Mary Lou has been singing jazz all her life, doing guest spots as a teenager with her Dad’s dance band in Sault Ste. Marie. She has sung with everything from big bands to small ensembles as well as solo performances at the CNE and special events such as the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction dinners. Her repertoire ranges from the classics, to world to jazz standards. Her influences are as diverse as Ella FITZGERALD, Sarah VAUGHAN, Dianne Reeves and Jackie Richardson. Equally adept in the recording studio she has appeared in commercials and recorded jingles. (more…)
Categories Archives: Jazz
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing: As the song says, jazz swings, whether it makes you want to dance, “mellow out” or sing along to the popular standards.
Jazz shouldn’t be intimidating — in fact, it’s one of the most popular types of music being performed these days. Functions from wedding receptions to large corporate events have successfully used jazz ensembles and are rebooking groups for their subsequent events.
Jazz lends a cool sophistication to your event, whether it’s a two-piece sax and keyboard ensemble or a piano/percussion duo. Other examples include: sax/keyboard/bass trio; piano/vocal duo; with flute and clarinet as popular additions to these groups. With the addition of a drummer, you can dance the night away…
Large ensembles (12-15 members) recreate the sounds of the Big Band era, performing the classic standards made famous by greats such as Bennie Goodman, Duke Ellington and others.
The choice is yours, and Nova Scotia’s finest musicians are available to fill your jazz needs.
Mary Lou Sicoly
Zamani Folade
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Standard Time
Standard Time performs as a quartet: Irene Wilkinson, vocals, Georges Hebert, guitars, Tom Easley, string bass and Matt Myer, horns. These seasoned musicians bring a wealth of experience to their music and, singly, they have played all over the globe under the jazz, big band, musical theatre, country, folk, world music and classical umbrellas.
Standard Time offers some of the best in nostalgic and romantic jazz standards from The Great American Songbook peppered with the lyrical fusion of samba and jazz (bossa nova). 2021 sees the release of their first CD: “High Time”, with guest musicians Gina Burgess, violin, Scott Ferguson, drums, and Dave Staples, piano.
Standard Time Quartet is suitable for night clubs, cabaret, restaurants, dinner theatre, corporate functions, weddings and private parties and events. (more…)
Three O’Cubano
A trio of musicians who serve up a cocktail of music from Cuba, Brazil, North America, Italy and beyond. How can you play the music from these countries with only piano, guitar and woodwinds? It is a serious business but always a game!
Vladimir Nester
Before Vladimir – a professional musician for more than 20 years – made Canada his new home, he mastered both guitar and composition in Russia. Prize winner of a notable international classical guitar copmetition, he graduated from Rostov State Conservatory and toured across Europe with The Bis Band, and also as a soloist.
Doris Mason
This Pictou County native is a well known performer on the East Coast music scene, and has successfully juggled a busy solo career, work as Musical Director for the hit touring show “DRUM!”, and starred in Denny Doherty’s “Dream a Little Dream”- the nearly true story of the Mamas and Papas.
Doris grew up in a big musical family and was playing piano before her feet could touch the pedals. She wrote her first song at seven . (more…)
Nadia Moore
Nadia, an international performer previously based in the Philippines, now lends her unique character to the North American scene. From a career that started at the age of fourteen, Nadia has developed into what she is today…..a well-seasoned professional. She has performed in a variety of Asian hot spots. Her resume includes a five-year singing engagement with the Royal Family of Brunei. (more…)
Bill Stevenson
In over 30 years in the music business, jazz pianist Bill Stevenson has tried a wide variety of styles, always coming back to the blues-oriented style of jazz that he was exposed to in his teens and early twenties around the clubs of Ottawa, Montreal, Boston and New York. With early influence from Otis Spann and Jack Dupre came a raw feel that a young guy can strive for but, as his musical tastes broadened, the works of musical greats like Count Basie and Ray Charles started to creep into his repertoire. It was the intimate sound of the cabaret voice and the friendship of fellow club musicians that led him to record his first solo CD, Shall We Call It A Night. (more…)
Los Primos
The Los Primos Project (Cultural Exchange with Cuba) has developed a program that has created 5 young ensembles who are looking for places to play. They are called The Satellite Primos and there are bands in Tantallon, Rockingham, Dartmouth, Preston and Truro. (more…)
Holly Arsenault
In a career that spans 30+ years, jazz pianist Holly Arsenault has earned acclaim as a leader, soloist and sideperson. She has performed with Symphony Nova Scotia, The Daniel Matto Quintet, Karen Myatt, and has many shows to her credit as a pit musician at Neptune Theatre. Her original compositions have been lauded nationally and abroad, and have been featured in Global/ABC TV’s Rookie Blue; her work in musical theatre has been recognized with Dora and Merritt awards. She is the producer and host of Holly Arsenault Presents, a series showcasing some of her favourite vocalists from her extensive work as an accompanist, and is currently in collaboration with playwright Bruce Graham on a musical about Charles Tupper and the founding fathers of Confederation. (more…)