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| Joe Coughlin to make three Toronto appearances Award-winning jazz singer Joe Coughlin is coming to Toronto for three special performances in the week leading up to the 2008 National Jazz Awards, where he is nominated as Male Vocalist of the Year. The National Jazz Awards are presented annually to recognize contributions to jazz excellence in Canada. Winners will be announced at the NJA awards gala on the evening of April 8, 2008. Music has been a part of Joe's life since he was nine years old when he started singing in choirs and studying percussion. He played drums for a string of garage bands until he reached his mid-teens when he sold his drums to buy a microphone and pursue his dream of becoming a lead vocalist. After finishing high school, Joe toured Ontario with a heavy metal band, which played music inspired by such legendary bands as Deep Purple and Uriah Heep. Although he sang in rock bands, Joe's true love was jazz. Consequently, he began to study with Tom Borshuk, the pianist with renowned Detroit jazz flautist Alexander Zonjic's quartet. He went on to win CBC's "Search for the Stars" in 1979 and signed his first recording contract in 1980, subsequently releasing two albums over the next three years. Joe then took a hiatus from jazz to host two national television shows on disability issues and release three top ten adult contemporary singles, following which he moved to British Columbia and began the second stage of his jazz evolution. He has not looked back. In 1995, Joe released his third CD, which featured a guest appearance by Lorne Lofsky, the legendary guitarist who played with Oscar Petersen. His fourth album, "Simple Pleasures", was released in 1999 and earned Joe the 2000 Jazz Report Award (now known as the National Jazz Award) for Male Vocalist of the Year. In late 2007, Joe released his fifth album, "Things Turn Out That Way", a deftly chosen mix of revitalized classics and brand new standards. His stellar vocal performance earned him a nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year in the 2008 National Jazz Awards. The winner will be announced on the evening of April 8, 2008 at Toronto's Palais Royale. On Monday, March 31, 2008 at 9pm, Joe will perform at the Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar with the John Macleod Orchestra. The Rex is located at 194 Queen Street West (at University). On Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 8:30pm, Joe will join the Steve Kendry Quartet as a special guest at Trane Studio, which is located at 964 Bathurst Street (at Dupont). On Friday, April 4, 2008 at 8pm, Joe will perform with the Mark Eisenman Quintet featuring Pat Labarbera and John Macleod at the Academy of Spherical Arts, which is located at 1 Snooker Street (Formerly 38 Hanna Avenue). Joe Coughlin is a celebrated jazz singer whose accomplishments include a Jazz Report Award (now known as the National Jazz Award) for Male Vocalist of the Year in 2000. Joe has released five albums, including his latest recording "Things Turn Out That Way", which led to a 2008 NJA nomination for "Male Vocalist of the Year". write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |