Tickets available ONLINE til 12:30 pm on show day, AT THE DOOR afterwards.
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It’s JazzFest time, so The Carleton is happy to jump on that bandwagon with a Big Band Brunch featuring the expanded Brickworks big band (horns, lots of ’em!) on Saturday, July 15th.
Nine of Halifax’s finest musicians join forces to deliver the spirit and sound of the golden era of the big bands. Enjoy familiar classics such as Come Fly With Me, Night and Day, and Cheek to Cheek. Doors open at noon for beverages and brunch with show time at 1:30 PM. Tickets for this very special event are $30 + HST.
– Patrick Simms (vocals) is a singer from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. After studying opera at Dalhousie University and the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Patrick returned home – and after jamming with Ken, Nate, Nick, and Dilshan – discovered that he might like crooning jazz and belting the blues even more than he likes singing opera arias. He’s mainly glad that someone wants to listen to him sing besides his wife and dogs, who have little choice in the matter.
– Ken Pasher (guitar) is a musician and music educator from Halifax Nova Scotia. After graduating from Dalhousie with a degree in classical guitar performance, Ken got to work combining what he’d learned in school with the influences of Jazz legends like Ed Bickert, and R&B session players like Cornell Dupree. This diverse combination of musical influences gives him a style that’s rich and exciting. Ken’s tasteful signature sound fits so comfortably on a track or in an ensemble, it feels like it’s been there from the beginning.
– Dilshan Weerasinghe (guitar), born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is an artist, musician, and music scholar. Dilshan holds a music degree from Dalhousie University, where he studied jazz guitar with local artists and educators such as Scott Macmillan, Jeff Torbert, and Chris Mitchell, and performed with renowned artists such as Ignacio Berroa, Hilario Duran, Michael Kaeshammer, and Regina Carter. He has studied and worked with artists from a range of disciplines and styles, from guitarist Lorne Lofsky to jazz composer and scholar JoVia Armstrong, to Guggenheim award winning poet Brian Teare. His creative and artistic interests include hip-hop, hip-hop jazz, neo-soul, various forms of fusion music, improvisation, as well as questions around art, creative practice, and storytelling.
– Nate Caravan (bass) is a musician from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a graduate of Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Music. With an interest in jazz and funk, and influences from the likes of Jaco Pastorius and Joe Dart, Nate provides the laid back, groovy bottom end that lays the groundwork for the rest of the band.
– Nick Donovan (drums) has a strong background in jazz music, having studied jazz performance at the University of Toronto alongside some of Canada’s top young musicians. Throughout his studies, he had the opportunity to learn from and perform with leading artistic voices in the jazz scene, helping him hone his skills and develop his unique style. He was the recipient of several scholarships recognizing his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. He also won a grant to travel to New Orleans and study with the legendary drummer Johnny Vidacovich and immerse himself in the city’s rich musical culture. Nick has performed extensively at music festivals and esteemed venues, earning a reputation as a skilled and dynamic performer.
– Ally Fiola (alto sax, flute) is a Nova Scotian saxophonist and composer who has performed across Atlantic Canada and Internationally. Her recently recorded original jazz album, Interblaze, features 3x Grammy winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones), Grammy winning keyboardist Glenn Patscha (Bonnie Raitt), Kurdish guitarist Shvan Kaban, and many top-tier Nova Scotian musicians, including co-producer Chris Mitchell.
– Addison Sowery-Quinn (trombone) is a low brass specialist from Burlington, ON, where he studied jazz trombone with Rob Summerville and the late Dave McMurdo at Mohawk College. Addison plays in many ensembles in NS, including playing sousaphone with Ally Fiola & The Next Quest, where he recorded with Multi Grammy winner Jeff Coffin. Addison is also in the military reserves as a musician, where he had the opportunity to travel across Canada and perform for royalty and former and current Prime Ministers. He also taught trombone and euphonium and the military school of music in Borden, ON.
– Paul St-Amand (trumpet) is a singer and trumpeter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He leads the soul band The Joy Curve, and performs weekly at Café Lunette with Le Trio St-Amand. Paul’s fiery trumpet solos are also featured by the popular salsa band Son Latino, and he appears frequently as a sideman and studio musician with many of the region’s best recording artists. Paul was a 2017 Music Nova Scotia Award nominee for Jazz Recording of the Year with his band Blue Spirits. Also an accomplished classical performer, Paul is a founding member of the Bedford Brass Quintet.
– Angela Kinder (tenor sax, flute) is a long time multi instrumentalist, alumnus of Los Primos, creative music workshop, and the first graduating class of NSCC music arts. She has performed primarily on tenor saxophone and flute with many acts and genres over the last 20 years including reggae, latin, fusion, big band, and most recently served as arranger and bandleader for modern brass ensemble Pocket Silver Brass Band. Angela now enjoys music as a part time pursuit apart from her day job as a software developer.