Featured Festival Artists
EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW
Jazz vocalist Emilie-Claire Barlow – “There is nothing like the joy of singing live, feeling the connection with my band mates, the audience, the song…when everything just fits together it's the ultimate experience...”. A consummate singer and performer, Emilie-Claire Barlow won Female Vocalist of the Year in the 2008 National Jazz Awards and is a Gemini and two-time Juno Award nominee.
In March 2009 Emilie-Claire released the positively stylish “Haven't We Met?” , her seventh studio album, which immediately leapt to # 1 on the jazz charts in Canada, and charted in Japan, France, Germany and Australia. “Winter Wonderland” (2006) was re-released for the 2009 holiday season where it spent most of December at #1 on iTunes Jazz.
Emilie-Claire's gorgeous “The Very Thought of You” – a 2007 release – won accolades for her arranging and producing. “How does Emilie-Claire Barlow stand out from her competition? Well, creative control, for one thing, having produced and arranged The Very Thought of You, as well as writing the arrangements and conducting the string section on her disc. The end result is a collection that is a little more musically expansive than some of her traditionalist counterparts.” Denise Sheppard – Amazon.com
Raised in a musical environment in Toronto, Canada, Emilie-Claire's first language was singing. She listened to, absorbed music – a preparation. Her care and attention to detail in the task of recording is evident. “I love the process – from song choice, arrangement concept, the evolution of a tone or feeling…through to the artwork and final packaging” .
As her fans know, Emilie-Claire is also an accomplished voice-actor. Hear her character voices on popular animated series such as Total Drama Island and Total Drama Action (Courtney), Bakugan Battle Brawlers (Alice), Stoked (Mrs. Ridgemount), 6Teen (Chrissy) and many others.
While we keenly await her eighth album, Emilie-Claire continues to delight and dazzle in energetic live performances. From Quebec City to Vancouver , from Toronto to Tokyo audiences thrill to her engaging personality, the charming rapport with her musicians, and Emilie-Claire Barlow's voice of unforgettable beauty!
EDMONTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA
www.edmontonjazz.com/ejo/
STEVE PINEO
Steve Pineo is the writer of “Canadian Man” by Paul Brandt and “Too Bad For Me” by Prairie Oyster . He is also a unique and talented performer in his own right. Working as a solo act, with an acoustic trio, with a four piece roots rock band or an 8 piece horn band, Steve's sound is immediately recognizable. Like Ry Cooder and Mark Knopfler, Steve is a virtuoso guitar player whose style was originally blues-based but has expanded its palette over the years. Also like Cooder and Knopfler, Steve writes about characters who could be part of a soundtrack in a “slice of life” movie. His flair for sly satire and gentle humour is comparable to John Prine and Ray Davies .
Over the years, Steve has gone from promising newcomer to respected veteran while maintaining the integrity of his work in a changing marketplace. His band, the Groovemakers was a blues/funk/rock hybrid which electrified the scene in the late 80's and early 90's. Beautiful Joe was a country rock band with a devoted following, and the Co-Dependents were one of the best rock bands Calgary (and Canada ) ever produced. Steve has shared the stage with a who's who of the Canadian and international music scene and appeared at numerous folk, blues and jazz music festivals.
Steve was born in Toronto Ontario , learned guitar at age nine, moved to Calgary in 1978, went to Western Canada High School , took a brief stab at post secondary at U Vic., and then started his musical career. He played solo acoustic gigs at the Kensington Deli Café one night and blues gigs at the King Eddie the next day and was virtually unstoppable at house parties. With a legendary bag of songs, he could sing until sun up without repeating a tune. Steve Pineo still pursues his music with a relentless, restless passion and a thirst for truth and inspiration.
JOHNNY SUMMERS
www.JohnnySummers.com
Johnny Summers has traveled from Spain and Britain to Hawaii, Los Angeles to New Orleans to play with outstanding musicians and drawing an ever growing following. Always on the lookout for the next musical venture, Summers formed the Calgary Jazz Orchestra in 2004 with 17 of the best of the best jazz artists. Summers and the orchestra gives us their own take on the rich acoustic traditional Big Band sound and fill a room with a full, energetic swing sound that moves and connect players with each other and the audience. He performs with his ensembles which include the Johnny Summers Trio, Quartet, Quintet and the 8-piece Little Big Band, which will be the configuration of his band for the popular Swing Dance/Concert at this year’s Jazz At The Lake Festival.