Tuesday Night Jazz at James Bay United Church presents Sean Bray & Roy Styffe!
Acclaimed Canadian jazz musicians Sean Bray and Roy Styffe grew up together in Toronto's vibrant jazz scene, honing their talents and making some of their first significant recordings under the guidance of jazz legend Don Thompson.
After years of following their own star-studded musical paths, Sean and Roy are reuniting to delight audiences on a West Coast tour. Joining them are renowned Michigan bassist Louis Rudner and Nanaimo drummer Hans Verhoeven. The quartet will perform music from Sean and Roy's early collaborations, alongside jazz standards and newer original compositions.
Admission by donation (suggested donation: $20).
Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to donate.
Sean Bray is considered one of Canada's finest guitarists and is a highly respected composer and educator who has performed with a wide range of artists on diverse musical projects.
After studying at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York, Bray moved to Toronto, where he became a sought-after sideman, studio guitarist, and bandleader. He has performed and/or recorded with George Garzone, Pat LaBarbera, Bob Mintzer, Jon Faddis, Liberty Silver, Matt "Guitar" Murphy (of The Blues Brothers), Mike Murley, Campbell Ryga, and Kirk MacDonald, as well as recording music for commercial campaigns ranging from Toyota to Tim Hortons.
His ability to move effortlessly between musical genres while maintaining a distinctive artistic voice has made him one of Canada's most in-demand session guitarists.
Now based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Bray performs with Layer Cake Mountain Band and Cod Gone Wild, is the founder, musical director, and lead guitarist for Songs of the Southern Belles, and leads his own original Americana instrumental project, Sean Bray's Peach Trio.
He was also a featured performer in the Canada Day 150 concert series with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, alongside Rosemary Thompson and Ballet Kelowna.
Sean Bray is endorsed by PRS Guitars, Planet Waves, and D'Addario Strings.
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Regarded by many as one of Canada's finest improvisers, multi-instrumentalist Roy Styffe (saxophone, clarinet, and flute) has been captivating audiences for more than 30 years. He has performed with many of the biggest names in Canadian jazz and continues to push the boundaries of excellence in improvisation.
Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Roy currently performs with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, which tours internationally and performs and records regularly.
Roy holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Humber College in Toronto. He has also studied at The Banff Centre under Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Ed Blackwell, John Abercrombie, and Don Thompson. In 1992, he received a Canada Council grant to study in New York with Dick Oatts of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and acclaimed saxophonist David Liebman.
In addition to his studies, Roy has enjoyed a distinguished career as a performer, composer, and bandleader for more than 25 years. Career highlights include performances with Ed Bickert, Kenny Wheeler, Daniel Lapp, Tony Genge, Pat Collins, John McLeod, Neil Swainson, Phil Dwyer, Pat LaBarbera, Phil Woods, Renee Rosnes, Hal McKusick, and tours with Don Thompson's Banff Alumni Jazz Ensemble.
In 1986, Roy performed with The Temptations at Expo '86, and in 1988 he performed with Rob McConnell's Big Band during the Calgary Winter Olympics.
Roy has released two CDs as a bandleader and has also recorded with Duncan Hopkins, the Free Flight Big Band, and the Juno Award-winning NOJO Big Band. He is currently recording his third album, Stories Within Stories, featuring Bill Coon (guitar), Ken Lister (bass), and Buff Allen (drums).
Roy also continues to collaborate with the Kelby MacNayr Quintet, the Tony Genge Ensemble, and the Kevin Elaschuk Group, based in Vancouver.