Saturday February 15, 2020 • 7:30PM

This trio (Dave Young/bass, Kevin Turcotte/trumpet, Reg Schwager/guitar) has performed some mighty exciting musical performances on previous visits to The LOFT in Cobourg.

This Valentine Weekend 2020 concert at the intimate LOFT will recreate an album produced by Roberto Occhipinti and released 31 October 2019 - Trouble in Mind.

The repertoire includes a variety of music ranging from Blues to impressionistic compositions from Denmark, wrapped up with several other mainstream jazz compositions and featuring improvisational flights that are the hallmark of this excellent trio.

Advance Tickets $30 + sc. $35 at the door.

Ken Prue & Les AMIS present

Maria Soulis & Canadian Sinfonietta

Sunday, February 23 at 3 PM - Concert Hall at Victoria Hall

Toronto-born mezzo-soprano Maria Soulis enjoys an exciting career in both Canada and Europe. She began her European career as a principal artist with the Regensburg Opera in Germany, later performing the roles of Carmen, Rosina, Orfeo, Dido, Olga and Nicklausse in theatres throughout Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. As a concert singer in Europe, Maria has performed Mozart's Requiem, Gustav Mahler's Rückert Lieder, Das Lied von der Erde, Symphony No. 8 and Kindertotenlieder. In Canada, she has sung repertoire ranging from Bach's Weihnachts-Oratorium and Handel's Messiah, to Dvorak's Requiem, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Elgar’s Sea Pictures.

In her performance at Cobourg's beautiful Concert Hall, Maria will perform a mixed program with acclaimed chamber orchestra Canadian Sinfonietta, under the direction of Tak Ng Lai. A highlight of the program will be Michael Pepa's moving composition - 'Liliane for Mezzo & Orchestra (2011)'.'Liliane' is inspired by the true story of Liliane Gernstein, an 11 year-old girl, one of 44 Jewish children, who were rounded up in Izieu, France in 1944 and sent to the gas chambers of Auschwitz by Nazi Klaus Barbie (the 'Butcher of Lyon'). Maestro Pepa was inspired by a written account of a 1961 war crimes trial (The State of France v. Klaus Barbie) in which a poem (A Letter to God) by Liliane Gernstein was part of the evidence submitted against Barbie. 

The program:

Maria Soulis, Mezzo-soprano; Canadian Sinfonietta – Tak-Ng Lai, Conductor

Mikis Theodorakis: Greek Songs
Michael Pepa: Liliane for Mezzo & Orchestra (2011)
Bizet: "Habanera" from Carmen for Mezzo-soprano and Orchestra
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major, OP. 21

Tickets: $39 + tax and sc Victoria Hall Box Office

Friday, February 28 at 7:30 PM

2020 JUNO Nominee Elizabeth Shepherd & Michael Occhipinti Singer/pianist/composer Elizabeth Shepherd and Michael Occhipinti have been featured in each other's projects for almost a decade, with Elizabeth being the vocalist and pianist for Michael Occhipinti's The Universe of John Lennon, and Michael touring as a member of Elizabeth's group promoting her albums MONtreal and The Signal.

In 2019 Michael and Elizabeth toured across Canada and in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy.

In June of 2019 the two entered the recording studio at the Banff Centre For the Arts and started recording a duo album of the songbook they've built up over years of touring as well as new original music they are composing inspired by a variety of celebrated living poets. Michael Occhipinti's guitar work has been called "miraculous" and paired with Elizabeth's unique cool and soulful delivery, the two have received a dozen nominations for Canada's Juno Award. In fact, Elizabeth Shepherd has just been nominated for a 2020 JUNO Best Vocal Jazz Album of the year for her 2019 recording 'MONtreal.'

This will be a highly memorable concert performance in the intimacy of The LOFT Jazz Room.

Tickets: $30. + sc Online at Concert Hall Box office

Sunday April 5 2020 at 3:00 PM
At the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall

The DYTP 8 is a dynamic jazz octet featuring co-leaders and multiple JUNO winners Dave Young (bass) and Terry Promane (trombone) performing original compositions and arrangements by, Terry Promane, Dave Young and Rick Wilkins.

In addition to well-crafted originals, the Octet pays tribute to the music of Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charles Mingus. The Octet has gained a strong reputation in the jazz community as a powerful ensemble featuring Canada’s most prolific improvisers - Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Mike Murley (tenor sax) Vern Dorge (alto sax), Perry White (baritone sax), Terry Clarke(drums), and Gary Williamson (piano).

Dave Young is a gifted jazz and classical player performing with the Edmonton and Winnipeg Symphonies, as well as the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. As a jazz artist, Dave's collaborations include Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry, Zoot Simms, Oliver Jones, Rob McConnell, James Moody, and Cedar Walton.

Terry Promane is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Toronto and is best known for his work with Rob McConnell, Mike Murley, John MacLeod, and Kirk MacDonald. The band's past performances include the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, The Festival of Sound (Perry Sound Ontario) Hugh’s Room, and numerous appearances at the Rex Jazz Bar.

Some major events include the CD release of The Dave Young/Terry Promane “Octet Volume One” and The Dizzy Gillespie Tribute concert at Toronto’s Koerner Hall featuring jazz legend Claudio Roditi.

This is a fun and exciting ensemble. They'll go down well with a pint or a glass of wine from the licensed bar at the Concert Hall.

Tickets: Box Office at Victoria Hall