This project featuring Winnipeg based musicians is an inspiring new direction for me. Winnipeg has produced many fine jazz musicians over many years, and the local scene currently has a number of excellent musicians within the jazz community. It is my pleasure to work with Niall Cade saxophone, Andrew Littleford trumpet. We continue to explore our options in terms of the music we will present. Expect some classic quintet material ( Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie, Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis) and original material from this stellar ensemble.
Canadian saxophonist Niall Bakkestad-Legare has performed at New York’s elite jazz clubs, including Smalls, Mezzrow, Jazz at Kitano, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, 55 Bar, the Bar Next Door, and The Shapeshifter Lounge, and with artists such as the Philip Harper Quintet, Quincy Davis Quintet, Jimmy Greene Big Band, the Curtis Nowosad trio and the multi-Grammy nominated Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Big Band. His composition and improvisations are shaped by both the Jazz and Classical traditions, with primary influences including Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Beethoven, Bach and Joe Henderson.
Andrew Littleford, trumpet, is an active member of the Winnipeg music scene, an accomplished multi-genre performer. He shares his warm, lyrical sound and effortless technique within the musical genres of jazz, funk, soul and pop music. Since moving to Winnipeg in 2010, he has become an in demand member in Winnipeg’s jazz community, playing regularly with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra and performing as a founding member of both the Dirty Catfish Brass Band and the Winnipeg Jazz Collective. He lends his talents to other Winnipeg groups such as the Ron Paley Big Band, Big Dig! Band, Hot & Dirty Dance Party, Sunny Roseland, PRZM, and The "B" Side Champs.
