Kellylee Evans Wins 2011 JUNO Award

Kellylee Evans has won Canada’s 2011 Juno Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. The album, entitled Nina (Plus Loin Music), is a tribute to jazz great Nina Simone. Other nominees for the 2011 award included Emilie-Claire Barlow, Nikki Yanofsky, Laila Biali and the late Jeff Healey. This was the Ottawa-based singer-songwriter’s second Juno Award nomination and first win.

“It was an honour to be nominated alongside such talented artists,” said Evans. “And I am extremely grateful to have won the award with an album that pays tribute to Nina Simone.”

Evans recorded Nina in France in November, 2009. French label Plus Loin Music had invited Evans to spend two days in their studio. Shortly after its release, Nina reached the top of the iTunes Jazz charts. The album received critical acclaim and soon Evans was earning accolades for her charismatic performances as she toured the album. In February 2011, Evans was nominated for 2011 Juno Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. She is at work planning her follow-up release slated for 2012.

Evans, who in 2010 also released an alt-soul album of originals titled The Good Girl, was a 2007Juno and Gemini nominee and was awarded second place in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocals Competition in 2004 by judges Quincy Jones and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Evans has toured North America and France opening for such luminaries as Tony Bennett, George Benson, Maceo Parker, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Chris Botti and Derek Trucks.

Related Articles

• 2011 JUNO Nominees in the Jazz, Blues and World Music Categories (wreckhouse.wordpress.com)

In Short – Around the Internet and World of Jazz, Blues and World Music

Kellylee Evans on CBC – Kellylee Evans was interviewed this week on CBC radio about her new album ‘Nina’, a tribute to Nina Simone. You can listen to the full interview here.

The International Song Writing Contest Deadline Extended – The International Songwriting Competition has extended its entry deadline to Dec. 3, 2010 find out more at their website at Link

John Lennon Song Writing Contest – In honor of John Lennon’s 70th birthday, Sonicbids has launched a song writing contest bearing his name. Find out more and submit your entry here

Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues now Accepting Submissions for the 2011 Festival – Artists wishing to submit to perform at the 2011 WIJBF are now able to do so. Application forms and further details on funding and the submission process are available here

Early Bird Submission Dealine for JUNO’s is October 22nd – Find out more by clicking here.

Forget jazz flute — jazz triangle is where it’s at – Watch this amazing video where you realize music can be made in many different ways, Click here

R.I.P Marion Brown – Renowned saxophonist Marion Brown passed away this week aged 75. Read more

Musician’s to aid Igor Relief Effort – On Tuesday October 19th a who’s who list of musicians’ from Newfoundland & Labrador will be performing at Mile One Centre in aid of relief efforts for Hurricane Igor. Included in the line up is previous festival performers Billy and the Bruisers. Find out more about this great event, Click here.

Celebrate Small Business Week – Drop in to the Northeast Avalon Regional Economic Development Board between  12-2 on October 21st in the main boardroom of the CNLBSC to (located at 90 O’Leary Avenue) to celebrate your successes and network with other small businesses/small business stakeholders. Please RSVP to NEA REDB at (709)-753-5554

The Newfoundland Twitter Newspaper – The Newfoundland Twitter Newspaper is a an online resource that compiles all the stories relevant to Newfoundlanders found on Twitter in one place. The site is updated daily and covers topics such as news, arts & entertainment and education. To take a look Click here.

New and Reissued Jazz Released Today – Click here

Any suggestions on what we should include in next weeks edition contact

ben@wreckhousejazzandblues.com

2010 WIJBF Performer Kellylee Evans Performance on Canada AM

2010 Wreckhouse International Jazz and Blues Festival Performer Kellylee Evans appeared on A Morning show yesterday showcasing her new album ‘Nina’. ‘Nina’ is a tribute to the late Nina Simone and includes Kellylee’s performances of some of her most memorable tracks. You can buy the Album ‘Nina’ via Kellylee’s website http://www.kellyleeevans.com/

Related Articles

• What Nina taught Kellylee Evans (theglobeandmail.com)
• KEXP Documentaries: “Sirens of Jazz” ‒ Nina Simone (kexp.org)

This Week in Short: September 8th

Kellylee Evans French Twist – 2010 Festival performer Kellylee Evans has been invited to Paris to make a CD reflecting her love of Nina Simone’s music. To read more from this Ottawa Citizen article click here. You can also view Kellylee’s latest newsletter here

More Photos from the 2010 Festival on the Wreckhouse Blog – Check out our blog to see see pictures from the festival including Elizabeth Shepherd

Free online copy of Jazz Inside Magazine – Download your FREE copy of the September issue of Jazz Inside Magazine, 80 pgs, featuring bassist Stanley Clarke. www.jazzinsidemagazine.com

Chris Kirby 2010 Song Quest – Chris Kirby has been selected in the 2010 Great Canadian Song Quest, Find out more here
plus
Chris Kirby to quit his day job – 2010 WIJBF performer takes it full time. Find out more in the Scope. Link

Interview with former WIJBF Performer Hilario Duran – The Latin Jazz Corner website (http://www.chipboaz.com/blog/) has published an interesting  three part interview with Hilario Duran read them at the following links, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 (part 4 new as of 7th September)

Elements of Jazz blog compiles Jazz guides and reference – The blog Elements of Jazz has compiled a great list of books on jazz and prominent musicians. Why not take a look and see what should be on your reading list. Click here

New and remastered music out this week – Click here

We want your photographs! – We would love to receive any photographs that you took during the 2010 Wreckhouse International Jazz and Blues Festival. We would love to add them to our Flickr page to show views of the festival.

Related Articles

• What Nina taught Kellylee Evans (theglobeandmail.com)