An ensemble featuring musicians and singers who have performed in concerts and theatres across Canada including the Stratford, Shaw and Charlottetown Festivals. They are brought together by their love of jazz and Broadway.
Photos by Dave Schneller
Jay Boehmer
Jay’s credits include over 40 productions for the Stirling Festival Theatre, Red Barn Theatre, Stage West and Drayton Entertainment. This Mississauga drummer , composer and band leader graduated from the Humber College Music Program in 1990 and performs with his jazz group in Toronto and Mississauga. Jay has released two CD’s of original jazz compositions: Autumn Afternoon (2007) and Don’t Look Back (1999). Both discs have received airplay on Jazz FM91 and CBC national radio. Jay has spent many hours in the recording studio and has worked with producers Les Cooper (Jill Barber), Peter Prilesnick (Sarah Harmer) and Nick Blagona (Kim Mitchell, The Police). Jay also performs with the Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble and country sweethearts Dirty Dishes among others. www.jayboehmerjazz.com
Blair Irwin
Blair is a music theatre performer who has worked across Canada and in New York City. Show tunes are her favourite thing and she has a CD that is full of them (available on her website!). Favourite theatre credits include: Jovie in Elf (Canadian Premiere), Wendy in Peter Pan, Anne in Anne of Green Gables, Oliver in Oliver!, Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and her One-Woman shows: Just Call Me Blair and …NEXT! She has been featured twice as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (Citadel Theatre, Neptune Theatre). Blair can also be heard as the voice of Cousin Becky on The Ron James Show on CBC. www.blairirwin.com
Nathalie Nadon
Nathalie Nadon is that rare breed of chanteuse who recalls the past but at the same time exudes a contemporary sense of cool. Nathalie is the founding member of the award winning French vocal trio Les Chiclettes. The trio has toured all over the country and France. Acting credits include: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well… (Stratford Festival), Warehouse 13 (Showcase), Bleus de Ramville (TFO). Nathalie received her acting training at the University of Ottawa Theatre Program and at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting of New York. Her debut album So in Love is available on iTunes. www.nathalienadon.com
Derek Marshall
A native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Derek has performed extensively as a singer and actor for more than twenty years throughout Canada in many of the country’s most prestigious theatres, concert halls and casinos. He has been featured at many gala events in the United States and Europe including several headline engagements in Germany and Austria. Derek relishes the American Pop Standard and is currently working on new and original material for an upcoming album. He was educated at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. www.DerekMarshall.ca
Michael Barber
Michael Barber has returned from the Stratford Festival where he was Musical Director and onstage conductor for 42nd Street starring Cynthia Dale and Associate Conductor for Pirates of Penzance. He has been Music Director for over 50 professional musicals across Canada, including Forever Plaid, The Rocky Horror Show, A Christmas Carol (Aquarius); White Christmas (Neptune); Oliver! (Drayton); California Dreaming II (Stage West). He was also keyboardist for Spamalot and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (Mirvish). Michael received his training from Humber College and the Royal Conservatory of Music. Mr. Barber has two CDs out with cabaret artist (and wife) Nathalie Nadon. www.michaelbarber.ca
Michael Herring
Michael Herring is a double-bassist and composer based in Toronto who writes, performs and records across genre lines, equally comfortable in jazz, folk, world, pop and rock. Herring leads or co-leads a number of ensembles which feature his original compositions. Peripheral Vision is a modern-jazz quartet co-led with guitarist and long-time collaborator Don Scott. This group has recorded two albums, maintains a busy touring schedule and has won the Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Michael Herring’s Vertigo is a modern-jazz sextet which recorded two albums featuring New York’s David Binney. Herring is also a member of God’s Gift to Yoda and The Uplifters (New Orleans pop) where you can hear Herring’s lyrics and vocals. www.dangerherring.com