This month saw the completion of two albums worth of material by Brandon Walker for the 2019 NMA Jazz Artist Of The YEAR, The Jimmy Stahl Big Band! This included final recording, mixing, editing and mastering of 28 songs by Brandon for the prolific Hamilton Niagara Big Band. Look for release of the albums sometime this year.
Here’s a sneak peek of a track from each coming album: one featuring the fabulous Genevieve-Renee Bisson, the other with crooner Michael Vanheval.
The 28 songs were recorded in the summer of 2019 at the renowned Jukasa Recording Studios by the three-time Juno award associated engineer Darren “Jeter” Magierowski with Jill Zimmermann assisting.
The band recorded songs primarily from the American Songbook to feature the two singers as well as instrumentalists in the band. Some of the favourite tunes recorded include “Everyday I Have the Blues”, “Summertime”, “Swinging On a Star”, “Moondance” and “The Theme from New York, New York”. Instrumental soloist include Robin Jessome on trombone, John Lombard on trumpet, Lindsay Paul on alto saxophone, and Brandon Walker on tenor saxophone.
FOUNDED IN 1977, THE JIMMY STAHL BIG BAND HAS HEADLINED TOURS, AND PERFORMED EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT ONTARIO, NEW YORK, MICHIGAN, PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO.
Building on the success of their first big band gospel show and album, “Swingin’ in the Pews”, the band recently added “American Songbook”, and “Sounds of Sinatra”, showcases featuring male and female vocalists. Incredible music from the big band era is captured within fresh arrangements of big brassy blues, and classic jazz standards.
Check the Events page for concerts with Brandon Walker & The Jimmy Stahl Big Band.
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