Musko-Ka-Bana :: Mardi-Gras Street Party & Festival 2008

Born on the small Caribbean island of Trinidad, schooled in New York City under Grammy winner Randy Brecker’s watchful eye and now called "Canada’s preeminent jazz trumpeter" by New York City’s Village Voice magazine, the ever dynamic Brownman tirelessly leads no less than 7 highly respected ensembles of his own. He is best known for his work as the leader of Canada's premiere latin-jazz ensemble CRUZAO and his electrified Miles Davis' influenced BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO (2007 National Jazz Award winner for "Electric Jazz Group of the Year"). Despite the demands of leading 7 groups he continues to be one of the most called upon trumpet players in the studio industry, his recording credits sitting at just over 300 records to date, making him - according to CBC Radio Canada - "one of the most recorded trumpet players in Canada".

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Richard Underhill's wonderful warm alto sound, great writing and arranging skills and in-from-the-outside soloing make him one of Canada's most distinctive jazz performers. Richard won a 2003 Juno Award for his jazz solo debut 'Tales from the Blue Lounge' and was nominated for the Prix du Jazz at the 2003 Montreal Jazz Festival. The founding member of Toronto's acclaimed Shuffle Demons, he has toured Europe and Canada to critical acclaim for over 22 years. A truly original jazz composer and arranger, Richard's exciting original music captivates audiences with singable melodies, outstanding musicianship and engaging performances. His new album 'Moment in Time' is a fan favourite and has garnered significant critical acclaim.

Richard has performed and recorded with The Neville Brothers/Meters, Han Bennink, Julius Hemphil, Dr. John, Kathleen Edwards, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldar, Rob McConnell, Molly Johnson, Blue Rodeo, Andy Stochansky, Hawksley Workman, The Sadies, Luke Doucet, Bobby Wiseman, Soul Rebels, the Mighty PoPo, Paul Cram, Kevin Breit, the Hemispheres Orchestra, NOMA and Toronto jazz stalwarts like Reg Schwager, Jake Langley, Steve Koven, Ron Davis, Wayne Cass, Tyler Yareema, Tory Cassis, and George Koller. In demand as a session player and sideman, he has written horn and string arrangements for Kathleen Edwards, Molly Johnson, Andy Stochansky, Hawksley Workman, Blue Rodeo, Bobby Wiseman, Big Rude Jake and Lorraine Segato. He leads several diverse groups including his jazz quintet, the Funk Explosion and the improvising electronic groove ensemble Astrogroove.

Taken from www.richardunderhill.com

TheFunkyUdu is comprised from the musical support performers for the TCB Cirque Theatre. The band is made up of players from a wide range of cultures from around the world, many of which have worked together numerous times over the last 10 to 15 years or more. They are always very excited when they are able to play together as a band outside the cirque. Interestingly enough the band never seems to lose many players but just keeps adding more to the mix which allows the overall performance size to vary from as little as 2 or 3 performers up to 15 and more, sometimes adding in a variety of dancers and cirque performers when given the opportunity. The size of the venue and where on the planet performers happen to be located at the time determines the performance size that gets together to perform. The core players became very close with each other early on and continue to enjoy each others company immensely. They tend to treat new members as if they had been with them all along as part of the family.

The current orientation of the band for this year consists of between 7 to 10 players presenting a high energy Reggae Fusion that is heavily drum and percussion driven with drum set, congas, djembe’, djun and percussionists. The band also features an unusual mix that somehow works very nicely of bassoon, violin and guitar as the lead instruments with a funk/reggae/fusion style bass player. Sitting on the top of all the driving under-current are 3 lead vocalists, 2 of which function as support vocals for their new lead vocalist. The vocals get warmed up very quickly and easily carry over top of the band with strong smooth harmonies that wash out over the audience like an ocean of voices, sometimes blending so closely they sound like one large voice. The performance is also being supported by stiltwalkers, fire performers, dancers, unicyclist jugglers, and aerial silks artists that are audience interactive.

Alina Gershuny - lead vocals/percussion

Bronwyn Boyer - violin/vocal

Terry Cowan - guitar djembe vocal

Kelden Cowan - bass

Nicole Phippen - djembe’ congas

Jeffery Burke - bassoon djun

John Vella - drum set

JahPaul Mohammed & Elisha C. Arthurs

Holly Treddenick - Aerial

Samantha McCombs - stilts

Founded by Jean-Paul Mohammed and his wife Elisha Conover-Arthurs, the Twisted Hairs Spirit Dancers took root in 2005. Coming from a Rastafarian background the Twisted Hairs weave together traditional African and Caribbean culture and the music, dancing and spiritual practices of many Nations and ancient traditions, honouring the ONENESS of all earths children. The group has grown to include people from various cultural backgrounds and the medicine of these people strengthens and enriches the group. We come from Jamaica, Trinidad, Canada, Guatemala, Africa, Colombia and Peru. We learn from the Mayan tradition, the First Nations, Baha'i, Buddhist, ancient Yogi, and the twelve tribes and the Nyabingi Rasta community. We learn from everybody we learn from each other. The center of our group is the DRUM from Africa; the heartbeat that inspires all living creation. The only prerequisite for joining the group is an open heart, loving soul and a willingness to free up and heal. This is our mission, to get everybody whether black or white, rich or poor out of their seats and dancing, or drumming and taking part in the creation of a new world. Where fear no longer rules and the truth of the Creator prevails. ONE LOVE.

Dancers

• Joliba Gershuny
• Alina Gershuny
• Elisha C. Arthurs
• Imox Orellana
• Maida Jackson
• Sandy Gershuny

Drummers

• Jean Paul Mohammed
• Sateish Dabideen
• Carlos Pardo
• Craig Hunter
• David Espinosa