From JUNO to WPG

JUNO-winning and JUNO-nominated artists will share valuable insights and advice about the world of jazz.

February 5, 2020 —

The Desautels Faculty of Music is delighted to announce that it will host the Canadian Jazz Summit on March 6 and 7, 2020.

The summit, organized by the Desautels Faculty of Music’s Assistant Professor of Jazz Drum Set Fabio Ragnelli, will present a series of workshops, masterclasses, open rehearsals, and a concert for jazz students and professionals, and will feature guest artists and speakers Amanda Tosoff and Kelly Jefferson.

Tosoff is a rising jazz pianist and composer who won the General Motors Grand Prix de Jazz at the 2009 Montreal Jazz Festival. Her 2017 album Words was nominated for a JUNO Award for Best Vocal Jazz Album. Tosoff’s follow-up album Earth Voices will be released in 2020.

Jefferson is a JUNO Award-winning saxophonist, and has been nominated five times for the Saxophonist of the Year Award at the National Jazz Awards. He has toured extensively, and has performed with renowned groups like the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

The summit will feature six workshops designed to help jazz musicians further develop their skills and techniques, all of which will take place in the Desautels Faculty of Music’s facilities. Tosoff, Jefferson, and JUNO Award-winning composer, bandleader, arranger and saxophonist Allison Au will explore the following topics: strategies for jazz composition, re-harmonization techniques, getting more from practice sessions, the art of listening, melody development, and navigating a career as a bandleader in Canada.

In addition to the workshops, Jefferson will also offer a masterclass designed to be beneficial to all musicians regardless of instrument. The cost for all six workshops and the masterclass is $40 for the general public and $25 for students.

The Canadian Jazz Summit will conclude with a concert featuring Tosoff and Jefferson ($25) at the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain (CCFM) on March 7^th. All are welcome to take part in this new event!

To learn more about the Canadian Jazz Summit, or to register for the workshops or concert, please visit: http://umanitoba.ca/music/Canadian_Jazz_Summit.html

Sarah Boumphrey

Desautels Faculty of Music, faculty of music, jazz studies, music

Rhythm and Community: University of Manitoba Percussion Ensemble Takes Center Stage at “The Space Between”

Excitement is in the air as the University of Manitoba Percussion Ensemble prepares to showcase their talent at the upcoming conference “The Space Between,” hosted at Acadia University in beautiful Wolfville, NS. Invited by the Canadian Percussion Network, the ensemble will present their captivating session titled “Connecting the Threads: An Exploration in Community-Minded Rehearsal and Performance Processes.” This is not just an opportunity for performance; it’s a chance to dive deep into the essence of musical collaboration. Grouping the students in various quartets allows the students to explore a variety of musical, creative and leadership roles withing the traditional percussion quartet model.