Wednesday, June 2nd CBC Music in Studio at the JUNOS The Jazz Session.

June 2, 2021 Live Music No Comments

Watched this live at 8 p.m. ET on  CBC Gem but could have watched it as well at CBCmusic.ca/junos, CBC Music Facebook, CBC Music Twitter, CBC Music YouTube too. This CBC Music in Studio JUNOS The Jazz Session was hosted by Laila Biali and featured 9 legendary musicians nominated in the 3 Jazz categories at the 2021 Juno Awards ranging from traditional to vocal, from group to Latin covering all jazz stylings. Was Presented by CBC Music.

An amazing 1-hour session allowed for 1 song each that showcased that recorded on 9 of the 15 albums nominated in the 3 Jazz categories Jazz Solo, Jazz Group, and Vocal Jazz that were on that stage session.

We heard from Musical Director Pat LaBarbera saxophonist, Bassist Andrew Downing (Florian Hoefner Trio), Percussionist Junior Santos, Saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, Drummer Larnell Lewis, Pianist Hilario Durán, and from singers Sammy Jackson, Matt Dusk, and Laila Bialit the host.
Laila Biali singer and host.

1st artist featured from this all-star band that represents the best in Jazz today was music from pianist Hilario Duran https://hilarioduran.com who is a composer, arranger, and educator and blends the worlds of Afro-Cuban, Latin, and Canadian Jazz. Has accompanied the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and he is on faculty at Humber College leading the next generation. He is a 7-time Juno Nominee and won twice and he kicks off the night with his Hilario Duran Trio’s Trio Influenciado.
Next up, bandleader, Pat LaBarbara and he has supported so many of the greats like Count Bassy, Glen Miller, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and spent 7 years with Buddy Rich, his 1st gig with Buddy was a birthday party for Vice President of the United States with nonother than Frank Sinatra. He has taught music for generations including Kirk MacDonald and Liala. Train of Thought live at the Rex. Kirk MacDonald and Pat are both nominated for a Juno for Train of Thought at the Rex. Kirk has played the largest stages with the largest names in Jazz Rosemary Clooney, Bob Mintzer, Mike Stern, Dave Young, and more. He is an educator for 30 years and is a 7-time Juno nominee with 2 wins. They nailed their version of Niema a John Coltraine composition.
Sammy Johnson, she is a 1st time Juno nominee from Saint Catharines Ontario with her EP With You. I heard Jazz, Pop, and R&B influences as she sang in her soulful voice. She sang her title track from her current EP, With You.
Andrew Downing is an educator, a bassist, a 2-time Juno winner, and is a 3-time nominee. He has traveled performing with The Vancouver Roots Band, Zoobot, and Dawson, and this year he is Juno nominated for Jazz Album of the Year Group as part of Florian Hoefner’s Trio album First Spring. Andrew showcased on bass his talents on the Florian-Hoefner piece, Loosin Yelav.
Pat LaBarbara introduced the host of the talented Laila Biali who is not just a host of this In Studio Junos Jazz Showcase and Saturday Night’s Jazz on CBC Music, Laila Biali. She is a talented pianist, singer, and songwriter who is nominated this year for 4th Juno, for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, a category she won in 2019. Her nomination this year is for her album Out of Dust. She has headlined tours and festivals across 5 continents and she supported and toured with Sting, Paula Cole, and Susan Vegan, blending contemporary Jazz with creative Pop, and is a Humber College grad. She perfected her song Sugar from her 2020 album Out of Dust.
World-class drummer, Larnell Lewis, has won 2 Grammy awards while playing with the Jazz Fusion group Snarky Puppy, he is a Juno nominee and has played with John Schofield, Fred Hammond, Gregory Porter, Lisa Fisher, and many many more. Has worked with Canada’s finest Molly Johnson, Johnny Reid, Devine Brown, and Matt Dusk. He has made music for 15 years with the host Laila Biali and played on her album Out of Dust she is nominated for in 2021.
Matt Dusk is a multi-award-winning Platinum-selling singer who has been weaving his way through the Golden American Songbook. He has 5 Juno Nominations as of 2021 for Sinatra, this album has allowed Matt to record the classic standard songs he has been playing for the last 25 years. You recorded this album with 13 horns, and a 4 piece rhythm section live off the floor all in one day. He stunned us with a George Gershwin tune, They Can’t Take That Away From Me.
The final performer is nominated for category Jazz Album of the Year Solo, Junior Santos, and fuses Jazz with Pambiche. This is your 1st Juno Nomination and he shared his talent on the Tambora (Dominican Drum) within his composition Tambora Blues that was written and composed by Junior Santos; arranged by Junior Santos & JT Kim; Piano: Sandor Schwisberg; Bass: JT Kim; Percussion (Tambora, Guira & Congas): Junior Santos; Drums. Congrats Junior and a special shout out to our friend of The Wire Megazine, and the outstandingly gifted, The Bowie Lives Keyboardist, Sandor Schwisberg, wahoo.

I have had a love for Jazz since 1984 when i picked up my 1st in school instrument, the Bass Clarinet then Clarinet. I truly enjoyed this soothing session, especially with all the stress I am under lately, it was just what the doctor ordered.

JUNOS - The Sheepdogs release a new six-track EP recorded during the pandemic.

June 1st: CBC Music in Studio at JUNOS The Block Session.
Leave a Reply