2025 Featured Artists
CHERYL FISHERHailed by the Montreal Jazz Festival as “one of the greatest female singers in the history of Canadian jazz,” Cheryl Fisher is also a composer and lyricist who has recorded six CDs under her own name.A Global Music award winner for her latest disc, “Quietly There,” and voted Best New Jazz Artist by the Alberta Recording Industry Association, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Education (with distinction) from the University of Calgary and a Masters Degree in Jazz Vocal Performance from the University of Miami, where she also taught.In addition to an international performing schedule Cheryl is a respected Jazz Educator and has been on the dais of several North American jazz scholarship committees.Her live performances and recordings continue to receive glowing reviews for their originality, emotional depth and outstanding technical excellence. Her recordings feature the cream of the Canadian Jazz scene including such luminaries as Tommy Banks, P.J. Perry, Terry Clarke, Neil Swainson and Reg Schwager to name a few. Her previous CD, “Moments Like This”, pairs her with two genuine jazz legends: Five-time Grammy Award nominee Ira Sullivan and the Canadian Juno award-winning pianist Oliver Jones.
ERIC ALLISON
Inducted into the South Florida Jazz Hall of Fame in 2012 and voted “Best Jazz Artist of 2003” by the readers of New Times Fort Lauderdale- Palm Beach, Eric Allison has been a full-time working professional musician for over 30 years, playing alto and tenor saxophone, flute and clarinet.
Also a composer and arranger, he has recorded three CDs under his own name, two of which were national releases in the US produced by the legendary Bob Weinstock, longtime owner of Prestige Records. He holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in music from Northwestern University and University of Miami, where he has taught Jazz History.
As a leading performer in the top jazz clubs and concert venues in South Florida, Eric has worked with a virtual litany of jazz greats both past and present, including Zoot Sims, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ira Sullivan, Paquito d’Rivera, Richie Cole, and Scott Hamilton. He regularly toured Japan and Korea with veteran pianist Eddie Higgins’ band, has performed in concert with Michael Feinstein, the Florida Philharmonic with Peter Nero, as soloist with the New Gene Krupa Orchestra, and was the Music Director of the Gold Coast Jazz Society Band from 2006 to 2012.
Eric is Board President of the Jazz At The Lake Festival Society which produces an annual jazz festival in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, now in its 20th year.
JON DAY www.jdaymusic.com
Born into a Canadian family with generations of musicians, Jon began classical piano training at age 4, and trumpet at age 12. As a teenager, Jon began competing and winning numerous National and International awards at music festivals across Canada and the United States. His early exposure to artists such as Miles Davis, Charlie (Bird) Parker, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Tower of Power inspired Jon to pursue post-secondary training in music. After completing a Popular Music Diploma from Vanier College (Montreal, Canada) in 1990 and a BMus in Jazz Performance on trumpet (and piano as his secondary instrument) from McGill University (Montreal, Canada) in 1994, Jon worked as a freelance performer, band leader, composer, and arranger in the Montreal music scene performing with the Denny Christianson Big Band, McGill Jazz Ensemble I & II, the Canadian Friends’ Choir (on piano and trumpet) and the Montreal Gospel Choir (on trumpet). Jon performed several times at the Montreal International Jazz Festival with groups such as the Montreal Gospel Choir, the Vanier College Jazz Quintet, and the CBC All-Star Jazz Ensemble as the lead trumpet player. In addition to performing, recording, teaching, and writing, Jon has spent a decade honing his skills as a Music Director and Artistic Director in a variety of large contemporary churches across Canada and the United States. Jon currently resides in Calgary, Alberta where he works as a sessional faculty member at the University of Calgary as well as a freelance performer, producer, recording artist, educator, arranger, orchestrator, and composer.
KODI HUTCHINSON kodihutchinson.com
One of the most active musicians in Western Canada, double bassist Kodi Hutchinson is a man who wears many hats. As well as running his own musical group the Hutchinson Andrew Trio,CKUA radio show “A Time For Jazz”, and record label Chronograph Records, Kodi is a sought after sideman on both double bass and electric bass
Described by those who know him as creative, introspective and just a happy-go-lucky guy, Kodi started his career in jazz while attending the University of Calgary. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 1995, but followed his true passion and jumped into play music full-time shortly thereafter. since those early beginnings, Kodi has established himself as on of the top call bassists in Alberta. Kodi’s wide range of musical tastes have allowed him to tour throughout North America and Europe with such groups such as Karl Schwonik, Clanterra, Destino, Johanna Silanpaa as well as Sillian & Young. The Hutchinson Andrew Trio won the prestigious 2013 TD Grand Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and all four of their albums, ‘Hollow Trees’ (2017), ‘Prairie Modern’ (2013), ‘Music Box’ (2008) and ‘Lost but not Forgotten’ (2006) were nominated for the Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Recording. His boutique jazz record label, Chronograph Records, was nominated for independent Record Label of the Year in 2009, 2011 & 2013 and one of their artists won a JUNO in 2019 – a testament to his hard work and passion for promoting Western Canadian artists.
JM AMURAO
2025 Jazz At The Lake Scholarship winner.
In his upbringing, JM has found an intense passion for a variety of performing arts. At an early age, JM found himself enthralled by the art of vocal performance and heavily inspired by his father’s passion for singing. However, it wasn’t until middle school that JM truly discovered his passion for music and subsequently for theatre. JM began exploring music through St. Francis of Assisi’s band program on the clarinet. By ninth grade, he auditioned for the school’s musical and got cast as Beast in Beauty and the Beast Jr.. In high school, JM continued on the clarinet in Concert Band and picked up the alto saxophone as a member of Notre Dame High School’s Jazz Band. In theatre, he was featured as Bruce in Matilda: the Musical, Buddy in Elf: The Musical, and Shrek in Shrek: the Musical. Over the past year, JM has attended various musical theatre training programs like Musicamp Alberta, and he has been taking voice lessons with Angela Siemens. All of this training was in preparation for his upcoming studies at MacEwan University’s BFA Music Theatre Performance program, which he will be attending in the fall.
PREVIOUS FESTIVAL ARTISTS:
A/B Trio, Al Muirhead, Alberta Big Rocks Band, Alberta Playboys, Amos Garrett, Audrey Graham, Bill Dowey and the Blues Devils, Bill Jamieson, Bob Erlendson, Brothers Landreth, C-Note Trio, Caravan, Caravana, Cheryl Fisher, Chris Andrew, Christine Keillor, Cindy McLeod, Claude Godin, Cornerpocket, DJ Sabatoge, Dan Brubeck, Deanne Matley & Tricia Edwards, Dee Daniels, Diginit, Divinergy, Don Berner, Donald Ray Johnson, Dynamic Duo, Eddie Higgins, Edmonton Jazz Orchestra, Egor Ukoloff, Eighth Notes, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Eric Allison, F-18’s, Fedora Club, FlatIron Jazz, Gabriel Palatchi, Glen Charles Halls World Fusion, Haeley Ginter, HELP!, H.O.T. Dixieland Jazz Band, Jack Semple, Jazzamatazz Band, jazzCASUAL, Jazz Explosion, Jazz Grind Experiment, Jazz Plus Trio, Jeremy Doody, Jessica Stuart, Jim Guloien, Jimmy and the Sleepers, Joanna Borromeo, Johanna Sillanpaa, John DeWaal, John May, John Stowell, Johnny Summers, Josh Rickard, Juanita Fass, Karl Schwonik, Keith Smith, Kent Sangster, Kinjo & Young, Kodi Hutchinson, Laila Biali, Lee Cocolicchio, Marco Claveria, Meredith d’Ambrosio, Michael Kaeshammer, Miles Jackson, Morgan McKee, NuSteps, Oliver Jones, Overdue Blues Band, P.J. Perry, Polyjesters, Prime Time Big Band, Ranee Lee, Razzama Jazz Big Band, RDC Faculty Jazz Band, RDC Jazz Ensemble, RDC Percussion, Red Deer Jazz Ensemble, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, Robert Young and the Big Beat Band, Sandro Dominelli, Sara Hamilton & David, Shadoplay, Sheldon Zandboer, Shelley Jones, Six Feet Up, Steve Pineo and the Monday Night Band, Steve Sherman, Theano & Chuck Lamb, Tim Tamashiro, Tommy Banks, Tricia Edwards, Tuck & Patti, Tyler Hornby, Viviane Martin and ’73, Wee Hours, Weimar Escobar, Wildrose Dixie Band, Wonderland Swing Orchestra, X-Band.
