Lurrie Bell

Born December 13, 1958, Lurrie Bell was raised in a Chicago household naturally steeped in the blues. All manner of blues greats would regularly drop by to rehearse with his father, legendary harmonica master Carey Bell. Guitarists including Eddie Taylor, Eddie C. Campbell, Jimmy Dawkins, and Eddy Clearwater (Bell’s cousin). Harmonica legends like Big Walter Horton and equally storied keyboardists including Sunnyland Slim and Muddy Waters sideman Lovie Lee, whom Bell came to regard as his “spiritual grandfather.” So it was that at a surprisingly young age, Bell taught himself guitar and began playing along during rehearsals. At 15, he formed his first band. In 1977, Bell was a founding member of the Sons of Blues with fellow Chicago blues scions Freddie Dixon (son of Willie) and Billy Branch. Bell also made his first appearance in the recording studio that year with his father on Carey Bell’s Delmark album “Heartaches and Pains.” At 20, Bell joined the band of Chicago’s acknowledged Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor, and stayed for several years honing his chops and learning the ropes of being a traveling musician. The firebrand Chicago blues guitarslinger whom the Boston Phoenix declared “the most talented blues guitarist of his generation”, spent much of the ’80s and ’90s off the road, struggling with a health problems. Lurrie’s 2007 critically-acclaimed release “Let’s Talk About Love” (2007), signaled Lurrie’s triumphant return. Lurrie Bell has contributed to over 50 albums including numerous solo efforts, duets with father Carey, and an extensive list of guest appearances. Since the onset of the new millennium, Lurrie Bell is back and better than ever.

Elizabeth Shepherd

Elizabeth Shepherd pushes the boundaries of what is considered conventional jazz, all the while creating a sound completely her own. From London to Tokyo, Elizabeth has captivated audiences and critics on both sides of the pond. Her Juno nominated debut album, “Start To Move” continues to receive critical acclaim and was voted the Top three Jazz Albums of the Year by the listeners of the Gilles Peterson show on BBC Radio 1 UK in 2006.

Raised by ministers of the Salvation Army, an early exposure to the brass band sounds mixed with her love for classical and house music, disco and hip hop, lay the foundations for one soulful musician. Trained extensively in conservatories from across Canada to France, Elizabeth completed a degree in jazz piano from McGill University, Montreal. Initially entering the music program to pursue a career in music therapy she quickly discovered her extensive talent in songwriting and performing. She returned to Toronto in 2004 and worked as a server at a piano bar. Her serving job proved an asset to her musical career. Once management realized Elizabeth’s talent, she quickly became the restaurant’s key entertainer. Organically and innocently enough, the Elizabeth Shepherd Trio was formed with Scott Kemp on bass, Colin Kingsmore on drums and Elizabeth Shepherd on piano and vocals.

The Elizabeth Shepherd Trio became a staple group in Toronto’s soul jazz scene, performing all over town in jazz and other concert venues alike. Upon joining forces with Do Right! label owner John Kong, the Trio was invited into the studio to record a demo. But what was supposed to be a demo turned into a jam session resulting in the album “Start To Move”. The following few years established the EST locally and saw them gain recognition internationally, performing on BBC Radio 1, sold out shows at London’s Jazz Cafe, and a week long residency at the prestigious Cotton Club in Tokyo, Japan the summer of 2007.

Her follow-up full-length album “Parkdale” is an older, wiser Shepherd teamed with her ever youthful, graceful soul. The mood of “Parkdale” tracks the emotional whirlwind of human experience. The album explores what everyone fears the most: total openness, divulging your innermost humanity. “Parkdale,” the title track, explores the nuances of brokeness within the community. The album leads the listener through it all with stories of personnral growth alongside the evolution of a neighbourhood in transition. “I’ve always found strange the massive discrepancy between the highly emotional events that shape our personal lives, that we generally don’t share, and the completely mundane events that insidiously make their way into conversation.

As far as being a “jazz performer”, Elizabeth does not count herself as one to be defined by a particular genre. Her music comes straight from the soul, and is more than just what she does, but what she loves and who she is.

Don Ross

Don (Donald James) Ross. Guitarist, composer, b Montreal, of Scottish-Micmac parents, 19 Nov 1960; BFA (York) 1983. Self-taught as a guitarist in the folk-based fingerpicking style, and a pupil of David Mott, James Tenney, and Phil Werren in composition at York University, Ross began his professional career in 1986 with the release of a cassette recording, Kehewin. His victory in 1988 at the National Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas, brought him to the attention of Duke Street Records and by 1990 he had made two albums (CD and cassette), Bearing Straight (DSR-31054) and Don Ross (DSR-31065), of virtuoso solo pieces in folk and New Age styles.

In addition to his solo appearances across Canada in clubs and at folk festivals, he performed with the soprano Kelly McGowan (his wife, d 2001), first in 1986-7 as a duo and then, with the violinist Oliver Schroer added, as the Harbord Trio (heard on the cassettes In from the Cold from 1987 and Harbord Trio from 1990). Ross was also a member in 1987-9 of the New Age/jazz quartet Eye Music, which released the cassette Shorelines in 1987 and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1988. He composed music for several Toronto theatre productions concerned with native life in Canada including The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (York University, 1989), Dreaming Beauty (Inner Stage Theatre, 1990), and Big Buck City (Cahoots Theatre, 1991). He also composed music for the radio series Dead Dog Café.

Ross recorded several more albums, predominantly instrumental but with occasional songs in English and in French, and can also be heard on the First Nations compilation Children of the World (PPFC-2023, Group Concept Music). His album Huron Street reached the top ten on Billboard's new age chart. Ross also toured and recorded with the guitar ensemble Men of Steel.

Ross’s guitar transcriptions were published in The Answer Book (New Media Video Concepts, 1993). He made various instructional videos for guitarists, and contributed to Canadian Musician magazine. With McGowan, Ross received a songwriter award from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. In 1996, he repeated his earlier win at the US National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, the first contestant to have done so. Ross counted Bruce Cockburn among those who influenced his playing.

Ray Legere

Ray Legere is the 2003 ECMA (East Coast Music Award) Winner for “Bluegrass Artist Of The Year” which he also won in 1996. The Amherst, Nova Scotia native is becoming known as one of Canada’s premiere fiddle/mandolin players. Ray is a five-time winner of the Eastern Division Bluegrass Awards in the categories of Mandolin and Fiddle. “Player of the Year”, honors which have distinguished him with a “Masters Award” for each. The first year of the awards he captured a total of three, including guitar and was recently awarded the Masters for “Best Fiddle Player” in the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards.

Ray, although not wanting to be a contest player, was selected winner of the 1983 Open Mandolin Championship in Woodstock Ontario; winner of the 1986 Open Mandolin Championship in Winfield, Kansas; and winner of the 1989 Old Time Fiddle Championship in Sackville, New Brunswick. He scored among the top ten in Nashville's Grand Masters Fiddle Championship in 1990 and in Napean, Ontario's 1990 and 1991 Grand Masters Fiddle Championships.

Ray has received many accolades, the most notable playing a concert filling the shoes of an ailing Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass Music in 1982. His love for Bluegrass has found him playing alongside his heroes; David Grisman, Sam Bush, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Tony Trischka, Doc Watson, Bela Fleck, and is well respected amongst them.

Ray’s talents continue to be recognized and sought after. He has been seen side-manning the likes of Roch Voisine, the Band, the Rankins, Rita McNeil, the Barra MacNeils and Chris Cummings and has toured with Tony Rice and with Michelle Shocked throughout Australia, Canada, and the USA; and with Alison Brown in California and western Canada.

As a performer of many styles, playing great stages like the Grand Ol’ Opry and Carnegie Hall, Ray currently performs on his own as well as with John McDermott, Eamonn Dillon, Cape Bretons Brakin’ Tradition, Rita MacNeil, Mike O’Reilly/ Dick Smith Band, The Canadian Grass Unit (with Pickin’ Partner Frank Doody) and “Bowfire” (a new and exciting theatre show featuring 10 virtuoso violinists).

Knowing Ray’s credits and television experience, CBC asked him to be musical director for a Country music television series called “Fiddlehead Country” and is now the house fiddler for the french music show “Pour L’Amour De Country”. Because of his busy schedule, not allowing time to give lessons to the many who ask, Ray has been trancribing his solos to be printed in tablature and music notation. When time permits, a video of the solos broken down will also be available so one can learn the musical ideas Ray’s picked up over the past 25 years.

Ray has recorded in hundreds of sessions and presently has five solo projects of his own. “I am proud and thankful to be making music my profession and I hope that in striving to be the best I can be, you will enjoy my music for years to come. Thank you.”

Andy & Ariana (t@b)

Andy & Ariana, (formerly known as t@b), could be called a folk music duet. They play original, acoustic music with guitar, fiddle and two voices. But that’s the tip of the iceberg. As a pair, Ariana Nasr and Andy Flinn project the exuberant energy of a Caribbean septet. While Ariana sings jazzy melodies and plays reggae fiddle, Andy beat-boxes a vocalized bass line, plays guitar, and operates parts of a drum kit with his heels. There’s nothing like them.

In an A&A performance, you’ll hear skat and saxophone. There will be root elements from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. This couple is completely and utterly unfaithful to any particular style of music. They shamelessly borrow inspiration from anywhere. Check ’em out!

In November 2009 Andy & Ariana (t@b) released their CD “Look at them Apples” which includes t@b originals "Water", "Got to Tell Me Now" and "Heaven" as well as songs written by friends and family. To date, t@b has released 6 CDs and an "extremely entertaining" live concert DVD. They plan to tour from the Canadian East Coast to Ontario in Summer of 2010, check the website for details. t@b music videos including songs from the latest CD can be viewed online at the website tabmusic.ca