Coming from the Northern Ontario town of Timmins, Joe Sulllivan began his musical training on piano and later, at the age of fifteen, started playing the trumpet. In 1981 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ottawa, where he studied classical trumpet. His interest in jazz led him to continue his education, first at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, then at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he received a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies. Since that time, he has been active as a performer, composer and arranger. He is also had a long and successful career as a teacher at Concordia University, Vanier College and McGill University, where he currently teaches big band arranging, jazz composition and trumpet.

Saxophonist Joel Miller pays tribute to the world-music scene in Montreal that has influenced his sound over the years. The album is full of infectious grooves and launches Miller in a new direction with a stellar percussion line up.  It includes virtuosos,  Cuban born Kiko Osorio on drum kit, Kullak Viger Rojas on Cajon and Congas,  Rémi-Jean Leblanc plays electric bass and John Roney mixes in electronics and keyboards. 

Pianist John Roney is one of the most active and visible artists on the Canadian music scene. His versatility as a jazz pianist, classical pianist and composer is unrivalled, demonstrating a mastery of an astonishingly vast range of artistic abilities and sensibilities. Obtaining his baccalaureate in jazz piano, classical piano, and composition from University of Toronto in 2000, he went on to complete his Master’s degree at McGill University in jazz performance.

SONIA JOHNSON
CHARLES BIDDLE JR
ANNIE POULAIN

Photo credit: Alexandre Deslauriers