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.
Listen to Standard Time Quartet here. 
Although her formal qualifications are in biomedical science, vocalist Irene Wilkinson has worked for much of her life in fine and performing arts as a graphic artist, musician, singer, songwriter, radio producer with CBC, dance teacher, artistic and technical director, scriptwriter & choreographer, motivational speaker and in educational support for children at risk (she continues her work as a writer/presenter in this field and the results of her research are published in various educational journals). Irene travelled extensively throughout her native England and in Europe as part of the band “Hermanas” with her sister, Carole. Tours of France, Spain, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Italy, Sardinia and Sicily led to the release of a record which made the top seller list in Sicily. She recorded and produced programs for CBC Radio and introduced Canadian audiences to current popular music from other countries (“Pop Over the World”) exposing an underground and thriving jazz movement, in what was then the U.S.S.R., by means of a two-part documentary heard across the national network on Jazz Radio Canada. One of her greatest passions is singing jazz.
Guitarist, composer, sound engineer and producer, Georges Hebert, began playing guitar in the early 60s, influenced by Chet Atkins, Django Reinhardt, Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd amongst others. He is perhaps best known for his work and tours with Anne Murray (he was her personal guitarist for many years). Georges has performed in the Maritimes with the Brunswick Playboys, Frank’s Bandstand and Sing-a-Long Jubilee, Denny Doherty, Marg Osbourne, The John Allan Cameron Show, the Sunshine Hour and Coming up Country. In Toronto, Georges was lead guitarist with Ian Tyson’s Great Speckled Bird. He has been featured on several television shows including appearances on The Johnny Carson show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Boston Pops and BBC-TV as well as television programs in Germany and Holland. Georges has played with the who’s who of show business all over the globe including celebrities such as Moe Koffman, Gene MacLellan, Dusty Springfield, The Mamas and the Papas, Dionne Warwick, Vera Lynn, Shirley Eikhard, Rita MacNeil, The Rankins, Julio Iglesias, Brian Adams, Dutch Mason, The Mercey Brothers, J.P. Cormier and Roger Whittaker.
Bassist, composer, and educator Tom Easley has earned a reputation as one of Eastern Canada’s finest jazz bassists. Two-time East Coast Music Award winner, Maple Blues Winner and multiple nominee for various other awards. Tom co-lead the music group Hot Toddy for a decade co-producing seven CDs and performing at many major jazz and blues festivals all across Canada, Europe and the United States. Over the past 25 years Tom has toured throughout Europe, Asia and South America with many diverse musical projects that range from musical theatre to jazz quartets. He has performed, produced and recorded in a variety of genres including several East Coast Music Award nominated releases including the award-winning recording Easley/ Stevenson/ Arsenault CD (“Nine Steps”). Tom has performed with a number of internationally recognized artists including Mike Murley, Juan Martin, Ed Thigpen, Jeff Hamilton, John Abercrombie, Adam Rogers, Randy Brecker and Los Lobos. Tom holds a degree from St. Francis Xavier University with a B.A. Honours in Jazz Performance. Currently, he is Halifax based and is on faculty at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Music Arts Program and part time faculty for the St. FX Jazz Degree Program.
Horn player and keyboardist, composer and musical educator, Matt Myer, was born in Charlottetown PEI but grew up in North End Halifax. His stellar career has seen him in great demand with ECMA and JUNO award-winning bands including The Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra, multiple ECMA and Nova Scotia Music Award winners Gypsophilia, Scott and the Rocks, Bend the River, British band Verbal Warning, and celebrated artists like singer/songwriter John Gracie, jazz violinist Donald MacLennan, bassist Willem Paynter and vocalist Karen Myatt. Matt lives in Dartmouth with his partner Heather and daughter Diana.
High Time by Standard Time was released in 2021 and features guest musicians Scott Ferguson, Gina Burgess, and Dave Staples. The CD gives new life to songs that were written, refreshingly and predominantly, about love in the 20s, 30s and 40s. Standard Time aims to provide listeners young and old with a testament to the uplifting and transformative power of music.
For more information and to hear a sample, please visit Standard Time’s Bandcamp.
Recorded at FMP Matrix, Dartmouth, NS and StudioArts in Bedford, NS, November 2020. Released March 1, 2021. Copies can be purchased by contacting igwjazz@gmail.com.
