Emerging Jazz Artist Award Finalists Announced
Toronto Arts Foundation announced three outstanding musicians and composers as finalists for the Emerging Jazz Artist Award. The winner will be announced on December 2, 2014, at the Spoke Club.
TORONTO, November 14, 2014 – Toronto Arts Foundation announced three outstanding musicians and composers as finalists for the Emerging Jazz Artist Award. The winner will be announced on December 2, 2014, at the Spoke Club.
The Emerging Jazz Artist Award is intended to further the career of an outstanding musician and support the pre-production, production and/or recording of original music composed by the recipient. The Emerging Jazz Artist Award was established this year, through the generous donation of Cheryl and Manuel Buchwald, and will be given out annually for at least 10 years.
"Few awards recognize jazz and Toronto is blessed with many talented young musicians worthy of support" said Cheryl and Manuel Buchwald.
The award jury included celebrated jazz artists and leaders, Jane Bunnett, Joe Sealy and Josh Grossman.
The 2014 Finalists are:
Cuban-Canadian trumpeter Alexis Baro is a three-time nominee for the Canadian National Jazz Award and co-Juno winner. Alexis Baro has performed or recorded with musicians including Paul Shaffer, Hilario Duran, Omara Portunondo, Paquito D’Rivera, Joey DeFrancesco, Wayne Newton, Gino Vannelli and Tom Jones. His 2012 release “Blue Skin” followed up on the success of his two previous Canadian releases “From the Other Side” and “Havana Banana”. Baro opened for Herbie Hancock at the Ottawa Jazz Festival and has been featured at the Toronto, Montreal and Trinidad and Tobago International Jazz Festivals.
Drummer Ernesto Cervini is making a name for himself as a consummate bandleader and in-demand sideman. Time Out New York encapsulated Cervini as “buoyant drummer as well as a sharp composer,” while the jazz magazine, Downbeat, described his fluid style as one that ``exemplifies `float like a butterfly, string like a bee`,`` Born in Toronto in 1982, Cervini graduated from Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music with a degree in classical piano and clarinet before focusing his energies behind the drumset. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music.
Chelsea McBride is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer and bandleader based out of Toronto, Ontario. After relocating to Toronto from Vancouver to obtain her B.Mus at Humber College, McBride now leads two of her own projects: Chelsea and the Cityscape and Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School, both of which feature her original compositions and talents as a saxophonist. Her highly personal blend of modern jazz, pop-rock influences, and subtle, moody orchestrations has coalesced into a bright and fresh new sound that listeners of all stripes can enjoy.
Toronto Arts Foundation Awards are designed to heighten public awareness of arts and artists in Toronto by shining a spotlight on artistic excellence and achievement.
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About Toronto Arts Foundation
Toronto Arts Foundation is a charitable organization that provides the opportunity for individuals, private and public foundations, corporations and government agencies to invest in and strengthen the arts in Toronto. We are powered by our vision Creative City: Block by Block, a commitment to connect every Toronto neighbourhood to the transformative social and economic benefits of the arts.
Contact Information:
For more information about Toronto Arts Foundation as well as this award, please contact:
Jennifer Green, Associate Director, Toronto Arts Foundation, at jennifer@torontoarts.org or at 416 392 6802 x207.