shannon butcher sings

How Do You Get 30 Singers in One Room?

Plan a Vocal Jazz Safari of course!  Yes, a safari.  Right here in Toronto.  (Please read the following with a Carol Burnett Tarzan yell inflection) Ah-a-ah-a-ahhhhhh!!! 

The Jazz.FM Vocal Safari at Lula Lounge was such a powerful and fun night that it was worthy of the yelling.  There is just so much talent in our big lil’ city that all of us vocalists who had gathered to sing that night were blown away.  Jaymz Bee, Jazz.FM’s Bwana, put together a lovely program of established and freshman singers.  The show opened with a killer duet from Heather Bambrick and Julie Michels and closed with a passionate rendition of his signature tune I’ll Put a Spell On You from DK Ibomeka.

I’ve participated in the usual jazz safaris before but this vocalist special was a treat.  A donation of $500 to the radio station gets you two passes on the safari.  Usually Jazymz takes his guests all across the city to five jazz clubs in one night.  With so many performers on board this night was the equivalent of hitting 30 clubs.  And the house band was to die for!  Richard Whiteman on piano, Ross MacIntyre on bass, Christopher Plock on sax/flute and Mark Kelso on drums.

Although many of us were reeling at the news of Michael Jackson’s death, the overall mood of celebration was kept strong as we schmoozed back stage.  Most of the fabulous faces were familiar - Beverly Taft, Serafin, Elizabeth Shepherd, Melissa Pizarowski, George Evans and Lori Cullen to name a few.  But there were also some wonderful new friends to meet - Jessica Lalonde, Elise LeGrow, Heather Luckhart and Kate Schutt.   (Amanda Martinez, a familiar face, brought her new face for me to meet. Her darling son Leo.  What a cutie!!)  I had my camera in hand and I thought you might like to see some behind the scenes shots! 

Chantelle Wilson and Elizabeth Shepherd

Carl Berger and Aaron Jensen of Cadence

DK Ibomeka and Elise LeGrow

Ori Dagan and Julie Michels dancing to Michael Danso

George Evans schmoozing with The Maisies

George Evans and Shannon Butcher (that's me!)

Chuckle of the Day

"Are you aware of the music known as jazz?" tee hee hee.

A Year of Words

Today, June 10th, is my good friend Zandee's birthday.  (Happy Birthday Zandee!!) Tonight while she and I schmoozed at the Connect T.O. Artscape event with several other friends we remembered that last year for her birthday she celebrated at my CD release party.  That's when it hit me - my CD has been out for one year!!

And so on this one year anniversary of Words We Both Could Say I would like to thank everyone who has helped make the CD a success.  Thank you to all the musicians, my producer Marc Rogers, my publicist Sue, the radio stations, my family and friends and everyone who has helped spread the Words We Both Could Say!!

The Little Festival That Should

I know should is a bit of an evil word but this weekend after performing at the Art of Jazz festival so many "shoulds" came to mind.  Don't worry, they're not all bad.

The Art of Jazz Festival SHOULD:

• have more attendees
• have better promotion
• be more recognized because the artists both international and local were amazing!
• make sure their website is updated with festival information more than 3 weeks before the actual festival
• keep their Women in Jazz Stage surrounded by those comfy chairs
• showcase more female drummers like Alyssa Falk
• be praised for their multicultural programming
• have been overflowing with people since 90% of their shows were free!
• make sure the sausage tent doesn't run out of buns (Specific I know.  But one whole sausage on half a bun makes for a messy meal!)
• try to make all of their workshops free since they are an organization "dedicated to jazz education". $26.25 isn't that much money for a two hour workshop with Roberta Gambarini but wouldn't it be amazing if everyone who wanted to learn could attend, not just those who could afford it?
• hire the same sound company for next year because the sound outside at the Boiler House was great.  The microphones on the piano let us hear every beautiful note.
• not be missed next year!

I performed as part of Lisa Particelli's Girls Night Out Jazz Showcase and was I ever in wonderful company.  Many of my favourite local singers came out to donate their voices to the GNO cause including Beverly Taft, Carin Redman, Pat Murray, Gillian Margot, Rita di Ghent, Holly Clark, Denise Leslie, Amy McConnell, Yvette Tollar, Elena Kapeleris, Kathleen Gorman, Betty Richardson, Whitney Ross-Barris, Sarah John, Terra Hazelton and Ori Dagan.

Since I rediscovered my digital camera I've been really snap happy!  Here are some shots from Sunday's GNO showcase:

Whitney Ross-Baris singing World on a String.

Sarah John with Terra et al listening in the comfy chairs!

Juno nominee Yvette Tollar singing Some Other Time.

Betty Richardson blessing us all with God Bless the Child
& Mark Kieswetter behind her tore up the piano on his solo!

Photographing the Photographer! Terra with Greg King.

Ori Dagan and Lisa Particelli closed out the show!

Following GNO I was finally able to hear Sienna Dahlen with fellow heavies -
Dave Restivo, Ingrid Jensen and the aforementioned Alyssa Falk!
Sienna is an extraordinary voice on the Canadian jazz scene.  Totally inspiring!

Up Jumped an Interview

Before our final show at the Lula Lounge for the Up Jumped Spring tour Micah and I stopped in at Jazz.FM91 for a morning interview with Ralph Benmergui.  We discussed touring and flying, music and friendship, and my love of Pearl Jam.  Perhaps I should record a Ten tribute album next...

In case you missed it, you can listen to it now!
Download JAZZFM91_20090520

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Not since my days of backpacking around Europe have I used so many modes of transportation in one month. In the past two weeks I have flown to London, England, driven to Ottawa and trained it home from visiting my best friend in Prince Edward County after singing in Montreal.  The reason for all this travel?  Up Jumped Spring of course!  Well, the British stop was to promote Toronto over the pond but all the Canuck based travel was part of my indie-driven tour with Micah Barnes.

I think I have a bit of the touring bug now.  Each city stop heard my band at it's best.  I was so proud and grateful for their outstanding musicianship.  If I could have added 10 more dates after Montreal I would have in a heartbeat. 

What a thrill it is to get your music out to new audiences!  It makes all the travel worth it. And there was a lot of travel I tell ya!  I didn't quite realize how little non-travel time we would have last weekend.  I know I was the person who booked Ottawa, Kingston and Montreal three days in a row.  And I was the person who created our tour itinerary.   But I forgot to account for construction, speed limits and of course you never anticipate the time lost when your windshield wiper flies off on the highway.  (Thanks goodness for all of my '89 Volvo car upkeep experience!)
We didn't have the leisurely pre-performance dinners I had envisioned where we could discuss good books, jazz history and other intellectual stimulants instead we took some extra time each morning to fill our bellies with yummy eats and our minds with good conversation.  All I can say is thank goodness for friends on the road!  Especially those who turn their homes in to a 5 star bed and breakfast!  We were treated to some amazing brunches. I believe in the photo below we're listening to Adele and praising the merits of garlic dijon mustard!  That's intellectual right?

I'll be posting photos from the tour in a new album and sharing some stories from each show.  Check back soon!

Hit The Road!

The Up Jumped Spring Tour hits the 401!  I don't have a lavish tour bus to my name just yet, but I do have wonderful bandmates with road friendly cars.  Micah and Daniel picked me up today to stretch out on the highway to our first tour stop of the weekend - Ottawa's Mercury Lounge.

Micah and Daniel with "the van".  I think we'll need to name her if Daniel hasn't already...

Me all packed and ready to go.  Hopefully my eyes won't be shut the whole time we're gone.  Makes for dangerous driving...

Sneak Peek of my London to London Extravaganza

Article in the London Free Press

Not many Canadian jazz singers play London, England, and the London Music Club back-to-back.

Tonight, Toronto's Shannon Butcher, alongside the ex-Nylon who calls her "his partner-in-crime," looks to be one of them.

Just back from a Tourism Toronto showcase for the city's music scene in the other London, Butcher is to join former Nylons star Micah Barnes as part of their Up Jumped Spring tour.

Plans called for Butcher to fly in from Britain today and drive to the London club tonight. A stretch? Sure, but then Butcher had been at a Dundas Square gig in Toronto earlier this week just before jetting to England and back.

Butcher doesn't mind stretching the envelope. She covers Tears for Fears, Blondie and No Doubt on her iTunes hit album, Words We Both Could Say. "I love the idea of reaching that person who maybe doesn't think of jazz as the music that they listen to," she tells a Hamilton weekly.

"When they hear a song that they know, like Mad World (by Tears for Fears), I hope the lyrics will take on a new meaning because the style gives it a new inflection."

When Butcher left the jazz vocal trio Swing Rosie in 2007 she sought advice from Barnes. Following the release of her debut CD and his coaching gig on CBC-TV's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, the two vocalists began planning to tour together. Their topflight touring band includes Barnes's brother, composer/drummer Daniel Barnes, along with pianist Michael Shand (Matt Dusk, DK Ibomeka) and bassist Ross MacIntyre (Emilie-Claire Barlow, Jesse Cooke).

Micah Barnes is busy, too. His sets mix his own songs with pop and jazz standards. He is the musical director of a new production of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. The George Ryga classic of Canadian drama is back at Ottawa's National Arts Centre this month, as a celebration of its opening in 1969 with a production of the play.

"Most newly minted jazz divas have to really work at being original," Barnes tells Ottawa's xtra.ca. "But Shannon is such an excellent musician that she has this unerring taste for what songs work for her and what makes a great show."

IF YOU GO

What: Club show by Canadian jazz singer Shannon Butcher and ex-Nylon Micah Barnes.

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: London Music Club, 470 Colborne St.

Details: $12 (plus applicable charges). Call 519-640-6996 or visit londonmusicclub.com

More in James Reaney's blog!

The Butcher & G.I. Joe

I just had to share this nice article from Sarah Boychuk of Hamilton's The View.  (She asked me some great questions during our interview last week.)
And the cover with my name beside the G.I. Joe action figure...that's one for the memory book.

Photo Exhibition

If you've ever been to The Rex you are already familiar with the photography of Greg King.  His photos decorate the walls of the club and some of the hotel's rooms.  Greg is the wonderful gentleman who has provided me with all of the photos from my gigs that you can find in this blog's photo albums.  Many of the the GTA's musicians have benefited from Greg's generosity and talent.  He sometimes makes it to three gigs a night!  While photography was once a skilled hobby for Greg, recently he began working behind the lens full-time.  Please visit his website www.gregking.ca
Greg has a series of photo exhibitions coming up this summer the first of which begins on May 1st at the Sublime Cafe in Kensington and runs all month long.

Greg has been nominated for a National Jazz Award in the Paul Hoeffler Jazz Photographer of the Year category!  Be sure to visit the NJA website to place your vote!