Brenda Carol & Clairevoyance Live at Hothouse Cafe

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Brenda Carol & Clairevoyance will perform at Hothouse Cafe 2007 as Part of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival. This all ages, 4 evening event features some of Canada's finest, up-and- coming jazz artists including 17 year old, sax and flute player Rob Christian, educator and recording artist Brenda Carol, young guitarist Nathan Hiltz, Internationally renowned bassist Jack Zorawski, Toronto pianist and educator Stephen Gardner on electric piano and performing Tuesday night only, award winning flutist, Bill McBirnie.

Teenager, Rob Christian is an amazingly talented, award winning, jazz flute and sax player, who has been performing extensively in the Toronto area for over 4 years. “He demonstrates his musical talents with crisp phrasing, exquisite soloing and bouncy improvisation. Make no mistake: The teenager has chops.” [Chris Traber, Staff writer, Markham Economist & Sun]. Rob Christian has been selected to receive the Moe Koffman Memorial Scholarship from University of Toronto in 2007. He received an IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education) Scholarship in 2006, and a Rotary Jazz Award as the '2005 Up-and-Coming Jazz Musician'.

Brenda Carol has been described as, [”[o]ne of the finest jazz vocalists singing today.” [Lee Prosser, JazzReview]. Her formal vocal training began at age 17, and forming her first band in 1987 she performed and wrote folk, rock and progressive rock music while graduating from York University. Her independent, self-titled, debut, jazz CD gained her International critical acclaim. Carol's live release in 2000 with her band ClaireVoyance garnered “CD of the Week” at Jazz Review in the U.S.. Performing “Something's Coming - An Evening Of YES Music” live at HotHouse Cafe in 2005, the band showed-off their “Yes jazz” chops. Brenda Carol is listed in the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment, Volume 1, “Showbiz, Pioneers - Best Singers, Musicians, and Entertainers from 1606 to the present”, [published by the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA)]. As an educator and performer Carol continues her musical journey in her eleventh year as part of the TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival at HotHouse Cafe.

With the release of his first cd as composer and leader, Jack Zorawski is fulfilling a desire to express a musical palette that is his own. Zorawski first appeared on the Toronto jazz scene in 1986 after professional classical double bass training, a stint as a folk singer-songwriter, and as an actor-vocalist in experimental musical theatre. Since then, he has become an “in-demand” freelance bassist working locally and touring with a number of notable musicians. Jack is also a studio musician as well as having his compositions recorded by other artists.

Nathan Hiltz is a young guitar player who likes to learn and maintain solos by undisputed heavy weight champion of jazz guitar - Wes Montgomery. Hiltz is currently studying jazz guitar at York University. Nathan Hiltz has performed with local notable artists such as Kira Callahan, Laura Hubert, Bernie Senesky, Brandi Disterheft, Ryan Oliver, Larra Skye and Jake Wilkinson.

Pianist and educator Stephen Gardner has been teaching and performing for over 30 years. “...New life is brought to this music by Gardner's subtle arrangements.” [Bill Martin, associate professor of philosophy, DePaul University, Chicago author of Music of Yes and Listening to the future.] ”Solo highlights include... Gardner's piano in an atmospheric interpretation of Wayne Shorter's Nefertiti.” [David Lewis, Cadence Magazine].

Bill McBirnie is a jazz and Latin flute specialist based in Toronto. He has studied with distinguished Canadian flutist and composer, Robert Aitken, as well as Cuban charanga legend, Richard Eques. McBirnie is known for his superior technique on the entire family of flutes--from bass flute to piccolo. He is also recognized as an accomplished improviser, notably in the bebop, swing and Latin idioms as demonstrated by his recordings as a sideman with Junior Mance, Irakere, Memo Acevedo and Cache. McBirnie has produced two EXTREME FLUTE projects and, more recently, two straight-ahead, acoustic, jazz recordings under his own name entitled “Nature Boy” (featuring The Mark Eisenman Trio) and “Paco Paco” (featuring pianist, Bernie Senensky). Both of these albums have attained Top 40 spots in Jazz.FM91's and Bob Parlocha's syndicated jazz program as well as steady airplay in their spin cycles. “Great, great playing...I have never heard anyone play like this...Bill, when you read this, I have to take my hat off to you. This is great playing by any standard.” (Sir James Galway)

Brenda Carol & ClaireVoyance will be performing as part of the 2007 TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival from Sunday, June 24 through to Wednesday, June 27, 2007 inclusive. Come and join the band as they celebrate their 11th year at HotHouse Cafe. Relax at a table or hang out at the bar to enjoy fine music, food & hospitality. Known for exploring modern and contemporary jazz, this year's repertoire includes compositions by John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Cole Porter, Joni Mitchell and Gershwin. The Fabulous Wednesday night buffet is a definite must.

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