BIJF-40-Program-2016

Main Stage
JULY 22 · 23 · 24
FEATURED PERFORMERS
@ Woodbine Park
Mark Kelso &
The Jazz Exiles
Mark Kelso and the Jazz Exiles (MKJE) is a
JUNO award nominated five-piece ensemble,
fusing jazz and funk into their unique musical
style. Helmed by Torontonian drummer and
composer Mark Kelso, MKJE is a collaboration
between one of North America’s premier bass
players, Rich Brown, jazz pianist and prominent
member of the jazz community, Robi Botos,
Grammy and JUNO nominated alto saxophonist
Luis Deniz and talented guitarist, Joey Martel.
Their JUNO award nominated debut album
Stealing from My Youth features 10 tracks which
collectively displays the individual talent of each
of these five skilled musicians.
Tortured Soul
Tortured Soul (TS) was formed in 2001 as a
three-man music group based in Brooklyn, New
York. The band has toured extensively, playing
on the world stage for a diverse audience
including Bonnaroo in Tennessee, the Montreal
Jazz Festival, Fabric in London, Detroit Electronic
Music Festival, Pukkelpop in Belgium, Java Jazz
Festival in Indonesia, Big Chill Festival in the UK
and the Capetown International Jazz Festival
in South Africa. Adding to their list of
accomplishments, Tortured Soul has also
been featured with such acclaimed artists as
Chaka Kahn and The Wailers and has had their
music featured on All My Children, The Glades
and So You Think You Can Dance Canada.
House Of David Gang
House of David Gang (HDG) is the product of two
Toronto bands (Selah and Rainbow Warriors)
joining forces in 1988. Together, HDG formed a
staple sound performing in the city’s Queen Street
West neighbourhood where fittingly they derived
their namesake from a popular after-hours locale
where they remained a staple until the mid-90s.
The group is led by Desmond ‘King Selah’
Anderson on lead vocals, who at the age of 17
moved to Canada and immediately gravitated
toward gospel music, singing for many years with
his church and festival choirs. HDG’s rhythm
section includes the dynamic Collin ‘Jahlin’
Edwards on drums, who hails from Hanover,
Germany and Snappy Homefry on bass; with
Mike Field and Dean Yeats on horns and Todd
James Britton on keyboards. Lead guitarist and
Toronto-native Jay ‘High Plains Drifter’ Cleary is
an alumni of St. Francis Xavier University, where
he studied jazz and co-founded his first
funk-fusion group before bringing his talents to
this collaboration.
Dione Taylor
Rhythm Express
Music has always been a part of Gemini award nominated Dion
Taylor’s life. Growing up in Saskatchewan, Taylor began playing
the organ at age four alongside her musical family, all of whom
performed at their local church. By age 10, she was the resident
musical director and organist with the Shiloh Assembly Church in
Regina. Taylor began her professional career with a bang after her
debut album, Open Your Eyes was nominated for a JUNO. She has
performed her unique style of “Prairie Blues” for esteemed guests
including former U.S. president George W. Bush and Queen
Elizabeth II. Taylor was nominated for a Gemini award for her
rendition of Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom” as well as being
the recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.
Taylor’s latest EP Born Free finds her returning to her roots. The
album is reminiscent of the songs and sounds she recalls of her
youth growing up in the Canadian Midwest.
With multi-talented musician and journalist/broadcaster Bill King on
keyboards, Rhythm Express was formed with the vision of fusing ska,
funk, reggae and soul music into one mellifluous sound. A major player
on the Canadian jazz scene, King has earned three JUNO award
nominations and has worked with a host of legendary artists over the
years, including Janis Joplin, Martha Reeves and The Pointer Sisters. In
addition to King, the band is composed of many noteworthy musicians;
the horn section includes Chris Butcher of the Heavyweights Brass
Band, Bobby Hsu and Cuban percussionist Jorge Luis Torres. Perfectly
complementing the other members are guitarist Shane Forrest, bassist
Jesse ‘Dubmatix’ King and percussionist Jamaicans Paul. Coupled with
an impressive roster of vocalists – Gavin Hope, Selena Evangeline,
Ammoye Evans, Aria Zenua and Michael Dunston – RE flawlessly delivers
an infectious groove with every performance.
28 2016 Beaches International Jazz Festival