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!)
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