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.
Bill Stevenson
For more than 50 years Bill Stevenson has made music his passion and pursuit: Music that includes interpretations of songs with diverse styles – as penned by Cole Porter and Bob Dylan, Gershwin and Hank Williams, Johnny Mercer and Willie Nelson – sung and played in a style that has evolved in equally diverse venues around the world.
Daniel Matto
As a jazz vocalist, Daniel had the opportunity to perform and mentor with some of Australia’s top jazz musicians including Joy Yates, Catie Halliday, Dave MacRae and Adrian Whitehead before embarking on his solo career.
In 2006, Daniel made his North American debut with several performances throughout Nova Scotia. Daniel has since made his mark on the Canadian jazz scene with regular shows at some of Atlantic Canada’s finest jazz venues.
Dave Staples
Dave Staples is a well known pianist, trombone player and music educator from Nova Scotia. Along with his duties as a teacher in the Halifax school system, he is also very active on the local scene as a freelance musician. He has performed with such national and international artists as Dionne Warwick, Bobby Curtola, Lena Boudreau, Kenny Wheeler, Mike Murley and Kurt Elling and continues to work with the best of the East Coast Music scene, including Scott Macmillan, John Chaisson, Ian Janes, Jeff Goodspeed, Tom Roach, Jamie Gatti, Nova Sinfonia and the Maritime Jazz Orchestra.
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 has been fortunate to have a multi-faceted background of celtic, folk ,blues and jazz which has afforded her a rich and diverse career throughout Nova Scotia, Canada, Europe and the United States.
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.
Karen Myatt
Karen Myatt has her grandmother to thank for her love of music.
“She turned me on to the American Songbook when I was a youngster,” says the Canadian vocalist. “That, in turn, led me to discover jazz, blues, gospel, soul, and rock music.”
After training at the Randolph Academy in Toronto and graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, Myatt has performed across North and South America.
Mary Lou Sicoly
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 and special events such as Hockey Hall of Fame Induction dinners. Her repertoire ranges from the classics, to world to jazz standards. Equally adept in the recording studio, she has also appeared in commercials and recorded jingles.
Mike Cowie
Mike Cowie is a talented trumpet player, singer and songwriter in a funk/jazz/blues style.
His stunning trumpet tone combines with funky beats, beautiful melodies and sophisticated chord progressions to create a sound that is new, fresh and timeless.
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.
Nadia is a regular performer at Nectar Restaurant and Wine Bar in Dartmouth, appearing every fourth Sunday of the month. She also leads her own band, which has met with great reviews.
Vladimir Nestor
Before Vladimir Nester – 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.
Vladimir has appeared on award-winning records and TV and radio stations, including the CBC.
Zamani Folade
Singer, songwriter, producer – Zamani won the 2019 Atlantic International Film Festival (FIN) Award for Best Atlantic Original Score. Hailing from a musical family, her mother an award-winning African Nova Scotian folk music songwriter and her father an award-winning smooth jazz guitarist, Zamani’s unique musical style reflects a variety of eclectic musical exposures.
Folding inspiration from divas past and present such as India Arie, Erykah Badu, Nina Simone, Natalie Cole, Lalah Hathaway, Mariah Carey and Beyonce, Zamani has found a voice all her own.