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Allen Ayers
Originally from Saskatoon, Allen Ayers
is a guitarist, arranger and teacher who has studied at
the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles and the
Los Angeles City College, in performance arranging and
composition. His career in music spans many years. Allen
came to jazz by way of rock, as a member of the Canadian
group Kenny Shields & Witness Inc. (original Streetheart
band). While in Los Angeles, he spent three years
working as a studio musician, doing sessions and
jingles. He has also played in the orchestra for
Broadway shows such as Evita, Cats and Unforgettable,
the Nat King Cole tribute which ran in Kelowna. Allen's
main influences are George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Jim
Hall and Charlie Christian. The Allen Ayers Trio plays
at local venues including the Minstrel Café, Laughing
Moon Restaurant and Gallery, wineries and private
functions. Allen also plays in a duo with bassist Leigh
Perry. The music is smooth, easy-listening jazz with a
mix of Latin, blues and standards.
Allen Ayers
(250) 868-2454
harpeldog@shaw.ca
Neville Bowman
Pianist and vocalist Neville
Bowman is best known as a member of the Just In Time
jazz trio, but he also has performed with the Michael
Garding Big Band and with Cathy-Ann Wells. His vocal
style is often compared to that of Harry Connick Jr.
Neville is an accomplished music writer and arranger,
leading him to acquire the position of musical director
for the Nat King Cole tribute Unforgettable and for Dem
Crazy Blues, a hundred-year history of female blues
artists.
Neville Bowman
(250) 769-6213
www.nevillebowman.net
Ellen Churchill
Ellen Churchill's musical background
includes live performance, session work, jingles, radio
and television. Influenced by divas such as Sarah
Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald and others in childhood, her
interest in jazz has become a passion. Her creative
platform is of personal expression and improvisation as
she takes a song that was perhaps sung by Billie Holiday
or Artie Shaw and makes it her own. Her jazz/blues
presence is one that is creative, fun and magical.
Larry Crawford
Larry Crawford's career as a
versatile, all-round musician spans 40 years in Canada
and the United States. He spent 25 years in Canadian and
U.S. armed forces staff bands, playing first chair and
featured soloist on flute and saxophone. Larry has had
extensive experience in radio, television,and studio
work, including CBC and CTV with performances on Jazz
Radio Canada, Sesame Street and many other shows and
series. He has toured and performed with such noted
performers as Liberace, Sammy Davis Jr., Harry
Belafonte, Rich Little, Alan Thicke, Bob Hope, Phil
Nimmons, Sid Ceasar, Doc Severinsen and many others.
Dogskin Suit
Dogskin Suit is a Kelowna-based blues
band with two CDs to its credit: Diggin Up The Yard, an
album of original tunes; and Growlin At The Gator, a
live recording featuring its most frequently requested
songs. Band members are Rick Halisheff on guitar, Sig
Schnellert on keyboards and saxophone, Brian MaGuire on
drums and Charles Faulkner on bass. Their influences
range from Dr. John to BB King, Duke Robillard, Stevie
Ray Vaughan and everything in-between. The band's set
list includes everything from Muddy Waters and Howlin
Wolf to Johnny Lang and Duke Robillard.
www.dogskinsuit.com
Sherman "Tank"
Doucette
Sherman "Tank" Doucette wrote songs,
sang and played harmonica with the Vancouver-based band
Incognito before moving to the Okanagan in 1999. Past
credits include guest appearances with John Lee Hooker,
Albert Colins, Pine Top Perkins, Sunnyland Slim, Long
John Baldry and many other blues legends. Now, he's a
favourite on the local blues scene with his band, the
Sherman Doucette Blues Quartet.
www.shermandoucette.com
Michael Garding
Michael Garding is a Kelowna
saxophonist equally at home playing jazz or blues. A
graduate of Grant MacEwan College, where he majored in
performance, he leads the Michael Garding Big Band. As
well, Garding performs with PHAT Betty, The Shuffle
Kings, the Salmon Armenians and various jazz projects.
Past projects included Soul Funktion, a 12-piece funk
band.
Michael Garding
(250) 768-7664
www.michaelgarding.com
Just In Time
Just In Time is Neville Bowman
(keyboards and vocals), Martin Lord (drums) and Cameron
Ward (double bass and six-string bass guitar). The
members of the trio challenge one another to perform
music that is as technically challenging as it is
beautiful, blending the elements of jazz standards,
Latin jazz, blues and bebop.
www.hansonward.com
Small Change
OKANAGAN MUSIC AWARD
nominees for
BLUES GROUP OF THE YEAR
Taking their name from a character in
a Tom Wait’s tune, “Small Change” is a three piece
Roots, Blues Fusion group based in Kelowna B.C. They
have been gradually building a loyal following, playing
at the more eclectic venues such as the Minstrel Café,
Rotary Centre for the Arts, and various concerts in the
Valley.
Lead vocalist Sven Nordlund plays
slide guitar and harmonica. Sven‘s style is heavily
influenced by the varied styles of the old blues
traditions. The syncopated rhythms create a suspended
feel only to be resolved with the group’s solid groove.
Percussionist Jim Copeman provides the
varied rhythms using an unorthodox drum kit he created.
Using hand drums, base drum, cymbals and other
percussive instruments he borrows from various world
rhythms exposing the harmony between the old blues
styles and traditional rhythms.
On fretless bass Jim Caldwell’s
improvisational playing provides both a solid bottom and
melodic harmonies, completing Small Changes’ unique
sound.
The Band’s inspiration is also drawn
from more contemporary sources such as Tom Waits, Canned
Heat, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix.
It is definitely worthwhile to check
out Small Changes’ unique and energetic style of music.
Small Change Myspace Profile
Anna
Jacyszyn
Anna's
professional music background began in dance
music. A backing vocalist in England for Yazz,
Marshall Jefferson, Cher, but her one love was jazz.
Hearing her voice; you can here traces of Julie London
mixed with the graspyness of Billie Holliday. Her song style,choice
as well as looks have been her passport to perform at
social events in front of Royalty and Elite Society
around the world. Although Anna continues to travel
back and forth to Asia, Europe & soon to India, she has
recently made Kelowna her base to be closer to her
family and Canadian roots.
Anna
Jacyszyn
azz Singer
250 575-6348
fabjazzmusic@hotmail.com
Hugh Parsons
Following an active performing career
as a jazz pianist travelling throughout Canada, Hugh
Parsons returned to Western Canada to pursue a career as
an educator, performer, arranger and composer. Holding a
bachelor's degree in music from the University of
Toronto and a master's degree in jazz studies from the
University of Victoria, Parsons now teaches music at
Kelowna Secondary School and continues to perform as a
freelance musician. He has performed as a featured
artist with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and served
as a pianist with a variety of touring artists. As well,
he co-ordinates the annual B.C. Interior Jazz Festival
in Kelowna.
Hugh Parsons
(250) 762-2049
parsons4@shaw.ca
Felix Possak Big Band
& Ballroom Orchestra
For major events with
the highest expectations choose between the brass &
woodwinds based Felix Possak Big Band, or the full
Ballroom Orchestra (complete with strings). Both
formations present a program of unmatched variety
from Glenn Miller swing tunes to Viennese waltzes,
polkas and marches, from Latin rhythms to vintage
rock as well as Dixieland jazz. Also available
is an entertainment feature and/or floor show with
comedy, novelty tunes and audience participation.
Felix Possak's
Web Site
Ricky and the
BlueCats
Ricky and the BlueCats came together for
the first time on New Year's Eve 2000 to play at a local
ski resort. Since then, the group, originally called the
One Night Stand Blues Band, has undergone many personnel
changes. Ricky and the BlueCats are dedicated to the
blues, old and new. Under the direction of vocalist
Ricky Martin, the band is proud to have been involved
with the 2002 and 2003 Kelowna Blues Fest. This
Kelowna-based quintet loves to get people dancing and
digging the blues, and would love to perform for your
next party, dance, fundraiser or wedding.
Richard Martin
(250) 578-8986
Major Mambo
MAJOR MAMBO is the
Okanagan Valley’s premier Latin ensemble. They play
ideal dance music for your Caribbean theme night. Salsa,
Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Bolero, Bossa Nova, Samba, Latin
Jazz. Hot sounds from Havana, Puerto Rico, New
York and Brazil. They have performed throughout the
Okanagan Valley at The Okanagan Jazz Festival, Kelowna
Parks Alive, Kelowna Community Theater, The Rotary Arts
Center, Quail's Gate Winery, Hotel Eldorado, Coast Capri
Hotel, DJ's and The Grand Hotel. Current band members
include Luis Melgar-piano, Kat Boechler- bass and Trevor
Salloum-Latin percussion. Contact Trevor Salloum below.
Trevor Salloum
Trevor Salloum has played jazz
professionally in Canada and the United States for more
than 25 years. He has performed with Pat LaBarbera,
Armando Peraza, Alex Acuña, Jane Bunnett, Campbell Ryga,
Ross Taggart, Brad Turner, Dee Daniels, Tommy Banks and
Ian McDougall. He now leads his own jazz trio and Latin
group (Major Mambo). In addition, he has written books
on percussion for Mel Bay Publications and is a workshop
leader in Afro-Cuban percussion.
Trevor Salloum
(250) 763-3951
www.trevorsalloum.com
Downhome Dave
and the Dynamite Blues Band
Downhome Dave and the Dynamite are a cross between the
legends of the Chicago Blues scene and the funky swing
of the more modern greats. Think Muddy Waters combined
with James Brown and Brian Setzer with a dash of John
Mayer thrown in. Downhome Dave and the Dynamite create
an atmosphere that engulfs the listener in the type of
music that speaks to the soul while inspiring the body
to move unconsciously. An unearthly experience of mojo
taking the listener to another dimension, creating a
state altering experience you can’t be arrested for.
www.downhomedave.com
Suzan Wood-Young
Suzan’s lifelong passion for jazz found an
outlet when she began vocal training with Ellen
Churchill in the Fall of ‘98. Under Ellen’s
expert tutelage she made her professional singing
debut the following August at the Kelowna Jazz
Festival. Since that time she has performed at
resorts, wineries, festivals and restaurants in and
around Kelowna. She has also sung at weddings
and other private events. She is most proud of
her performance during Kelowna’s Centennial
Celebration (May 2005) where along with Kelowna’s
premiere jazz trio Just In Time, she performed a
live concert which was broadcast as CBC Radio
One’s Hot Air program, hosted by Paul Grant.
Suzan enjoys performing all types of Jazz, from
Swing to Samba; Bossa to Blues. Her vocal style has
been compared to Diana Krall and other influences
include Holly Cole and Tierney Sutton as well as
legendary Divas Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn and
Peggy Lee.
Suzan Wood-Young
(250) 764-4999 www.suzanwoodyoung.ca
Pat MacGibbon
Patrick MacGibbon began playing saxophone at age 11 and was taught
by Fernando Mastromonaco, Hugh Parsons and Michael Perkins. He
studied privately with Larry Crawford and Colin Moorman. While
in high school he performed regularly with local percussionist
Trevor Salloum as part of his popular Latin ensemble Ritmo Caliente.
In 2001, he moved to Toronto where he studied Jazz Performance at
Humber College. While at Humber he studied with many notable
musicians including Pat Labarbera, Don Thompson, Mike Murley and
Branford Marsalis. In 2005 Patrick graduated with a Diploma in
Music with Honours, and after further studies obtained a Bachelor of
Music in Jazz Studies from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops,
BC. He currently lives in Kelowna and plays with the Michael
Garding Big Band as well as his own jazz groups. He has
performed with Greg Yasinitsky, Horace Alexander-Young and Sunny
Wilkinson as part of the 2006 BC Interior Jazz Festival.
Pat MacGibbon U-Tube
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