jazz Symposium >
      • Women in Jazz Bios
    • Canadian Jazz Composers Workshop
    • Pre-concert performances
    • Jazz Band Workshops >
      • Big Band Workshops
    • Play-along charts
    • Jazz Skills Videos
  • Boutique
    • WJO Face Masks
    • WJO T-shirts
    • WJO Pen
    • WJO CDS >
      • CD Details - Voices
      • CD Details - Twisting Ways
      • CD Details - Suite 150
      • CD Details - Suite Messiah
      • CD Details - Steppin’ Out
    • Musician CDS >
      • Bjorn Thoroddsen
      • Jeff Presslaff
      • Richard Gillis
  • Support us
    • DONATE
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
    • Our advertisers
  • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Who We Are
    • Board of Directors
    • WJO in the News

Rhythm
Rhythm is something you either have or don't have,
but when you have it, you have it all over.

                                                                                            Elvis Presley

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WILL BONNESS (piano) is a highly sought after pianist on the Winnipeg jazz scene. Currently
Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at the Desautels Faculty of Music, Bonness started his professional
career right out of high school touring with the late Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau Band. Since leaving the band, Will has gone on to become a staple on the Winnipeg music scene in several genres. In addition to his teaching and solo work, he performs regularly with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and many other groups.

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GILLES FOURNIER’S versatility on 4, 5 and 6 string electric basses, string bass, his skills and 
sharp-eared adventurous musicianship positions him as one of the most in demand musicians 
locally and abroad. He is extremely fluent in most languages of music from world beat to jazz and has worked as a professionally for over 30 years as a performer, band leader, composer, producer and educator. He has performed and/or recorded with jazz greats such as Clarke Terry, Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Bud Shank, Denzal Sinclaire, Eddie Henderson, Kenny Wheeler, Bobby Hutcherson, Peter Appleyard, Marvin"Smitty"Smith, Terri-Lynne Carrington, Bucky Pizzarilli, Kevin Eubanks, Attila Zoller, Christian Escoude,Paquito D’Rivera, Phil Nimmons , Steve Coleman, Stanley Cowell, Rob McConnel and PJ Perry to name a few. In addition to leading his own distinctive Sextet and funk/R&B band Ego Spank, he has performed and recorded with diverse local groups and talents such as The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Buhr, Dry Bones, Papa Mambo, Marco Castillo and among countless others. Gilles has gained notoriety in the symphonic
​music world, having participated in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's New Music Festival.

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ROB SIWIK For over 25 years, drummer Rob has been an active participant in Winnipeg's jazz community. Over that time, he has played with many of the city's finest including Ron Paley, Knut Haugsoen, Larry Roy, Walle Larsson and The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. Rob has also had the opportunity to perform at jazz festivals in Montreal, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Vancouver as well as tour across Canada and the U.S. in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's production of A Cinderella Story. Highlights of Rob's career also include sharing the stage with jazz legends Frank Foster, Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Watrous, and Clark Terry

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The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra is Generously Funded by:

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
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Education Sponsors:

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The Play-Along App project is supported by the Government of Canada’s Healthy Communities Initiative.

Concert Sponsors:
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Radio Sponsors
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Special Event Supporters
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Supporters
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The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra acknowledges that we perform in venues on Treaty One Territory; the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra welcomes and shares its performance and creation of music - a universal language to all people irrespective of culture, race, sexuality, ability, language and gender.

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Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra  / Box 68114, RPO Osborne Village, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3L 2V9
Main: 204-421-9398 / manager@winnipegjazzorchestra.com     Box Office: 204-632-5299 / tickets@winnipegjazzorchestra.com