Waltz Musette: Waltzes, Javas and Swing

Sounds of the Latin Quarter

Jessica Lalonde, vocals,

John MacMurchy, reeds,

Tom Szczesniak, piano/accordion

George Koller, bass

Dan Ionescu, guitar

Saturday March 10, 2018 at 8 pm

$25; $10 Student

Jessica Lalonde has spent her life exploring music in all it’s shades and facets. Raised on Country and Rock & Roll, she fell for jazz during her formative years.

Lalonde began singing around her hometown of Midland in small jazz duos and trios, and as the singer for her local Big Band. Eventually the clarity and strength of her voice led her into serious vocal study and she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University.

She excelled in her studies, winning a performance scholarship, several prestigious concerto competitions, and holding the title roles in the University’s opera productions.

Ultimately the connecting thread between these various musical genres and adventures, has been an ability to express the core emotion of whatever composition she is singing, whether by Puccini, Gershwin or a local folk rock band.

This expression is filtered through an open heart and depth of understanding; channelled through a voice that feels as though it may unleash at any moment, but chooses rather to remain grounded; an unaffected purity of tone conveying shadow and light.

"It's an honest sound that John uses to converse with the listener. Nothing is hidden. It's all there on the table. Heart. Experience. Pleasure. Life." -Sheldon Zandboer

John MacMurchy is a performer, composer and recording artist based in Toronto. A woodwind player, John concentrates on clarinet, tenor saxophone and baritone saxophone and is fluent in jazz and classical repertoire.

He has released four full length records to critical acclaim and international airplay. John has worked with international artists as varied as Warren Vache, Howard Alden, Guido Basso, Henry Mancini, Cleo Laine, Linda Ronstadt, Carol Channing, Peter Appleyard, John Dankworth as well as being in demand as a sideman on the Toronto scene.

"John MacMurchy is a fleet, accomplished reedman with a knack for writing and arranging. John's got everything together and balanced out when it comes to: Tone, Technique extraordinaire, and seemingly unending ideas."