Melissa Stylianou in an undated (& tres kewl) photograph from QMI Agency files
The Rex is a great jazz club — maybe the great jazz club with so many gone — in Toronto & JBNBlog is delighted to pass along news about gigs at the Queen St. W. venue with former #ldnont players on the bill.
On Wednesday & Thursday this week (Oct. 17-18), drummer Richard Brisco & flutist Jeremy Price are with the amazing harmonica/vibes player Hendrik Meurkens.
Ace singer Melissa Stylianou of NYC is at the Rex on Nov. 17, and then in Waterloo, but no London date. Sigh.
Here are some details via Richard, who was once a part of the swinging Orchard Park (more musicians per capita than anywhere else in London) scene) & booked many fine acts at the old Boomerz club. Jeremy is a friend & flute ace & championed Orchestra London’s players back in the day.
Hendrik Meurkens &
The Toronto Sambajazz Connection
Hendrik Meurkens – harmonica, vibes
Jeremy Price – flute
Attila Fias – piano
Paco Luviano – bass
Richard Brisco -drums
Melissa played Sunfest
The Toronto-born singer’s family moved to London in the 1980s. She was here long enough to be a Shark in an Oakridge production of West Side Story, when the school’s drama program was helmed by Art Fidler.
She played Sunfest in 2008, when (if memory serves) former Oakridge schoolmate & ace bassist/composer/etc. Andrew Downing was in her band. They knew each other at Oakridge & met again when she was leading a group at the Rex.
Here is Melissa with some professional & personal news. Yay.
| Hello,
My favorite season is upon us and I’m happily digging out my fall clothes – and equally happy to find that some of them don’t fit anymore! I have some big news off the top here: I’m pregnant!
Jamie and I are expecting our first child in late February and are both super excited. We’re keeping busy in the coming months with touring, so I hope to see you!
Montreal, Kingston, Waterloo and Toronto shows
I’ve just finalized our mini-tour for November 15 - 19, so pass along this info to your friends in these towns! I’m bringing the NY band up to play music from Silent Movie as well as new compositions and arrangements: Jamie Reynolds - piano, Pete McCann - guitar, Gary Wang - bass, Greg Ritchie- drums |
Nov. 17 at the Jazz Room in Waterloo, ON
Nov. 18 at The Rex in Toronto, ON
Categories: General
London
Hi there James.. Thank you for the kind words of late.. I am back to Vancouver tomorrow
and wanted to drop this little note of thanks your way… Maybe we’ll see you at Sunfest
next year? JP