sienna dahlen

Artist Information

Biography

Sienna Dahlen grew up in a small, rural town called Dawson Creek (no, it's not the same as the TV show!) in northern British Columbia, Canada.

A brief history:

Over a ten-year period of professional music-making in Montreal, QC Sienna completed her Bachelor of Music in Jazz degree at McGill University and released four full-length cds under her own name. Five years ago Sienna relocated to Toronto, ON and in the spring of 2008, she completed her Master of Music degree at the University of Toronto. Sienna freelances in Canada, the US and in Europe. In early May of 2009, Sienna recorded a collaborative album with the Danish pianist, Mads Baerentzen and his trio in Gothenburg, Sweden. During the same period she also toured with this group in Denmark and Switzerland. In addition, Sienna performed several shows with her Paris-based group in France and Belgium. Among other dates, the band performed at the FESTIVAL JAZZ SAINT-GERMAIN DES PRÈS and LE CENTRE CULTUREL CANADIEN in Paris as well as the renowned Handelsbeurs Theater in Gent. The members of the Sienna Dahlen Quartet include: drummer, Karl Jannuska, guitarist, Pierre Perchaud and our newest member, Canadian bassist, Andrew Downing.

In March and April of 2009, Sienna completed an 11-date tour across Canada with her Toronto-based quartet featuring bassist, Andrew Downing, pianist, Dave Restivo and drummer, Nick Fraser with guitarist, Jim Head guesting on several dates.

Important Facts to Note:

*Throughout the months of May, June, July and August, 2010 Sienna will be touring in Europe, bringing her music to the Ukraine, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Denmark.

*In November 2009, Sienna performed at the MUZENERGO INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL IN RUSSIA!

*April/May 2009, Sienna toured Europe with the Sienna Dahlen Quartet and the Baerentzen/Dahlen Project, playing shows in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden.

*Sienna is the vocalist on the soundtrack for the ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING, animated film, "The Danish Poet".

*In the summer of 2008, Sienna did her second tour in Europe where she performed three shows in Paris at the Café Universel and six other shows throughout Belgium, including the Abel Dubois Theatre in Mons with her new Paris-based group.

*In April, 2008 Sienna graduated from the Masters of Music in Jazz Performance program at the University of Toronto. She was the first vocalist to be accepted to this program.

*Sienna and her Montreal trio performed to a standing-room only crowd at the Quebec City Jazz Festival in August, 2007.

*In the spring of 2007, Sienna received a fellowship grant from the University of Toronto to work with the New York-based saxophonist/composer, David Binney.

*In Sept. of 2007 Sienna completed an 10-date tour of Belgium to promote her jazz cd, "Off the Floor..Into the Garden".

*Sienna's song "Seasons;Change" from her 2004 release, "Breathe" was licensed for an episode in the Global TV series "Regenisis II" in 2006.

Here is what some people on the Canadian music scene have had to say about Sienna Dahlen's music:

Her voice is amazing. She is remarkable and unique. I was spellbound listening to her songs, her effortless and beautiful tone, her exacting restraint and almost careless trust that her voice would just do exactly what she wanted it to allowing her to roll the words around in her mouth like little pearls. Wow!

Rique Franks, Award-Winning Canadian vocalist and recording artist

“…What an incredible direction for jazz. Excellent singer..and beautiful instrumental work...she sounds like she's got something to say and really knows how to say it. Joni Mitchell should hear her. People would hear a musical/spiritual link between them.”

Bill Henderson, Canadian Producer, Composer, Musician and SOCAN board-member
(For the album "Off the Floor…Into the Garden")

“..I love her poetry. A voice filled with Molten Light!”

Katie Malloch, CBC Radio 2 Host

"When I listen to an artist, I listen from three main perspectives: technical prowess/command of musical language, emotional/spiritual connection, and vision/creative artistry (ie: does this individual have a Voice, something that makes them unique?). There is much music that excels in one or two of these areas; the best music, however, displays a more or less equal balance between these elements, and in my opinion Sienna falls into this rather rare category."

Dave Restivo, Three-time National Jazz Award-Winning Pianist

Instrumentation

Sienna Solo-voice, acoustic guitar and piano

Sienna with a group-
The Sienna Dahlen Quartet (Toronto):

Andrew Downing-ac. bass
Dave Restivo-piano
Nick Fraser-drums

The Lifelines Ensemble
(Toronto, Montreal, NYC):

Dave Restivo-piano
Alyssa Falk-drums
Christine Jensen-saxophones
Jim Vivian-bass
Sienna Dahlen-voice

Sienna with a group (Montreal):

Rémi-Jean LeBlanc (or Morgan Moore)-bass
Jim Doxas-drums
John Sadowy-piano and keyboards
or Mike Rud-guitar

Sienna in Europe:

The Sienna Dahlen European Quartet (France):

Karl Jannuska (FR)-drums
Pierre Perchaud (FR)-guitar
Bassist-TBA
Sienna Dahlen-voice, piano

Baerentzen/Dahlen Project
(Denmark):

Mads Baerentzen (DK)-piano
Lars Daugaard (DK)-drums
Morten Ramboel (DK)-bass
Sienna Dahlen-voice

The Karl Jannuska Sextet (France):

Karl Jannuska-drums
Nicolas Kummert-tenor sax
Olivier Zanot-alto sax
Mathias Allemane-bass
Pierre Perchaud-guitar
Sienna Dahlen-voice

Duo (Switzerland)

Roberto Pianca-guitar
Sienna Dahlen-voice/ac. guitar

Discography

As a Leader:

1. OFF THE FLOOR...INTO THE GARDEN- 2007 (I.R.)
2. BREATHE- 2004 (Independent Release)
3. LITTLE TEMPTATIONS-2002 (Independent Release)
4. REAL TIME- 1999 (Independent Release)

As a Side-Vocalist/Collaborator:

1. STREAMING-The Karl Jannuska Sextet, featuring Sienna Dahlen (2010)
2. The Baerentzen/Dahlen Project (2010)
3. Soundtrack for "THE DANISH POET"- music by Kevin Dean, (NFB/ONF)-ACADEMY-AWARD WINNING FILM (2007)
2. ABSTR/CNCR-iks, (Ora) 2003
3. ACADIAN FOLK SONG-Greg Amirault, (Effendi) 1999
4. PLAYGROUNDS-Joel Miller, (Justin Time Records)1998
5. ATTACK OF THE PLANET SMASHERS-The Planet Smashers, (Stomp Records) 1998

Links

• Official Sienna Dahlen website

Audio

• A Whiter Christmas
  Listen  
• River Man- (Nick Drake)
  Listen  
• Streaming- (Karl Jannuska)
  Listen  
• Encore Une Fois - (Folk/Jazz)
  Listen  
• Stray (Folk/Jazz)
  Listen  
• Where Are the Gods When You Need 'em?- (Folk/Jazz)
  Listen  
• Cry Me A River (CBC Radio Show "Jazz Beat")
  Listen  
• Samuel
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Little White Lie
• A Whiter Christmas
• Encore Une Fois
• Samuel

Video

"Carrie"- Gent, Belgium, June 2008

Photo Gallery

Press

• Jazz au féminin [+ Show ]
  

  Honneur aux femmes pour le lancement de la 9e édition du festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés, ave...Honneur aux femmes pour le lancement de la 9e édition du festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés, avec Jazz au féminin. Tout commence avec Violet Trio, trois musiciennes virtuoses énergiques qui vous feront swinguer. Suit la chanteuse et compositrice italienne Laura Littardi inspirée par de grands noms comme Stevie Wonder ou Sting. Un peu plus tard, Lucy Dixon, auteur-compositeur et interprète, offre un spectacle complet, du chant à la danse. Enfin, la Canadienne Sienna Dahlen (notre photo) fera partager son lyrisme, accompagnée de ses musiciens et de sa guitare.
  
  De 13 h 30 à 19 h 15, parvis de l'Odéon ou place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris VIe, Métro Odéon ou Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
  Gratuit.

• It's crowded for jazz singers amid onslaught of pop poachers [+ Show ]
  

  In an era when aging pop stars like Rod Stewart and Sting have taken to singing standards, it's not ...In an era when aging pop stars like Rod Stewart and Sting have taken to singing standards, it's not always easy for bona fide jazz singers to compete.
  
  This observation came out in recent conversations with two jazz vocalists, both from Toronto, both performing in the Edmonton area Friday night. But both of them have found strategies to get their music out there.
  
  Denzal Sinclaire might be at the top of his game, though he admits it's not getting any easier to make and sell recordings. This is a singer who is most often compared to Nat "King" Cole for his great velvet tones.
  
  Truth is, Sinclaire defined his own expressive sound long ago, now exhibited over three albums from Universal. Two of the top female jazz singers, Diana Krall and Dianne Reeves, are both fans and he's a multiple Juno nominee. Maybe he's playing a smaller field, but this charismatic artist is simply one of the greatest male jazz singers anywhere, a master of tone, timing and nuance.
  
  "Ultimately there is a way to survive and get out there," says the singer, "and I still enjoy the challenge of going with material you like and trying to bring something new and tasteful into it."
  
  Sinclaire's repertoire includes the occasional original song or a jazz adaptation of pop tunes, like the Genesis number Follow You Follow Me, along with fresh reworkings of the standards. He admits he feels guilty that it's been nearly three years since his last Verve release, My One And Only Love, but he hopes to start his next project soon.
  
  While the singer has put in his share of touring across Canada, in recent years he has also found European audiences. Last year, he even took a break from jazz and spent several months touring with British techno-pop artist Jamie Lidell, and he still occasionally plays drums in a Vancouver-based trio project called B3 Kings.
  
  Sinclaire plays Sherwood Park's Festival Place Friday at 7:30 p.m., backed by bassist Russell Botten and drummer Joe Poole. Tickets are $30 to $36 plus service fees, from the box office at 780-449-3378, or from Ticketmaster at 780-451-8000.
  
  Meanwhile, singer Sienna Dahlen promises a set of all-original tunes as she makes her Edmonton debut Friday at the Yardbird Suite.
  
  Raised in Dawson Creek, B.C., Dahlen discovered jazz on her own as a teen. She had lessons in piano and saxophone before any serious vocal training, starting with a bachelor's degree at Montreal's McGill University, followed by the master's degree she finished at the University of Toronto last year. She's been performing for more than a decade.
  
  Dahlen credits those college programs for introducing her to jazz vocal greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn and Chet Baker, but she admits her eclectic approach these days might owe more to songwriters like Joni Mitchell.
  
  "I've always tried to nurture as many different styles as possible, and fuse them together," Dahlen explains. "In some ways you might almost call what I'm doing a fusion of pop, folk and jazz."
  
  Judging by her recent, third album, Off The Floor ... Into The Garden, Dahlen has much to like in her airy, expansive tunes, elastic vocals, and treatment of some standards. The title is a reference to the fact that the album was recorded live "off the floor" with no overdubs, except on one track in which she sings lead and backing vocal. The garden served as a metaphor for the organic way her music was taking shape.
  
  Dahlen has also been enjoying good audiences over several trips to Europe. Her next album is a collaboration with Danish pianist Mads Baerentzen, and she has also worked with Canadian drummer-leader Karl Jannuska, who now lives in Paris.
  
  Edmonton guitarist Jim Head is a friend of Dahlen's from McGill, and he'll guest when the singer hits the Yardbird stage Friday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $16 for members, $20 for guests, from Ticketmaster or at the door.
  
  © Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
  
  
  
  
  

• Le jazz est ailleurs [+ Show ]
  

  2 août 2007 Sienna Dahlen Avec Sienna Dahlen, le jazz prend une autre définition et se veut la c...2 août 2007
  Sienna Dahlen
  
  Avec Sienna Dahlen, le jazz prend une autre définition et se veut la croisée des chemins entre toutes les avenues de son imagination. L'expérimentation est au coeur de son travail et contribue à cerner sa démarche atypique.
  
  Pour commencer, rappelons-nous ce court métrage, un dessin animé intitulé The Danish Poet réalisé par Torill Kove qui a remporté un oscar cette année. C'est dans ce projet que la chanteuse Sienna Dahlen s'est illustrée en tant qu'interprète alors qu'elle complétait ses études en jazz à l'Université McGill. Un heureux concours de circonstances qui l'influencera par la suite pour ses propres compositions. "Ce fut une grande surprise, se rappelle-t-elle. Au début, c'était un tout petit projet avec un tout petit budget. J'ai été amenée à y collaborer à cause de Kevin Dean (le compositeur de la trame sonore), qui me connaissait déjà. Je me suis vraiment prêtée à son travail. Ses idées étaient très précises et le son était déjà tout réfléchi. C'est ce qui m'a amenée à m'intéresser à la musique de la Norvège et au folklore qu'il l'entoure. Il y a des éléments dans cette musique qui la rendent mystérieuse et qui évoquent les grands espaces. C'est quelque chose que je veux intégrer dans ma musique. Tu pourrais remarquer certains phrasings qui en sont influencés. Je pense que cela a eu autant d'influence sur moi que Joni Mitchell."
  Malgré les études et les projets connexes, l'interprète jazz a trouvé le moyen de faire paraître trois autoproductions depuis les quatre dernières années. Après Breathe, paru il y a un an, elle présente son tout dernier, intitulé Off the Floor. Une direction indépendante à laquelle elle souscrit tout en continuant de se perfectionner avec,
  
  entre autres, le saxophoniste David Binney, qu'elle rejoindra à New York après son passage à Québec. "J'ai très hâte de voir comment ça va se passer, avoue-t-elle. On travaillera sur la composition et les arrangements. Ça me donnera aussi l'occasion de perfectionner certaines choses en plus d'avoir des opinions franches du côté technique." Le jazz a beaucoup changé en quelques décennies et elle se montre réaliste devant les avenues qu'elle voudrait emprunter. "Pour le chant, l'improvisation demeure un complément. J'adore le scat, par exemple, mais aujourd'hui on a l'impression que le public est réticent à cette forme d'improvisation. Ça ne marche plus du tout. Pour ma part, j'ai décidé d'expérimenter autant sur la voix que sur les textes et les paroles qui forment une chanson. Il n'y a pas de frontières dans cette forme musicale. La chanteuse Christine Duncan, avec qui j'ai travaillé, en est un exemple et elle demeure un modèle en ce sens."
  
  Le 10 août à 21h
  Au Largo Resto-Club
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Du grand jazz avec le Sienna Dahlen Quartet [+ Show ]
  

  27 novembre 2007 Un excellent spectacle de Sienna Dahlen et son groupe au Dièse Onze. Si Dahlen p...27 novembre 2007
  
  Un excellent spectacle de Sienna Dahlen et son groupe au Dièse Onze. Si Dahlen peut voguer dans une diversité de genres musicaux, ce concert était pur jazz. Accompagnée d'excellents musiciens, la voix claire et authentique de Dahlen et sa sympathique présence nous ont amené dans un beau mélange de standards et de compositions, à travers trois sets d'intensité en spirale croissante. A la batterie, le virtuose Jim Doxas frappait les percussions avec subtilité et facilité déconcertantes, multipliant les changements rythmiques. Bon travail d'un nouveau complice, le contrebassiste Rémi-Jean Leblanc dont les solos substituaient des mélodies complexes aux lignes de basse rapides et fluides. Quant au talentueux Mike Rud, efficace comme pas un à la guitare, il nous donna plusieurs beaux riffs mais il devint tout simplement génial dans un fabuleux solo au coeur d'Insensatez/How insensitive, le classique de Carlos Jobim, chanté avec justesse et douceur par Sienna Dahlen. La jolie chanteuse originaire de Dawson Creek (B.C.) nous fit aussi connaître de beaux morceaux de son cru dont particulièrement One Man, en apothéose. Cette artiste aux multiples talents qui parle le français et qui connaît le Québec pour y avoir fait des études musicales mérite d'être mieux connue. Avis aux gens du Festival international de jazz de Montréal!

• Sienna Dahlen à Rupelmonde [+ Show ]
  

  07 09 2007 Rupelmonde , le bout du monde! Tu te perds trois fois avant de trouver ce bled sur l...07 09 2007
  
  Rupelmonde , le bout du monde!
  Tu te perds trois fois avant de trouver ce bled sur le Rupel,en passant par Steendorp,Kruibeke et autres merveilles du Waasland.Pile à l'heure tu pénètres dans la Gildenhuis,vaste café (avec belle scène ,sono,jeu de spots) naast de kerk.La mignonne Sienna vient de terminer son soundcheck,et nous on peut se vider een pintje(Romy pils,ouais,ça existe encore) avant le début des hostilités!
  Ce soir la jolie dame originaire de Dawson Creek(British Columbia-Canada)est accompagnée par 3 musiciens hors-pair, sévissant sous nos cieux.
  Le jeune et talentueux Manu BONETTI (Charleroi,hum...) à la guitare,autodidacte ayant débuté à 15 ans,qui plus tard prend des cours avec e.a. Paolo Radoni et Fabien Degryse.Il participe à plusieurs projets:Natacha Wuyts quartet,Almadav...il a un jeu subtil et aérien (john scofildien)- aux drums from Antwerp (il est venu en péniche)Boris De LAET qui a officié dans le groupe Bal des Boîteux,d'efficaces interventions jazzy,il relance la mécanique bien à propos !- double bass from Italy Nicola LANCEROTTI,(myspace:nicolalancerotti),responsable programmation du bar 'le comptoir des étoiles',arrivé sous nos cieux ensoleillés il y a quelques années.Il promène sa contrebasse chez pas mal de gens (Symmetrio ,voir leur page myspace,Folk-Tassignon quartet,Lines &Spaces avec au vibraphone Els Vandeweyer etc...).Ce gars dirige tout le son du groupe ,ahhh les écoles de jazz italiennes....
  Sienna est très sympa ,elle a un look B J Scott avec 25 ans de moins (sorry Beverly),et sa voix est marvelous.
  Le set 1 s'avèrera assez jazzy ,le premier titre avec des French lyrics nous fait songer à Madeleine Peyroux,mais très vite on se rend compte que la première canadienne à visiter Roupelmondo (accent acadien) est une artiste avec un A (majuscule ,on a compris).Beaucoup de compos personnelles,des chansons très élaborées ,jazzy oui mais on est proche du monde de Joni Mitchell,K D Lang ,Jane Siberry,donc aussi du folk ,des envolées West Coast ,des relents Jim Morrison, la classe quoi.
  Quelques titres :'where are the gods when you need them',Sienna s'empare d'une guitare acoustique pour cette chanson,'Samuel' aux rythmes syncopés avec vocalises 'One man',les notes de little Manu ont des saveurs Wes Montgomery ou Larry Corryel.
  Fin du premier set ,un black dog déambule parmi nous à la grande joie de Sienna ,qui vient draguer mon pote Dominique.
  Le set 2 voit Sienna seule with electronic sound loops entonner une cover méconnaissable de John Denver ,quelle voix! 'there's snow across the valley .....,on la sent la neige.
  Le band, assis à nos côtés, applaudit avant de rejoindre la belle,qui s'installe au piano électrique.Un 2è set plus planant,de longues compos,un univers énigmatique et personnel,souligné par une guitare lyrique aux accents prog-rock,voire John McLaughlin ou Devadip Carlos .Nicola s'empare d'un archet et nous tire quelques tears,mais bien vite le batteur change de rhythme , c'est passionant et novateur.
  'Little white lie ' un titre de 'Breathe''un de ses quatre cd's .Le dernier'off the floor... into the garden' contient des perles.
  Le concert se termine par un morceau superbe ,le public (pas les zatlaps bruyants qui engloutissent des litres de pintjes avant la fermeture du bar) est proche de l'extase.
  En rappel a song inspired by New York,et le groupe prend congé de nous avec un shake-hands.
  Elle quitte le pays fin septembre,on ira la revoir.
  
  GREAT SHOW MAN! ER...WOMAN!
  Apr 06, 2010
  
  I wish the fact that three of the five members of the Lifelines Ensemble are women was irrelevant. But it’s not.
  
  It was both pretty cool and a little rare to see the great talents of Christine Jensen, Sienna Dahlen and Alyssa Falk on stage together Friday, April 2 at Upstairs. That many talented female jazz musicians on stage together can be a special sight in these parts.
  
  There are of course, a lot of women who make a living of jazz music–but the bulk of those women seem to be vocalists or play piano. Montreal has its share of brilliant female jazz vocalists and pianists, but women who play sax and drums? Not so much.
  
  Christine is one of probably only two or three female Montreal-based sax players. Alyssa Falk is a jazz drummer who hails from New York. Montreal has a total of zero professional female jazz drummers. (If I’m wrong, please correct me.)
  
  The third female member of the Lifelines Ensemble, is the very talented Sienna Dahlen, who provided vocals. Sienna is quite obviously a musician herself, even when she does not have a guitar strap around her shoulders. She is able to improvise and harmonize in a very real way that many vocalists simply cannot.
  
  Montreal’s Fraser Hollins played bass on the Friday, sitting in for Jim Vivian who joined the band for the Saturday show, and on piano, was Dave Restivo.
  
  So, that’s the gender breakdown of the Lifelines Ensemble and a little note about Montreal’s lack of female jazz musicians. Moving on…
  
  At Upstairs last weekend, the Lifelines Ensemble finished off an Ontario-Quebec mini-tour which started at The Rex in Toronto, March 31.
  
  I was looking forward to seeing this ensemble on Friday not only because of the very talented women on stage, but because I was promised by a number of people that it was going to be a wonderful show. And it was.
  
  The hands-down highlight for me was Sienna’s version of Nick Drake’s River Man. Here’s is the un-jazzed original version:
  
  My jaw dropped when I heard the Lifelines Ensemble play this song. To me, it was the perfect melange of folk and jazz– the basis of this pork pie website. I know Brad Mehldau plays River Man too, but the song never sounded so lovely as when Sienna sang it (this is saying a lot because Nick Drake is one of my all-time favourites). Maybe Sienna, herself is the perfect melange of folk and jazz.
  
  She used her voice in various ways on Friday night, sometimes like a human singing lyrics, other times, her voice acted as a horn. In unison and sometimes harmonizing, she sang along with Christine Jensen’s sax parts.
  
  The second highlight for me was towards the end when the band played Alyssa Falk’s Back Track. It’s often the drummer that I watch most intently at a jazz show, and Friday night was no exception. Especially during this song. Alyssa, like most musicians, changed a little during her own tune. Though Sienna had added to it with lyrics, it was during this song that I thought Alyssa’s talent really shone through. More of her awesome work can be found on her myspace page.
  

• Que el jazz esté en nuestros coranzones [+ Show ]
  

  Con esa exhortación de nuestro director general Ariel Guzmán arrancó el segundo día del festival. An...Con esa exhortación de nuestro director general Ariel Guzmán arrancó el segundo día del festival. Ante la expectativa del público asistente al teatro Peón Contreras, tuvimos al primero de los grupos internacionales del evento, el cuarteto de la cantante canadiense Sienna Dahlen. Al frente de un trío de guitarra eléctrica, contrabajo y batería, Sienna interpretó un programa de standards clásicos para cantantes y algunos temas originales, todo esto ejecutado impecablemente a través de un estilo en esencia “cool”. Sienna salió al escenario con un vestido de noche, tacones y una boa al cuello, todo de color negro, y no tardó en arrancar suspiros y piropos del respetable. Con suaves dosis de una tesitura gruesa, nunca falta de ternura, un excelente manejo del micrófono, una sensual presencia escénica y efectivos momentos de scat, Sienna nos hizo recordar la inigualable capacidad de los cantantes de jazz –y de cualquier otro género– de llegar directamente al corazón de sus oyentes, mediante un acertado repertorio con temas como “Old devil moon”, “Beautiful love”, “You’d be so nice to come home to”, entre otros, y dos blues arrabaleros como “Cry me a river” y “Ain’t I good for you”, interpretados con una nobleza envidiable. Cabe destacar también el excelente trabajo en las escobillas del baterista Jim Doxas, quien ha acompañado a músicos de la talla del trompetista neoyorquino Dave Douglas, entre otros.
  
  Julio Hernández, en su columna Astillero de la Jornada de hoy, Mérida, Mexico
  Martes, Mayo 17, 2005
  

• Five in Jazz Showdown [+ Show ]
  

  May 25th, 2006 STAR STAFF Five in jazz showdown Who's it gonna be? Trumpeter Jonathan Scott...May 25th, 2006
  STAR STAFF
  
  Five in jazz showdown
  
  Who's it gonna be?
  Trumpeter Jonathan Scott, vocalist Sienna Dahlen, bassist Michael McClennan and saxophonists Nick Morgan and Michael Ruby are each hoping to hear their name called — they'll face off tonight at The Rex as the finalists in JazzFM91's "Project Jazz" talent competition.
  The prize is $15,000 from record companies Alma and Universal to help produce, promote and distribute their debut jazz CD, mentoring from jazz star Mike Murley, a spot in the radio station's "Sounds of Toronto" winter/fall concert series and extensive airplay on FM91.
  The winner will be chosen after performing at The Rex by six judges who'll take into account audience reaction....
  The finalists:
  Scott, 19, who also plays trombone and classical trumpet, is from Vancouver Island and is in the Humber College contemporary music program. He was the first Canadian chosen for the Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.
  Dahlen, the first singer ever accepted for U of T's jazz performance masters program, recently relocated to Toronto after 10 years performing in Montreal. A composer, she also plays piano and guitar.
  Saxman Morgan, raised in the U.S., London and Hogtown, took Humber's jazz performance course and has played venues throughout Ontario. He also composes.
  Ruby, 19, studies tenor sax in U of T's jazz performance program after winning the Moe Koffman Memorial scholarship in 2005, the same year he was named best high school tenor in North America by Downbeat magazine.
  Many fans hereabouts will be familiar with bassist McClennan, a regular with singer Heather Bambrick and in bands led by saxists Tara Davidson and Andy Ballantyne. He's a prolific composer, and has been on stage and in studios with numerous star players. He's currently working on a Masters in Music performance at U of T.
  
  
  

• Choix de la semaine [+ Show ]
  

  Il y a un an, Sienna Dahlen avait littéralement séduit le jury de la Fiesta des Musiques avec ses ...
  Il y a un an, Sienna Dahlen avait littéralement séduit le jury de la Fiesta des Musiques avec ses compositions folk pop jazzy. La mélodie de Little White Lie a de quoi vous donner la chair de poule... Un trésor pop se cache à Montréal. On vous aura avertis.
  
  Olivier Robillard Laveaux

• Sienna-Breathe [+ Show ]
  

  ****Missing from this album are the generic pop hooks, the sappy ballads and faux-love problems of y...****Missing from this album are the generic pop hooks, the sappy ballads and faux-love problems of your average alt-folk singer. Opener The Will rocks out and sets you up for an album of dynamics, from the haunting Little White Lie with simply vocals and rhodes, to the hush of Encore Une Fois. An album to watch out for.
  
  Lateef Martin
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Sienna Dahlen [+ Show ]
  

  Sienna Dahlen Breathe www.siennaproductions.com 3/4 Jazz-trained, pop-savvy and musically ac...Sienna Dahlen
  
  Breathe
  www.siennaproductions.com
  
  3/4
  Jazz-trained, pop-savvy and musically accomplished,
  West Coast transplant Sienna Dahlen negotiates many
  influences, melding them into her own distinct sound.
  Floating dreamy and dark just above this conscious plane,
  she sings of things felt and not seen. She might remind you
  of Sarah McLachlan on The Will, which opens her sophomore
  disc, or an unaffected k.d. lang on the beautifully melancholy
  Tadoussac. Throughout, she accompanies herself on acoustic
  guitar and piano and counts on stellar guest musicians-saxophonist
  Christine Jensen, Christopher Pennington on National steel guitar-
  to supplement her fluid backing band. As full and rich an indie recording
  as you’ll hear this year.
  
  Breathe will be launched Sunday, Nov.7th, 7pm at O Patro Vys,
  356 Mount Royal Ave. E. $5
  
  Mary Lamey
  
  

Setlist

Set 1- 45min.

Samuel
Encore Une Fois
Run
The Garden
Seasons; Change
Listen

Set 2- 45 min.

One Man
The Little Drummer Boy
Misconception
Love Like I Love
Little White Lie

Basic Requirements

Calendar