Amanda Moraizain
Quartet
Ottawa, Ontario smooth jazz singer who also performs Latin & Swing with her backup
band of piano, bass and drums. With a rich sultry voice and charismatic nature,
Amanda Morazain mixes the smooth sounds of the jazz era with modern flavor. Amanda’s
love for jazz began with the sweet, silky voice of Ella Fitzgerald. Later, she began listening to the beautiful sounds
of Esthero, Ani Difranco, and Chet Baker. By
molding the smooth, swinging groove of early jazz with modern vocal techniques, she has
created a unique style, which allows her to deliver a standard and make it sound fresh.
Brian Downey Big Band
Gatineau, Quebec veteran big band leader and drummer Brian Downey offers up his own take
on Big Band, Jazz and Swing standards that were so popular in that great musical era. The
big band breaks down into the Brian Downey Quintet or The Zoot Suit Quartet or the Lounge
Trio for smaller venues.
The Bob Cleall Big Band
A relatively new Ottawa, Ontario big band even though leader Bob Cleall is a well known trumpet player around town. This band has 5 saxes, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, 3 rythym, two singers (man & woman) and Bob Cleall conducting and doing solo work on trumpet, flugelhorn and valve trompone. Most of their music library is from the big band era such as Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey for example but they also do more contemporary music plus a good selection of Latin. The singers do some novelty numbers in the right setting. The musicians are mostly very good semi-pros with six professionals from the military or RCMP bands. The big band breaks down into a sextet with vocalist for smaller venues. The band has been together for about a year now and has done a lot of benefit performances for the City of Ottawa and the United Way, as well as some dances organized by the band itself.
The Josee
Deschenes Group
Performing their own broad mix of originals, pop and jazz standards to critical acclaim,
The Josee Deschenes Group has taken Ottawa by storm. The ensemble features the sultry and
powerful vocals of Josee Deschenes, the organic double-bass tones of Chris Breitner, the
cool sounds of guitarist Jerome Jeffrey and the straight-out-of-the-jungle pacemaking of
Jeff
Asselin on drums. Since their stirring performance at the 2002 Ottawa International Jazz
Festival, they have matured
into a sophisticated ensemble that continues to substantially increase their fan base and
conquer the hearts and souls of music fans everywhere. "Professional musicianship,
broad-based repertoire, and powerful and sultry vocals exude that necessary chemistry to
win over any audience ... This group is a MUST SEE;" - Alan Morissette (President,
Integrity Talent)
The release of their debut CD shine brings an inspired album consisting of nine original
songs and the group's own interpretations of Pete Townshend's I Can See For Miles, Sting's
Moon Over Bourbon Street, and the pop classic On Broadway.
Matt Newton
Ottawa, Ontario pianist who plays with his own instrumental jazz trio and as an original
and standards jazz soloist.
Pierre Tanquay
Sherbrooke, Quebec pianist who plays
his own unique soft ambient style with a French Twist. He performs Romantic, French and
Jazz music with persuasiveness and commitment.