EDMONTON JAZZ SOCIETY 11 TOMMY BANKS WAY - Yardbird Suite

fernanda•cunha•quartetEdmonton's jazz fansfrom will have a rareopportunity toBrazilexperience the music ofBrazil first-hand at theYardbird Suite when Rio deJaneiro's Fernanda Cunha makesher first appearance in Canada.Fernanda comes from a musicalfamily. Her mother is a singer andher aunt, Sueli Costa, is a wellknowncomposer in Brazil. Shebegan performing in 1997 atvarious clubs around Rio deJaneiro. She then spent a couple ofyears living in the United States,mainly in Cleveland, Ohio. As partof Grupo Brasil, she performed atvarious local venues and festivals.In June, 2002, she recorded herfirst album "O tempo e o lugar" inCleveland.Returning to Brazil, shecontinued her musical career. In2004, she realized a long-timedream when she recorded hersecond disc "Dois coracoes" (TwoHearts) featuring compositions bytwo of the most important Braziliancomposers, Johnny Alf and heraunt Sueli Costa.For her Yardbird Suiteperformance, Fernanda will bebringing her accompanist fromBrazil, pianist Ricardo Rito.Rounding out the quartet will beEdmonton's own bassist Mike Lentand drummer Sandro Dominelli.Fernanda Cunha - vocalsRicardo Rito - pianoMike Lent - bassSandro Dominelli - drumsFRIDAY • NOVEMBER 11DOORS 8PM • SHOW 9PM • MEMBERS $16/GUESTS $20McNeill/DeJong•quintetfromSaskatoonTrumpeter DeanMcNeill and saxophonistMark DeJong return toAlberta to join Edmontonbasedjazz artists BobbyCairns on guitar, Mike Lent on bass andDan Skakun on drums for one night onlyat the Yardbird Suite. Repertoire willinclude original compositions by McNeilland DeJong as well as selections fromthe Chet Baker/Gerry Mulligan quartetlibrary of the 1950's.Originally from Edmonton, where hisassociation with the Yardbird Suiteincluded being the Musical Director ofthe Little Birds Big Band and the JazzWorks music festival, Dean McNeill iscurrently the Head of the Department ofMusic at the University of Saskatchewanwhere he teaches jazz ensemble,trumpet, and jazz arranging. Dean isgraduate of McGill University, theUniversity of North Texas, and GrantMcEwan College. Dean can be heard on16 CD recordings and he has performedwith the likes of Bob Mintzer, RufusReid, Tommy Banks, Kenny Wheeler, P.J.Perry, Hugh Fraser, Campbell Ryga, andBrad Turner.Originally from Calgary, where hewas instrumental in establishing the BeatNiq jazz club as well as working as a fulltime professional musician, MarkDeJong is currently a SessionalInstructor at the University ofSaskatchewan where he teachescourses in the Department of Music.Mark holds a Masters in JazzPerformance from Rutgers University,and has toured throughout Canada, theUnited States, and Europe. Mark is afounding member of the Steve HudsonQuintet whose CD entitled Outer Bridgeis currently on the play list of several jazzradio stations in the Eastern UnitedStates. Mark has shared the stage withLenny Pickett, Rob McConnell, MoeKoffman and Ray Charles, among manyothers.Dean McNeill - trumpet and flugelhornMark DeJong - saxophonesBobby Cairns - guitarSATURDAY • NOVEMBER 12DOORS 8PM • SHOW 9PM • MEMBERS $8/GUESTS $12Mike Lent - bassDan Skakun - drums4 • www.yardbirdsuite.com • NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2005