Sponsor of the Week – TD Bank

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: July 21, 2011

The 2011 Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival would not be possible without the support of our corporate and media sponsors.  To show our appreciation for their support, Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues (WJB) will be showcasing a different sponsor each week.  This week’s sponsor of the week is TD Bank.

At TD Bank, they measure success not only by their ability to achieve business goals, but also on the impact they have in strengthening communities. Successful corporations need a healthy, vibrant society to flourish, and TD Bank`s community investments are among the ways in which they strive to achieve this.

Across the country, TD Bank provides serious support to the Canadian Jazz & Blues scene.  For example, TD Bank is a major sponsor of jazz festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Fredericton, Halifax, Winnepeg, Victoria, and Vancouver.  For the past three years, Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues has proudly worked with TD Bank to put St. John’s on the forefront of the Canadian jazz scene, and the contributions of TD have been essential to the success of the 2011 Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival.

WJB would like to acknowledge and express gratitude for the contributions of TD Bank, the Sponsor of the Week!

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)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Canadian Aboriginal Artist Showcase in Toronto

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Thursday, February 17, 2011

Manitoba Music is partnering with the Canada Council for the Arts to provide
a showcasing and development opportunity for Aboriginal artists from across
Canada in Toronto this spring. The project will include a set of workshops
and meetings along with a showcase for industry and media on March 24 and
25.

Up to five Aboriginal acts will be invited to participate. Travel and
accommodations will be provided for participants who don’t live in Toronto
(subject to available funds).

The workshops will help participants further develop their business plans
and marketing plans. Time for meetings with industry leaders will be
included in the agenda for both days. Manitoba Music will help set up these
meetings as much as possible.

The showcase will be held at a downtown Toronto venue on Thursday, March
24 and each act will have at least 30 minutes to perform. Production costs
and marketing will be covered by Manitoba Music. Participants will need to
invite additional industry leaders with which they want to connect.

Artist selection will be made by a selection committee. Showcase dates and
times will be provided to selected artists.

To be considered for a showcase, you must:
* Have a current or upcoming professional release (demo / EP /
full-length)
* Have professional promotional material (photos, website, music videos)
* Be export-ready (prepared to capitalize on opportunities in Canada and
internationally)
* Participants from Manitoba must be a member of Manitoba Music OR be
willing to become a member of Manitoba Music by February 17. For more
information about Manitoba Music membership, visit manitobamusic.com or
contact Donna Evans (204.975.4217, donna@manitobamusic.com).

Preference may be given to performers that:
* Have toured nationally or have upcoming tour plans

Submit by email to alan@manitobamusic.com with the following:
* “Native America North – Toronto 2011” in the subject line
* A link to a MySpace or other page where your music can be heard
* Identify your current career and/or business goals (i.e. the things or
people you need to take your career to the next level)
* Approximately 200 words explaining what you would do to make the most of
this opportunity
* One high-resolution digital photo
* A performance history, listing your last 12 months of gigs
* Full name and mailing address

For more info, please contact:
Alan Greyeyes, Aboriginal Music Program Coordinator
P: 204.975.0284
E: alan@manitobamusic.com

2011 JUNO Nominees for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year with Video

Emilie-Claire Barlow – The Beat Goes On

Jeff Healey – Last Call

Kellylee Evans – Nina

Laila Biali – Tracing Light

Nikki Yanofsky – Nikki

Artist of the Week: Creaking Tree Quartet

Here are a small selection of videos of the Creaking Tree Quartet.