Now in its 5th season, the jazz concerts have established a solid following at the Segal Studio

Mark Fewer Quartet – Sunday April 14, 8pm

Jazz and classical lovers are in for a special treat when world-renowned violinist Mark Fewer teams up with great jazz artists for a high-powered, energetic Jazz concert in the Segal Studio. The program includes quintessential jazz standards by Duke Ellington, Phil Dwyre and Ralph Towner. Mark Fewer (violin), accompanied by John Novacek (piano), Jim Doxas (drums) & Jim Vivian (bass).

Described as “genre-bending” by the National Post, and “intrepid” by the Globe and Mail, Mark Fewer has performed around the world to critical acclaim as a classical violinist as well as a jazz musician. He is a dedicated chamber musician, jazz violinist, artistic director, and teacher. Since 2010, Mark has been featured on 8 new recordings, the most recent of which won the 2012 Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Changing Seasons, is a jazz violin concerto written especially for him by jazz great Phil Dwyer. Scored for big band, string orchestra and solo violin, the piece takes advantage of Mark’s unique abilities as both a classical violinist and improviser.

Pianist John Novacek regularly tours the Americas, Europe and Asia as solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist; in the latter capacity he has presented over thirty concerti with dozens of orchestras. John Novacek’s major American performances have been heard in New York City’s Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Symphony Space, Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Chicago’s Symphony Center and Los Angeles’ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Hollywood Bowl and Royce Hall, while international venues include Paris’ Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Salle Gaveau and Musée du Louvre, London’s Wigmore Hall and Barbican Centre, as well as most of the major concert halls of Japan.

Taurey Butler, piano: Sunday, May 12 at 8 pm in the Studio

Originally from East Orange New Jersey, Taurey began studying piano at the age of seven. He loved playing, but by the time he reached the age of fourteen he found that the musical direction he was heading in was not fulfilling. During his last year of high school, a prescient teacher, who was also a distinguished percussionist, Barry Centanni handed Taurey a CD of Oscar Peterson and advised him to listen. He did, and from then on, he knew where he was going.  “I didn’t know a piano could do that!” he recalls and began to focus more on jazz studies.

Taurey attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he studied Japanese and majored in Electrical Engineering – he left with a BSc and BE and saw himself as, “a Japanese-speaking electrical engineer who loves playing jazz piano.” He returned to New Jersey to develop and grow as a musician and found himself attending jam session in New York. His powerful swinging style, dexterity and lyrical imagination were duly noted – and gigs started to come his way. Over time Taurey found himself playing clubs and festivals with various acts – and it was while playing at The Cotton Club and Swing 46 – that he was introduced to bassist/vocalist Eldee Young – the opportunity to work regularly with such a mentor was an inspiration. They played regularly in Singapore and at Bangkok’s prime jazz room, The Living Room as well as Hong Kong and Dubai. It was after Eldee’s passing in 2007 that Taurey made the move to Montreal – a city he that he had been very anxious to visit since learning it was Oscar’s home town.

Taurey secured a regular gig at one of Montréal’s most prestigious jazz clubs, the House Of Jazz as well, he began accompanying Juno Award winning vocalist Ranee Lee, it wasn’t long before he signed with Canada’s premier Jazz label – Justin Time Records. Taurey’s captivating debut recording as a leader simply entitled Taurey Butler.

Taurey was last seen by Segal Centre audiences accompanying Ranee Lee in the smash-hit, The Mahalia Jackson Musical.

Tickets are on sale now at the Segal Centre Box Office: 514.739.7944 / segalcentre.org
Tickets: $25 – regular, $18 – seniors and $15 – Under 30/students. 5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine.