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Jane Bunnett
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, Toronto, inspired by her first exposure to jazz great Charles Mingus and Rahsaan Roland Kirk in San Francisco. This led to studies with pianist Barry Harris, flautists James Newton, Frank Wess and James Moody; then, having heard soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy’s music, she began to focus on that instrument also. A 1991 Canada Council grant enabled her to travel to Paris to begin studies with Lacy.
Her first recording was an ambitious mix of Canadian and American players (the late pianist Don Pullen, tenor player and Ornette Coleman veteran Dewey Redman and Vincent Chancy, French horn) . This debut, In Dew Time, earned a Juno nomination in 1988. She toured Canada with Redman in 1991, and Australia with Pullen in 1992. A year later, Jane recorded New York Duets with Pullen, following it up with Live at Sweet Basil, then 1994's The Water is Wide which was chosen by The Village Voice as best record of the year.
A mid-‘80's trip to Cuba with new husband Larry Cramer turned Jane’s musical world upside down, into a passion for the island’s wildly fertile musical culture and its people. Since then, Jane has explored the music in every corner of Cuba, and has absorbed the lessons and traditions with the same devotion she has given to her other work, seeking out musicians all over the island. Her tourism has now given way to an obsession with the island’s music. “Over the years I developed relationships with some of Cuba’s legendary musicians,” she recalls. “I’ve had a great opportunity to learn the music in the streets and in the homes of these people, and that’s what fueled my vision.” Many of these musicians have played in her exciting group, The Spirits of Havana.
In 1991 she recorded Spirits of Havana, with a group of relatively unknown musicians (outside of Cuba) plus Cramer and Canadian bassist Kieran Overs, setting a trend to follow on subsequent recordings. This record was picked by the All-Music Guide as one of the top 300 jazz discs of all time and also captured a JUNO award. This was followed by the innovative Rendezvous Brazil- Cuba which featured the melding of Brazilian, Cuban and North American jazz music and musicians. In 1997 Jane completed Chamalongo. “Where Spirits of Havana was our initiation into this rich musical heritage,” Jane says, “it’s with Chamalongo that we’ve realized our musical dream to incorporate the total roots of Afro-Cuban music. All of my past musical experiences led me to Chamalongo..." I know it was the most passionate and powerfully-felt record of my career.”
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Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
by Mary Foster Conklin
This week we feature new releases from flutist Haruna Fukazawa, vocalists Svetlana, Emma Frank and Jazzmeia Horn, soprano saxophonist and flutist Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, plus a rediscovered Miles Davis recording, with birthday shout outs to Doris Tauber (composer of Them There Eyes"), Claire Martin, Tom Wopat, Alyssa Allgood and Lorraine Feather, among others. Playlist The DIVA Jazz Orchestra East Coast Andy" from The Diva Jazz Orchestra 25th Anniversary Project (ArtistShare) 00:00 Tom Wopat I Won't Dance" from ...
read moreJane Bunnett & Maqueque: Oddara
by James Nadal
There has been a constant stimulating fascination associated with Cuba that has attracted numerous jazz musicians to delve deeper into its musical traditions. Also, judging by the amount of recent recordings by Cuban artists, and those who feature them in collaborative efforts, the island sustains its status as a vital source of inspiration on the global jazz scene. Cuba captivated saxophonist/flautist Jane Bunnett many years ago, eventually leading her to form the all-female group Maqueque in 2013, culminating in a ...
read moreJane Bunnett and Maqueque: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque
by Maurizio Zerbo
Forse stanca della trascurabile attenzione riservatale fin qui dai mass media, l'ottima jazzista canadese avrà pensato di annacquare la sua rigorosa progettualità. Scelta legittima ma discutibile, che dà luogo ad un percorso duplice ed ambivalente, dai differenti esiti artistici. Questa volta, le ormai consuete influenze afrocubane, che la Bunnett ha affrontato con migliori esiti per tre decenni), si mescolano in diversi episodi con un tocco leggero di asfittica, innocua fusion. Anche sul piano timbrico le scelte ...
read moreJane Bunnett & Hilario Duran: Cuban Rhapsody
by Edward Blanco
Torontonian flautist/saxophonist Jane Bunnett joins forces with Cuban-born, Toronto-based pianist Hilario Duran for a special duet recording, exploring the Cuban equivalent of The Great American Songbook on Cuban Rhapsody. Containing a full range of Cuban music, from Ignacio Cervantes to Jose Maria Vitier, the classically trained duo breathes new life into much of this classical-rooted music. At the same time, it would be a mistake to categorize this as a strictly classical album, for it does contain certain elements of ...
read moreJane Bunnett: Embracing Voices
by Raul d'Gama Rose
Saxophonist/flautist Jane Bunnett's Embracing Voices honors the human voice with unbridled intensity and features brave rhythmic, melodic and harmonic explorations. The record features fourteen instruments that swathe the heavenly choiristics of Grupo Vocal Desandann, the legendary ten-person a capella ensemble that celebrates a Haitian legacy. The choral group employs dense harmonies, intricately woven into call-and-response segues and contrapuntal structures that makes Desandann one of the most distinctive 10-voice choirs in music. Stately basses grind con arco together with the trill ...
read moreJane Bunnett: Embracing Voices
by Tomas Pena
Jane Bunnett, the Toronto soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader and her husband, trumpeter Larry Cramer have built their careers at the crossroads between Cuban music and jazz. Twice nominated for Grammy Awards and a fixture at the nominations for Canada's Juno Awards, their bands are virtual showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the United States and Cuba.Bunnett has long held an ongoing love affair with the human voice. Embracing Voices (Blue Note, 2008)--one of her most ...
read moreJane Bunnett: Embracing Voices
by Raul d'Gama Rose
Jane Bunnett Embracing Voices EMI Canada/Blue Note 2008
Jane Bunnett is never afraid to push the envelope. She did so with her 1988 album, In Dew Time, the now out-of-print vinyl that was produced privately by the Toronto imprint, Dark Light, on which producer, husband and trumpet/flugelhorn player Larry Cramer scooped both keyboard player Don Pullen and saxophonist Dewey Redman. Then followed an extraordinary slew of records, from those featuring Pullen--New York ...
read moreJazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!
Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
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Multiple Juno Award Winner Jane Bunnett Featuring Maqueque To Release "Oddara" On October 14 - Touring!
Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
MULTIPLE JUNO AWARD WINNER JANE BUNNETT FEATURING MAQUEQUE TO RELEASE ODDARA" ON OCTOBER 14 New North American Dates Added! EXTRAORDINARY ALL-FEMALE CUBAN SEXTET TWO TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA LISTEN TO AND SHARE THE FIRST SINGLE DREAM VIA YOUTUBE OR SOUNDCLOUD PRE-ORDER ODDARA VIA ITUNES, AMAZON OR LINUS LABEL STORE Jane Bunnett and Maqueque... utterly shatters the glass ceiling of Afro Cuban Jazz"—Boston Globe If they are ...
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Multiple Juno Award Winner Jane Bunnett Featuring Maqueque To Release "Oddara" On October 14
Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
MULTIPLE JUNO AWARD WINNER JANE BUNNETT FEATURING MAQUEQUE TO RELEASE ODDARA" ON OCTOBER 14 EXTRAORDINARY ALL-FEMALE CUBAN SEXTET TWO TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA LISTEN TO AND SHARE THE FIRST SINGLE DREAM VIA YOUTUBE OR SOUNDCLOUD PRE-ORDER ODDARA VIA ITUNES, AMAZON OR LINUS LABEL STORE Jane Bunnett and Maqueque... utterly shatters the glass ceiling of Afro Cuban Jazz"—Boston Globe If they are coming anywhere near your town, go see them!"—Jon Garelick, Giant Steps Four-time JUNO ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today! Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...
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Rob Ames
saxophone, sopranoPhotos
Music
Dream
From: OddaraBy Jane Bunnett