Featured Vocalists

Women's Blues Revue 2005 - Featured Vocalists

[The WBR Band] [About This Event] [Ticket Information] [Past Participants]

Lee Aaron

"Lee Aaron has pulled off one of the biggest musical transformations. .. while many may find it hard to believe Aaron could tread so confidently in so many jazzy sub genres, the fact is she did." THE GLOBE AND MAIL

After 9 albums, gold and platinum sales, 8 Juno nominations and numerous world tours, Lee Aaron surprised the music world with the release of her 10th album, Slick Chick. Met with critical raves, the disc features Aaron's sultry voice and trademark sassiness in a unique collection of swing, smoky jazz and blues numbers. It was a courageous musical leap from her arena pop-rock days of the 80's and 90's.

Recent years have brought standing ovations for Aaron at both the Toronto and Ottawa Jazz Festivals, as well as two videos receiving rotation on Much More Music and charting in the BRAVO Countdown Top 10.

Aaron's Slick Chick was released throughout Europe and the UK on the Mwic Avenue label. We are excited to have Lee Aaron back to Women's Blues Revue.

Salome Bey

Salome Bey is the first African Canadian to make an impact on me during my childhood in Goderich, Ontario. I remember seeing her perform powerful excerpts on CBC-TV from the Dora Mavor Moore Award winning play Indigo. I remember her as an emotive, sincere singer. Many years later, I met Bey after a phenomenal Toronto performance of her fantastic play Madame Gertrude. One of the things that struck me then was her commitment to young people. Today Bey continues her commitment to youth by involving them in her work. She continues to share the wonderful gifts of her creativity with Canadians and audiences worldwide.

Her recordings include Salome Bey (1970), Songs from Dude (1972), Jazz Canada Europe '79 (made during her tour of the Bracknell, Northsea and Montreux jazz festivals), Christmas Blue (1994), and I like Your Company (1997). Often performing with her gifted daughters Tuku and Saidah, Bey has also recorded with other artists including her brother Andy Bey, Orin Isaacs, Washington Savage, jazz pianist Horace Silver, the Montreal Jubilation Choir, among others.

A consummate performer, Bey has consistently transcended narrow descriptions of her creativity in music, theatre, television, or literature. Yet she continues today as a reigning monarch of the Blues in the fine tradition of Ma Rainey, Jodie Drake, Alberta Hunter and many more. "There's so many people that are the first lady of the Blues. I don't think I'm old enough yet. But even if I was 80 there are still so many ladies of the Blues that just to be included in that group is nice."

Bey demonstrated her gift for performance early by winning a talent contest at the Apollo, which she entered without her parents consent at age 14. Her father however wasn't as excited about her success as the young Bey prodigy and didn't allow her to receive her prize, a week of performance at the famous Apollo Theatre. Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Bey gave up law school several years later to dedicate her life to performance and writing. She performed in local clubs with Andy and the Bey Sisters, the vocal group she formed with her brother Andy and sister Geraldine. They were popular, touring North America and Europe, even drawing attention from the legendary Sam Cooke.

Upon arriving in Toronto in 1964, Bey quickly became a bright light in the local jazz circuit, making her theatre debut at the Global Village in Blue S. A. and Justine. In the early 70's Bey won the prestigious OBIE Award as Best Actress for her Earth Mother role in the New York version of Justine which was called Love Me, Love My Children. A favourite at Jazz festivals worldwide Bey continues to dazzle audiences on stage and screen. She has made numerous recordings and has been a frequent guest for many TV specials, countless concerts and festivals around the world. A Grammy Award nominee, Bey has won many awards over the years including the 1991 Toronto Arts Awards, but she continues to be motivated by the simplest inspirations. She is an artist inspired by the beauty, trials, and the struggles of life.

Bey is long overdue for a renaissance of interest in her music and her theatrical productions. Whether performing originals or standards in Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Pop or Blues music, Bey enriches our lives with the special interpretation that is her own.

- Marva Jackson Lord

Suzie McNeil

Suzie recently made it to the last round of contestants in the insanely popular RockStar INXS reality TV series. She was the last female left and one of the final four.

A native of Toronto, Suzie McNeil was born into a musical family. She was practically raised singing with her mother and sister, learning to collaborate from a very early age.

From that foundation, Suzie evolved into a versatile, powerful artist, who combines a magnetic stage presence with vocal and multi-instrumental (piano, guitar, harmonica) proficiency. It's no wonder Suzie has already achieved that rarest of goals -- working full-time as a professional musician -- for the last five years.

Keeping Toronto as her home base, Suzie has compiled impressive record of musical accomplishments. These range from live gigs with some of Canada's top acts (Alan Frew, Garth Hudson, Ronnie Hawkins) to lucrative commercial jingles to an ongoing starring role as Agnetha in the musical tribute show "Abba Mania," which she has performed in front of crowds of up to 15,000 people.

But Suzie hasn't lost her attraction to original material. She continues to perform under the name Jackrabbit (her rock/soul alter ego), and has collaborated on several projects with fellow Canadian's Sean Cotton and songwriter/drummer, Alison Maclean.

Roxanne Potvin

Twenty-three year old Roxanne Potvin first appeared on the Ottawa blues scene co-fronting the band Fine Fat Daddy with harmonica player Frank Scanga in the summer of 2001. With traditional blues guitar chops and jazz infused vocals, Roxanne has since earned recognition from musicians and blues fans alike, establishing herself as one of the most promising talents carrying on the blues tradition.

With influences ranging from Texas Rock 'n’ Roll to West Coast Jump, fifties
R & B and traditional Chicago blues, she finds inspiration in artists such as Ruth Brown, Dinah Washington, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Freddy King and Jimmy Reed.

Roxanne made her recording debut in January of 2002 when she sang an original tune on Bogart’s Bounce, a NorthernBlues release by Ottawa’s JW-Jones Blues Band. Veteran blues giants Kim Wilson and Gene Taylor of the Fabulous Thunderbirds also appear on the album. Fall of 2003 brought the release of miss Potvin’s much anticipated first album, Careless Loving. The album features six original songs and four covers by Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, Etta James and Buddy Johnson.

In 2004, she was honoured with her first Maple Blues Award nomination in the Best New Artist category.

Over the past three years, Roxanne has appeared on stage with notable artists such as Kim Wilson, Little Charlie Baty, Kid Ramos, Alberta Adams, Junior Watson, Mark Hummel, Johnny Sansone, Sue Foley, Tony D. and Dawn Tyler Watson with Les Grandes Dames du Blues. She has performed at major festivals in Canada, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Ottawa Cisco Systems BluesFest.

Shakura S'Aida

Maple blues nominated diva Shakura S'Aida has been professionally involved with the Toronto music community for over 20 years. Drawing on her strong roots in gospel music, Shakura was the lead singer of the popular 13-piece world music ensemble Juno nominated Kaleefah, before breaking out on her own solo career.
Her transition to blues, richly laden with jazz and R&B influences, was an easy one for this dynamic performer. Shakura’s sultry voice has won her many prized opportunities ranging spotlights at the famed Apollo Theatre in New York, to featured performances with jazz legends like Jimmy Smith and Ruth Brown. This songstress has recorded “Rhythm and Soul” with Bill King and the Saturday Night Fish Fry, as well as her own live solo CD, “Out There and Lovin’ It, and is in the process of completing a new blues album.

Recently nominated as Canada’s best female R& B vocalist in 2005 by Real Blues Magazine, Shakura can currently be seen performing her unique brand of blues, jazz and soul in a variety of Toronto top venues, including the spectacular Carlu Event Theatre.

Dione Taylor

Music has always been part of Miss Taylor's life. Hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan, Miss Taylor began playing the organ at the age of four. By ten, Dione Taylor had assumed the role of music director and organist at The Shiloh Assembly Church (Apostolic), where she began developing her singing voice. Shortly thereafter, at age twelve, Miss Taylor began vocal and piano lessons at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Taylor received two Voice Scholarships upon high school graduation. She decided upon the University of Regina, where she majored in Voice (Classical and Opera). At the same time, Miss Taylor was performing in local jazz clubs and festivals, drawing inspiration from Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson and Johnny Hartman.

Having made the decision to pursue a jazz career, Miss Taylor moved to Toronto in 1996. She attended the world-renowned Humber College Of Applied Arts and Technology where she received the Thomas Kehoe Memorial Award for her outstanding vocal performance style. Most notably, Miss Taylor was selected to be one of six jazz musicians from around the world to participate in "Jazz and the New Generation," a program sponsored by The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Led by jazz legend Dr. Billy Taylor, Dione and ensemble performed a concert on the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center that was broadcast live over the Internet. Miss Taylor graduated with honors from Humber College in 2003, and began immediately working around Toronto with her quartet.

On May 31st 2004 Soular Productions proudly released Dione Taylor's debut CD "Open Your Eyes"(Matay Records) to a packed house at Toronto's notable jazz club, the Montreal Bistro. Merely two weeks after releasing her debut CD, Canada's own Dione Taylor was invited by Dr. Billy Taylor- no relation- (Jazz Piano Legend, National Endowment of the Arts, Artistic Director of Jazz at The Kennedy Center) to perform with him and his trio for a celebration commemorating June as Black Music Month in the United States. The ceremony was held at The White House in Washington D.C. before an appreciative crowd of dignitaries including the President of the United States and the First Lady.

"As a black Canadian female artist I consider it an honor and a privilege to have been invited by Dr. Billy Taylor to commemorate and acknowledge black music's contribution to the world."
- Dione Taylor

In October of 2004 Dione Taylor 's debut album "Open Your Eyes" was nominated for an award by the Urban Music Association of Canada (UMAC) for jazz recording of the year. The 6th Annual Canadian Urban Music Awards (CUMAs), the flagship event on Canada's urban music calendar, was nationally broadcast on CBC Television. Representing the jazz category, Dione Taylor and her trio performed a selection from her debut CD "Open Your Eyes" at the awards show.

February 7, 2005 The Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CTV announced the nominations for the 34th annual JUNO Awards, Canada's Music Awards. Among the nominees are the key players in Canada's music industry including artists, producers and music industry professionals. Dione Taylor's debut recording "Open Your Eyes" from Matay Records/Festival received industry acknowledgement with a nomination for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year!

Dione Taylor's debut album "Open Your Eyes" is on regular rotation on radio stations across Canada, United States, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Israel, Finland, Scotland, Denmark, Japan, Argentina and Russia. Dione Taylor is most definitely a rising star in the jazz world!

Miss Taylor is presently touring Canada, the United States and the jazz festival circuit (Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Oakville Jazz Festival, Hillebrand Jazz Festival, etc.) in support of her debut CD. Miss Taylor is also a regular in the Canadian recording studios, having done work for the CBC, DreamWorks and a variety of international talent.

home