Café Paradiso Launches
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House pianist and musical
director Gerry Shatford is featured every Wednesday. A graduate of McGill University's
prestigious jazz programme, where he was the recipient of numerous awards and
scholarships, Gerry relocated to Ottawa from Montreal, via Vancouver in July of
2001, and began performing regularly at Café Paradiso several months later.
Gerry has been turning heads with his authentic renditions of stride and boogie
woogie masterpieces, meticulously transcribed from original source recording dating
as far back as 1923. Meade "Lux" Lewis, Jimmy Yancey, Earl Hines, Fats
Waller, Teddy Wilson, Duke Ellington and Art Tatum are well represented in his
repertoire. Added highlights of Gerry's solo performances are the many sit-ins
by jazz friends, particularly the many fine vocalists that populate the Ottawa
jazz scene. Canadian jazz legend Brian Browne holds court every Thursday
at Café Parasdiso. Performing solo piano, he has a natural gift that is
manifested through a highly individual sense of musical artistry. Brian has produced
several recordings including "The Letter", issued by Capital Recordings
and featuring the composition "Morning, Noon and Nighttime Too" which
won the coveted BMI Composition of the Year Award in 1974. His most recent disc
"Blue Browne" garnered rave reviews across Canada. Originally
from Montreal, Brian moved as a teenager to Ottawa, where his musical career soon
began. By the age of eighteen he was playing in local clubs and soon had his own
CBC radio programme. He studied at the Berklee School of Music and later won a
scholarship to study with Oscar Peterson in Toronto. In 1986 he opened Zoe's Lounge
in Ottawa's Chateau Laurier hotel and remained there for a year as musical director.
He subsequently moved to New York City, where he spent several years actively
in the music scene. With his return to Ottawa, long-time fans of Browne's soulful,
swinging piano sound are once again delighted by his local appearances. Fridays
at Café Paradiso feature the incredible talent of guitarist Mike Rud. Also
a graduate of McGill University's Jazz programme, Mike has attended the International
Jazz Workshop at the Banff Centre for the Arts, studying with greats of modern
jazz such as Don Thompson and Norma Winstone. This led to an opportunity to study
in New York with jazz guitar master Jim Hall in 1995. In 1996, he returned to
Montreal for his Masters' degree at McGill. Michael has performed with
Herb Ellis,Chuck Israels, Ralph Bowen, John Stetch, Kenny Wheeler, Joe La Barbera,
Guido Basso, Ian MacDougal, and many others. He has three CDs of his own out "Whyte
Avenue", "Chimbe" and "Live in Lotusland", and is a guest
on several other CDs. In demand as a teacher and clinician, Michael has taught
and/or spoken at a number of music schools, and has performed all over Canada,
including recent appearances at the Vancouver Jazz Festival, and the Festival
de Jazz de Montréal. Saturday is the premiere night of Café
Paradiso's jazz schedule, and this fall Ottawa jazz audiences will be treated
to special performances from numerous out-of-town artists. Toronto vocalists Maureen
Kennedy and George Evans will be making return visits, and ex-patriate Ottawans,
now living in Montreal, Frank Lozano and Josh Rager will be stopping in. A special
evening with the Mike Webster Quartet, featuring his pianist-brother Gordon is
another highlight of the fall season. Ottawa saxophonist Nathan Cepelinski will
be making his debut Paradiso performance and musical director Gerry Shatford will
be presenting a trio evening featuring the stellar talents of Montreal drummer
Dave Laing. Please note the new hours for Saturday night events at Café
Paradiso (7-11 pm) and call 565-0657 for dinner reservations which are highly
recommended (a $15.00 minimum will apply). Latecomers (after 9 pm) will be admitted
if available seating remains. Visit www.cafeparadiso.ca
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Café Paradiso Launches
its
New Jazz Season for 2005/2006
