Dawn Pemberton - Say Something (2014)

Vancouver soul dynamo Dawn Pemberton has a deep musical foundation rooted in tradition. Spending her formative years surrounded by a family of multi-instrumentalists she developed a true love of music from the very beginning. A staple of the West Coast music scene, she can be found tearing it up as a vocalist, arranger, and go-to for live performances and studio sessions.

The secret weapon of funk and soul groups all over Western Canada, she has shared the stage with the likes of Maceo Parker, Linda Tillery, John Lee Sanders, The Sojourners, John Boutte, and Dutch Robinson. Her gifts have been featured in the music of future jazz group 1Luv (Sonar Kollektiv) and the blues duo The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer.

The Spandettes - Spandex Effect (2014)

The Spandettes are a fiercely energetic disco band hailing from Toronto, Canada. Drawing inspiration from jazz-funk, soul and rock-steady, their original music combines a classic 70's disco approach with a fresh and contemporary edge. The band's leading ladies, Alex Tait (co-producer of the album), Maggie Hopkins and Lizzy Clarke lead this dynamic 10-piece outfit through musical terrain that balances sugary sweet vocal stylings, air-tight horn passages and hard hitting grooves from their stellar rhythm section.

The Cookers Quintet - Volume One (2014)

The Cookers Quintet are a Toronto-based jazz combo, with a sound firmly rooted in the ‘50s and ‘60s hard bop movement. 

The Cookers core members each bring their own unique qualities to the band’s sound. Saxophonist Ryan Oliver’s fat, full tenor tone might bring to mind heavyweight Dexter Gordon, but it’s blended with sophistication and subtlety. Oliver shares the front line with Tim Hamel, a trumpet player that can bring a hot, uptempo number to a boil and then carry a ballad with lyricism and beauty minutes later. The rock solid foundation of all this is bassist Alex Coleman, who’s clearly grounded in the Ray Brown/Paul Chambers school of keeping the bass steady and swinging. Rounding out the group is pianist Richard Whiteman, a veteran of the Toronto music scene, and Vancouver native Morgan Childs on drums.

The SoulJazz Orchestra - Inner Fire (2014)

Inner Fire, the latest from Pierre Chrétien & co. sees The Souljazz Orchestra perfecting their global music fusion, and treading some extremely funky territory while they’re at it.

Recorded using the Orchestra’s signature analogue techniques at their studio HQ  in their home city of Ottawa, the new set continues the band’s expansive musical journey as they effortlessly fuse intricate Eastern influences, Afro beats, Egyptian jazz, Latin styles and spiritual elements into their unique musical melting pot.

The secret to the band’s sound remains a true openness to global music of all kinds and the individual experiences of the Orchestra’s band members. “We all have very wide tastes, we’re always digging for new sounds, and we’ve had the chance to work with master musicians from all over, from Nigeria to Rwanda, from Cuba to Haiti, so each band member ends up bringing different vibes and ideas to each of our albums,” explains keyboardist Chrétien.

Holly Cole - Night (2012)

"The night time is the right time"… It's a musical statement the great Ray Charles and many others have made gloriously. But for singer Holly Cole, the feeling expressed in this classic blues/jazz motif is much more than just celebratory. To her, the comfort of the nighttime is central to her personal and artistic life. As is usual when it comes to this iconic Canadian songstress, this is an album that features a stylistically diverse and emotionally stirring collection of songs. Supported by musicians the singer recognizes as soul mates and companions, the album presents a fullblown reunion of the original Holly Cole Trio, featuring pianist Aaron Davis and double-bassist David Piltch. 

Henri-Pierre Noel - Piano, 1979 (reissue 2012)

On moving to Canada from his original home of Haiti, pianist and singer/songwriter Henri-Pierre Noel brought with him much of the tropical island's influences. The 'Kompa Funk' sounds of his homeland, alongside contemporary North American jazz and disco, run throughout both of Henri's albums recorded in the late 1970s; Piano and One More Step. Both were released on very limited private presses and have since become holy grails of the black music scene.

 Henri-Pierre Noel is an incredibly versatile musician who uses the piano in a very percussive and syncopated way, almost like a drum. This particular technique naturally brings disco and afro-funk elements into his unique brand of dance floor fusion.

The Souljazz Ochestra - Solidarity (2012)

Canada's hardest working super-group, The Souljazz Orchestra, are back! Since their last project together, 2010's Rising Sun, the band has been refining its sound on the road, and it shows on Solidarity which boasts a muscular, plugged-in sound that positively commands dancing. The album showcases a diverse set of influences, buoyed by the many featured vocalists, all of whom are connected to the group through the Canadian music scene, yet hail from a variety of backgrounds, from Senegal to Brazil to Jamaica and beyond. Recorded on vintage gear, the music packs a punch which is often lacking on contemporary recordings. The band will be touring internationally around the release, so look for them soon near you! (Strut Records)

The Weeknd - House of Balloons (2011)

It's THE controversy of 2011! RNB's mystery men THE WEEKND released via their website 4 free "House of Balloons" dividing the hip hop and RNB fans.

"What makes this whole thing work in an album context is that all the thematic and sonic pieces fit together-- these weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence ("Bring the drugs, baby, I can bring my pain," goes one refrain) are matched by this incredibly lush, downcast music. It's hard to think of a record since probably the xx's debut (definitely a touchstone here) that so fully embodies such a specific nocturnal quality. And even though the image of nightlife painted by the Weeknd isn't a place you'd ever want to live, it's one that's frankly very hard to stop listening to."

Joe Colly - Pitchfork

The Weeknd - House Of Balloons by The_Weeknd

Elizabeth Shepherd - Heavy Falls The Night (2010)

Heavy Falls the Night takes the listener on an unpredictable musical ride. It's hard to pick a favourite track from such an eclectic album but, depending on your taste, it could be the dancefloor ready Seven Bucks, co-produced by Japanese mixmaster DJ Mitsu The Beats (Dwele, Jose James), and inspired by an NFB documentary. Or it could be The Taking - Shepherd’s powerful tribute to the women who came before her – knocked out in Jazz 11/8 time. Or maybe it’s the supremely soulful reworking of Anne Murray's 70s soft-rock radio staple Danny's Song, one of the few secular songs that made it past the gatekeepers in Shepherd's Salvation Army childhood home.

Elizabeth's rhythmically intricate, groove-oriented tunes, sincere lyrics and distinct, soulful voice have earned her a worldwide following, and her fans will certainly not be disappointed by the explorations on this new record. Critics, hipsters and music aficionados from London to Tokyo have been spreading the word for a few years now, and will surely continue to embrace her music. But more importantly, with Heavy Falls the Night, Elizabeth Shepherd is destined to reach music lovers everywhere.

DoRightMusic

Official Elizabeth website - ES on MySpace - 'Seven Bucks' - 'High'

The Souljazz Orchestra - Rising Sun (2010)

Since their creation in 2002 in Ottawa, Canada, The Souljazz Orchestra have become one of the most potent bands in their field. Drawing on the rough, raw grooves of the ‘60s and ‘70s and effortlessly fusing soul, jazz, Afro and latin rhythms within their music, they have moved forward the blueprint of Fela, Fania and the funk in entirely new ways, whilst keeping the vital analogue grit intact. As a live unit, the Orchestra have become an in-demand fixture at venues and festivals worldwide. Drawing on a wider canvas of styles than ever before, touching on spiritual jazz, deep African rhythms and Ethiopian modes, the Orchestra take their sound to new heights with stunning musicianship and virtuoso arrangements throughout. Long-time fan Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio One) has already acclaimed this album to be their best yet. The tracks themselves flow as a sinuous whole. The Souljazz Orchestra will be touring throughout 2010, starting with North American dates in March, followed by European dates in April.

Official - MySpace page -"Agbara" on UTube

Elizabeth Shepherd Trio - Start To Move (2007)

Juno Award Nominated "Vocal Jazz Album of the Year" 2007

Voted #3 Jazz Album of the Year 2006 on Gilles Peterson's Worldwide BBC Radio 1 London

Imagine a cold winter night in Toronto, walking past a small jazz club, when you catch through the folds of your scarf the warm deep grooves of a jazz trio playing to an intimate crowd. Welcome to the scene a fresh new sound from singer/songwriter Elizabeth Shepherd.
There are times when something new comes along at once familiar and yet completely original. The album ‘Start to Move’ from the Elizabeth Shepherd Trio is just that. But what’s more she has added her own unique blend of jazz-funk, soul, blues, and samba to the fundamentals of Jazz – improvising a deep driving bass from Scott Kemp, the swinging beat of the drum from Colin Kingsmore, and Elizabeth’s playful piano and captivating voice to tie it all together. Recorded over the winter of 2005/2006, you can feel yourself with them, locked away in a small studio, protected from the cold winter night, pushing through track after track for that deep warm sound.

Elizabeth Shepherd Trio @ DoRightMusic records

Elizabeth Shepherd Trio @ MySpace

Official Site