Big Band Open Mic - April 20, 2013
Maybe it doesn't look like your typical jazz club... but for one night it will be! And it's a beautiful club with ethereal acoustics - the Bloor St. United Church. The Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble presents 12 new and exciting singers at the annual Big Band Open Mic, hosted by Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. West, Toronto.
For a paltry $20, you will listen to the voices of the future in this vintage hall against the backdrop of a great big band.
We are so thrilled to be playing in this wonderful building - and to be presenting such an exciting array of emerging talents, Here's the line-up of vocalists that you'll be seeing:
Carolyn Lykkemark is a professional singer and a private voice & piano teacher who lives in Mississauga. Over the course of a career that has spanned three decades, Carolyn has performed in operas, dinner theatre, solo concerts and festivals. Carolyn has created and produced a number of stage shows, most recently a One-Woman show “My Life In Rooms”. In 2009, she showcased her cabaret-style musical comedy, “Saucy Wenches in the Trenches” at the Toronto Fringe Festival, which received rave
reviews and a 4 Star rating from Eye Weekly. In 2008, Carolyn released her long-awaited debut CD, “Seeds Of Me”. The album was recorded over a period of 10 years, showcasing her love of pop and Broadway. There are songs written by some of her favorite songwriters ranging from Carole King and Jewel to Rogers & Hart and Stephen Sondheim, as well as some of her own. Visit www.CarolynLykkemark.com to learn more and hear a sample of Carolyn's singing.
Andre is a real dynamo! He's an actor, singer, dancer and musician. Trained in the Humber College Acting program, he has worked on the stage in Robin Givens' production of "Joy In The Morning", Andrew Pasieka's "The Cross" and the Hassell Productions version of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe'. His film/television credits include "Everything Happens For a Reason" and "The Love Guru". And he's just completing his first studio album!
This 2012 MARTY People's Choice award winner is a tenor with a Vocal Jazz diploma who excels at "scat" and harmony. He covers dance styles from Hip Hop to tap. To keep up with his latest projects, visit http://andreanthony.net/ !
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ben Agro has lived in Brantford since 2007. His parents Filippo and Angela emigrated from Sicily - so family events would feature Italian songs, but often included the music of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Al Martino, Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavarotti and even Elvis Presley.
A Building Inspector by profession, Ben's co-workers started calling him “The Singing Inspector”. He performed at occasional charity functions, gradually building his repertoire, image and presentation. He entered singing competitions and was always a top-5 finalist, receiving many compliments and loads of encouragement. He now performs as a Tribute Artist to Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra for Corporate Functions, Charity Events, Canadian Legions, Retirement Homes, Weddings, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Parties, Christmas Parties Restaurants and Bars. Check out his past performances on www.starnow.ca/benagro. For bookings, call (519)304-0719 or e-mail
Growing up in east Toronto, Denise gained experience singing in choirs and received formal piano training. It was not until later in life, while living in Calgary, Alberta, after having her 3rd child that a singing career really began. In 2003 Denise auditioned and earned a spot in the Calgary Choral’s alto section. “Artistic Director Brian Farrell put together a wonderful Ray Charles tribute show for us in 2004, for which I was given a couple of really challenging but fun scat solos that stood out. After some vocal workshops, lessons, a sold-out show at Calgary’s Beatniq Jazz Club I was hooked, and my journey as a jazz vocalist was well under way.” Now living in Mississauga, Denise has been gigging regularly at jazz clubs and private functions in and around the GTA for the past 8 years. Denise is a passionate vocalist with deep dark tones and an impeccable sense of rhythm. With experience fronting 2 R&B bands, she playfully infuses her music with musical styles beyond jazz. She and her trio have taken the stage at venues like the Carlu, Ritz-Carleton, The Hard Rock Cafe, Hart House’s “Jazz at Oscar’s”, Gate 403, Ten Feet Tall, Coquine Restaurant, The Trane, Mississauga Golf Club and most recently Islington Golf Club. Denise completed a new recording named “You Don’t Know What Love Is” in the summer of 2012.
Rosana Filipe is a local singer songwriter with a love for “all that jazz”. Her first experience in a band started in high school where she was the first singer, in the first high school jazz band in BC to feature a singer - and thus her passion was born. She has sang in various capacities since then, in choral jazz groups, with smaller bands, as well as writing and recording songs with local hip hop artists. No stranger to the stage, she is also involved in musical theatre, her most recent endeavors being "Fame", "Little Shop of Horrors", and "Little Women" with First Act Productions. Rosana is very excited to be sharing the stage with Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble for a second time, the first of which was at a fundraiser that they graciously performed at aimed at helping youth overseas. Keep an eye for a collection of original work by Rosana coming out in the near future!
A lover of the arts since the age of six, Nadia Petra has worked professionally in dance, theater and music. Nadia’s musical influences stem from her early work as a singer/songwriter in the vibrant folk music community of Ottawa. A career in education resulted in two albums of original songs for children and television spots on CBC’s Mr. Dressup and YTV’s Take Part. Nadia’s love of children and jazz led to another recording project along with a new found inspiration: performing vocal jazz. She has studied with renowned jazz arranger and vocal coach Phil Mattson and Toronto jazz vocalist Rita de Gent. Nadia has performed with the Toronto based vocal jazz choir Oasis. Her musicality, love of jazz standards and deep, alluring voice makes the perfect blend for a vocal jazz artist.
Luc Gaylie is currently a grade ten student at St. Michael’s Choir School in Toronto, where daily choral singing is required in preparation for the weekend masses, Holy Day celebrations, concerts and tours. From a very tender age, Luc has enjoyed his gift of music and has exercised it by singing and studying it in a formal environment. At age seven, he started to study piano. He is currently at a level seven RCM. He has been studying drums for the past three years. He currently continues to have formal vocal training, and this past year at school he commenced organ lessons too. His passion for music is coupled with his love of sports, particularly hockey, where he is proud to currently be the Captain of his Erindale hockey team. Luc started playing hockey at the age of six. He played many positions and remained as goalie for many of them. Today he is very happy playing centre, and he is enjoying being a part of an energetic and enthusiastic team. Luc also has a twin sister named Giselle, who has special needs. He enjoys helping her in every way he can. They go skating, swimming and to the gym together.
At The Rex - Feb 16, 2013
According to Down Beat Magazine (in its 2011 article "150 Great Jazz Venues"), the Rex Hotel is one of the world's elite jazz clubs, featuring a "steady stream of top-notch bands". We're really looking forward to our engagement there on Saturday, February 16th, 2013. It's an evening spot, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm - informal, friendly, loud and boisterous is the vibe. We'll be playing a lot of our best stuff, pulling out the stops, so it should be great fun.
The Rex gives you a perfect opportunity to see the band at close quarters - to feel that you are part of the performance. The photo below may help you to visualize what we're talking about - this is the scene from the bandstand looking out into the pub room during our last matinee...
