When I was a student at the University of Toronto, I remember one of my teachers suggesting that a good singer does more than just sing well - he or she is also a great band leader and has a clear idea of what he or she wants to happen on the bandstand. Add to that package a background in classical piano and a total mastery of the voice as an instrument, and you've got Karrin Allyson.
Shannon Gunn’s evocative vocal style and command of the jazz idiom have made her one of Canada’s premiere jazz singers. She has performed regularly throughout Pacific Northwest venues and festivals, either fronting her own band or as a featured guest artist, and been featured on television and radio numerous times. Shannon was based in Vancouver for many years; since her relocation to Toronto Shannon has had several opportunities to play the the city's finest musicians.
Diana’s sound and style could be described as “Mafiosa Motown”. Watching her perform, one could easily imagine Ms. Salvatore entertaining the rat pack at the Cal/Neva Lodge.
What makes a singer stand out? When does it become clear that a particular singer has got the goods? I find it a bit hard to describe, but if I was to try, I would say for me, it's the quality of the voice. The certain something which, from the first note to the last, grabs my attention and gives me shivers. Whatever this certain something may be, Bettye LaVette has got it.
I'll be perfectly honest. I have absolutely no idea what to expect when Janelle Monae takes the stage.
Okay, that's not entirely true. Based on her 2010 release The ArchAndroid, I expect an awesome blend of soul, funk, R&B, pop, disco and even punk - and an unstoppable energy evident in the smash single "Tightrope." If you haven't yet heard the tune, check it out:
Powerful and Dynamic Jazz, Blues Vocalist Paula Shear and Her Trio, perform jazz, blues and soul favourites, including songs from ‘The Great American Songbook’ as well as some selections from her album ‘So Talk to Me’.
"Shear's vocal prowess makes it an artistic whole." - Maple Blues Magazine
"She's the real thing...just a great vocalist, period." - David Shaw
"One of the best (and most interesting) singer-songwriters on the scene today" -Bernie Senensky
Sophia Perlman and The Vipers. It is a special treat to have Sophia Perlman and The Vipers join the Reservoir Lounge as a regular Monday night act. With her youth and her proven natural talent, Sophia lures her listeners on each note with her genuine musical sincerity. When Sophia and The Vipers had their debut performance in October of 2005 there were those who wondered if the then twenty-year-old vocalist Sophia Perlman and her band would survive the tough-sell Monday night slot.
She’s been called “a different kind of diva” by Vogue Magazine and “a true visionary… one of the most important signings of my career” by Sean “Diddy” Combs. For singer, songwriter, and high funkstress Janelle Monáe, however, the impetus remains the same as it’s been since before her Grammy-nominated debut EP Metropolis, Suite I: The Chase captured the imaginations of fans and fellow artists. As she readies her first full-length LP, The ArchAndroid, her focus remains on stirring your soul, moving your feet and simply, creating good music.
Back in Toronto for the Jazz Fest, Genevieve Marentette came up on the Detroit dance music scene, was trained in jazz voice in Toronto & currently lives in Hong Hong where she's a highly sought after lounge vocalist and session musician.
