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For Immediate Release "Canada's Global Divas are on the Rise" 4 th Annual Global Divas Gala Concert Official Line-Up St. Stephen's Community House proudly announces the official performance line-up for the 4 th Annual Global Divas Concert, an international celebration of women and song. The Global Divas gala and concert event will take place on Thursday March 30th, 2006 at Kool Haus, 132 Queen's Quay East. Presented by Scotiabank Group and hosted by CBC Radio 99.1 in Toronto, Global Divas features an enthralling and diverse line-up of female world music artists. Lead by Jane Bunnett and The Spirits of Havana, proceeds from the evening will support the Youth Arcade at St. Stephen's Community House, a multi-service social agency that helps more than 32,000 people annually. "Now in our fourth year, Global Divas has developed into one of Toronto's most anticipated musical events... and we're proud of that!" says Liane Regendanz, Executive Director of St. Stephen's Community House. "It's an evening that combines superb dining with magnificent performances by Canada's rising and esteemed global artists. It's truly an incredible celebration of the culturally diverse and artistic brilliance we have in our city." Jane Bunnett Jane Bunnett, the Toronto soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader, has built her career at the crossroads between Cuban music and jazz. Twice nominated for Grammy awards, a fixture of the nominations for Canada's Juno awards, and honored with an appointment to the Order of Canada, Toronto's own jazz virtuoso has turned her bands into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the United States, and Cuba. Most recently, Bunnett's critically-acclaimed CD, Red Dragonfly (EMI/Bluenote), was nominated for "Jazz Recording of the Year" at the Canadian Urban Jazz Awards. Her latest release, Radio Guantánamo: Guantánamo Blues Project Vol. 1, merging the heritage and history of the New Orleans Blues sound with the oldest form of Cuban Blues music, Changui, continues to garner rave reviews. Muna Mingole Muna Mingole, "The Blue Flame of Cameroon", sets the stage ablaze while taking her audience on a cultural voyage through African music. Described as Canada's Queen of the most popular rhythms of Cameroon, Makossa and Bikutsi, her first album, Dipita, was nominated as "Best Global Rhythms Recording of the Year" at the 2005 UMAC Awards. Muna is currently nominated for "Favorite World Artist" by the Canadian Independent Music Awards. Muna's immense popularity has lead her to share the stage with music greats such as Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Kanda Bongo Man (Democratic Republic of Congo), The Têtes and Brulées (Cameroon), and many others. Tanya Tagaq Gillis Tanya Tagaq Gillis is possibly the most unique performer of traditional, Canadian music in our country. In just six short years, the groundbreaking Inuk throat singer has brought an ancient Inuit vocal game to the heights of the experimental music scene. Born in Cambridge Bay, Nanuvut, she's collaborated with Bjork, the Kronos Quartet, and, in 2003 she toured Europe as part of the Canada Council's "Sonic Weave tour". This past November, at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, the enigmatic performer earned a standing ovation and three awards, including "Best Female Artist". This March, Tagaq's work with the Kronos Quartet will culminate in a performance at Carnegie Hall. Amanda Martinez Born to Mexican and South African parents, Amanda Martinez was immersed early in the music of Latin jazz giants. Today, her own stylized mixes of bossa-infused Afro Cuban rhythms, Mexican folk, and jazz leaves Latin music lovers enthralled and blissfully mesmerized. Since 2001, the rising songstress has been a regular feature at Toronto's downtown jazz clubs, festivals, and on televised broadcasts. When not performing to capacity audiences, or composing original material, Martinez is the host of the listener-acclaimed "Café Latino" on Jazz FM 91.1. Kellylee Evans Kellylee Evans is a unique voice in the jazz world - and many of today's top musicians and producers have taken notice. With a smooth, unique style that dances through Jazz, Soul, R'nB, Blues, and World Music rhythms, Kellylee's rich and energizing sound ignites inspiration. In 2004, Kellylee was awarded 2nd place in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, held at Kennedy Center in Washington. The judges, including Quincy Jones, Al Jarreau, Dee and Dee Bridgewater chose Kellylee out of a pool of over 160 gifted vocalists from around the world. Since 2005, she has been a regular contributor to CBC Radio, a fixture on Rogers TV, and showcased on Toronto's City TV. Following a whirlwind recording session with top artists whose credits include George Benson, Art Garfunkel, The Manhattan Transfer, Erykah Badu, Roberta Flack and Common, Evans will release her long awaited debut CD, Fight Or Flight?. Zaki Ibrahim Twenty-five years, four continents, and several generations in the making, Zaki Ibrahim creates music that is captivating and vibrant, thick with poetics, and steeped in earnest emotion and humor. Shaped by the diversity of her Apartheid-era hometown and household, Zaki was quick to embrace the dual role of singer and cultural connector - lending her abilities to countless workshops in schools, in prisons, and in communities around the globe. Zaki has worked with a broad family of Canadian and South African musicians and producers, including Juno Award-winners Kemo (Rascalz) and DJ Serious (Quartertones), as well as Ladybug Mecca of the Digable Planets. Her two singles, "Grow" and "Daylight", released under the Treehouse label in the UK, are heating up international airwaves and her first full-length album is set to be released later this year. Since 1962, St. Stephen's Community House has been offering support, resources and, most of all hope, to some of the most vulnerable people in downtown west Toronto's inner-city neighbourhoods. As a multi-service social agency, it assists newcomers to Canada, homeless men and women, job-seekers, unemployed and at-risk youth, families with young children, people and organizations in conflict, isolated and frail seniors and mothers-to-be. With more than 140 dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers, St. Stephen's enhances the lives of over 32,000 people annually. This year, all proceeds from Global Divas will go towards the St. Stephen's Youth Arcade. The Arcade is a drop-in program designed to accommodate the needs of adolescents and teenagers from diverse backgrounds. Developed by and for youth living in Kensington and the surrounding neighbourhoods, the Youth Arcade serves over 1,700 youth annually. Programs offered include: Venus Media Arts Project, Reclaim and Replay II, Youth in Action, The Little Black Books, Unzipped, School Community Volunteer Hours, Moving On, the Community Service Order Program for Young Offenders, The Arcade Snack Program, Freestyle Fridays, Real Space, and tutoring. The fourth annual Global Divas concert begins at 8:00 p.m, doors open at 7:30 p.m. Concert admission tickets are $30.00 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Concert tickets can also be purchased in advance by calling the Global Divas Hotline at (416) 925.2103, ext. 238, by email at: , or at Toronto Women's Bookstore (73 Harbord St.), Pages Books & Magazines (256 Queen Street West), Soundscapes (572 College St.), and Edward's Record World (2283 Yonge St.). Gala tickets, which include reception, fine dining, the Globe Trotter's Market and concert are $125.00 and can be purchased currently by calling , Ext. 238. Partial tax receipts will be issued for Gala tickets. All Global Divas announcements are suitable for printed listings and website postings. Artist interviews are currently being scheduled. Stay tuned for upcoming "Featured Performer" releases. For updates, visit ststephenshouse.com. Global Divas Media Contact, Interview Scheduling, Images Jane Bunnett Publicity Contact |
