Victoria JazzFest Twin Bill: Jane Bunnett & Maqueque with Laila Biali

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Thursday, June 26th, 2014
Doors open at 7pm. Show begins at 7:30pm.

Victoria JazzFest presents a twin bill with Jane Bunnett and Maqueque along with Vancouver's Laila Biali at the First Metropolitan United Church on June 26.

Tickets are available through the Victoria Jazz Society with no service charge. Tickets also available at Lyle�s Place and Royal & McPherson Box Office.

About Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

As both a musician and a musical ambassador, flautist-saxophonist Jane Bunnett is almost without equal. For over 30 years this multiple Juno Award winner has been synonymous with Cuba and its music. On numerous records and with various touring bands, she has daringly explored the world of Afro-Cuban melodies in both a jazz and a folkloric manner. Her efforts have earned her two Grammy nominations and the thanks of innumerable Cuban musicians whose careers she has either nurtured or launched. Her latest project, Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, is a dazzling all-female group featuring five of Cuba�s greatest young musicians (who are also all exciting vocalists). �I felt the time was now to give some young women the possibility of more exposure outside of Cuba,� explains Bunnett, who once again is fusing Cuban roots music with mainstream contemporary jazz. The members of Maqueque include Yissy Garcia drums, Dayme percussion, Yusa tres guitar/fretless bass, Danae piano, and Magdelys bat�s/congas. Don�t dare miss their groundbreaking debut at JazzFest! www.janebunnett.com

About Laila Biali

Vancouver-born Laila Biali was playing jazz professionally by the age of 19. A gifted singer, pianist and songwriter, she was soon winning awards including �Keyboardist of the Year� and �Composer of the Year� at the National Jazz Awards. She was a backup vocalist for Sting and latterly toured with Suzanne Vega, Chris Botti, and Paula Cole. Extensively recorded, Biali has two recent CDs: the Juno-nominated Tracing Light and 2012�s Live in Concert, which captures this elegant artist at her best (DownBeat gave it a four-star review and named it one of the �Best Albums of 2013�). Upcoming Biali projects include two new albums slated for release in 2014: House of Many Rooms a pop-oriented co-production with her husband, Ben Wittman, and a new jazz project debuting original material co-written with Ron Sexsmith, Paula Cole, Marc Jordan, and other award-winning songwriters. She now spends a lot of time in Manhattan and performs around the world, from Peru to Tokyo�s Cotton Club. Biali has for some years been cultivating a sophisticated jazz-pop sound that seamlessly combines elements of classical, rock, world, funk, and soul: she makes crossover music at its catchiest. George Koller bass, Larnell Lewis drums. http://lailabiali.com/