The very best of Canadian jazz
RANEE LEE: “Dark Divas” MALLORY CHIPMAN: “Rags and Feathers”
This week we’re taking a look at two vocalists coming to JazzFest 2018 at two different stages of their careers, and representing the very best in Canadian jazz.
Ranee Lee first appeared at JazzFest 2015 and her return has been greatly anticipated. Born in Brooklyn, Ranee Lee has lived most of her career in Montreal. She is an awardwinning actress, teacher, author and songwriter and is a member of the Order of Canada.
“Dark Divas” is Lee’s 13th album for Justin Time records. She won a Juno Award for her 2010 album “Lives Upstairs.”
“Dark Divas” pays tribute to some of the most compelling women singers of the century and comes from a show that Lee performed by the same name prior to making the recording. Singers that she honors in this tribute are Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.
Far from a copy of these singer’s interpretations of their signature tunes, Lee renders her own personal take on the classic standards. She really is Canada’s jazz diva, deserving a place alongside these great vocalists to whom she pays tribute.
Lee’s voice is rich in nuance and expression. She paints lyrics like an artist working a canvas. Hers is a voice that you never tire of hearing. The track listing includes such loved tunes as “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Fine and Mellow,” “It Was Just One of Those Things,” “Makin’ Whoopee,” “Perdido,” “A Tisket, A Tasket” and “Oh Lady, Be Good.”
Joining Ranee in Medicine Hat will be Richard Ring on guitar, Dave Watts on bass, Dave Laing on drums, Taurey Butler on piano and Ron Di Lauro on trumpet. Ranee appears at JazzFest on Friday, June 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Esplanade Theatre.
Edmonton’s Mallory Chipman is in the beginning stages of establishing what promises to be an exciting career. She is being described as “an old school chanteuse with new school attitude.” Hers is a voice that fuses elements of jazz, folk and rock and roll into an expressive style that is uniquely her own.
Her latest project is titled “Rags and Feathers: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen.” The track listing includes “Famous Blue Raincoat,” “Tune for the Troubadour,” “Ain’t No Cure for Love,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” “Hallelujah “and “Suzanne” among others.
This recording is dedicated to her beloved grandfather, Tommy Banks. Mallory appears at JazzFest on Wednesday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Esplanade Studio Theatre. She is also presenting a workshop on Thursday, June 21, at 2 p.m. in the Esplanade Studio Theatre.
There are lots of ways to connect with JazzFest. The website at www.medicinehatjazzfest.com has all of the information about the artists as well as daily schedules, links to sound and video files and a downloadable brochure. Follow JazzFest on Twitter and Instagram at @medhatjazz. You can also follow the Facebook page and join the Facebook group by searching Medicine Hat JazzFest and keep up on all video content on the YouTube channel.
Brochures can be found all over town, at coffee shops, the Esplanade, the Tourist Centre and the Medicine Hat Public Library. They will be in the Medicine Hat News as well.
Tickets and passes are available at all Esplanade ticket outlets including www.tixx.ca.