David Virelles Trio

Montreal Jazz Festival Grand Prix Winner

Oscar Peterson Jazz Award Winner

Classically trained David Virelles began to study piano at the tender age of seven in Santiago de Cuba – where he was born. While living in Cuba, his surroundings consisted of a broad range of musical influences which contributed to David’s musical personality. Through his grandfather’s collection of jazz records, David was exposed to the sounds of great American jazz artists such as Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Accepting his first award in 1998 at the age of fifteen, David won first prize at the Concurso JoJazz in Havana, Cuba. Soon after, he was invited to appear on Cuban trombonist Juan Pablo Torres’ CD Together Again. In 1999, he appeared on Canadian jazz flutist/saxophonist Jane Bunnett’s CD Alma de Santiago which was nominated for both a Juno and a Grammy award. In his pursuit of formal training, David has attended the music programs at both the University of Toronto and Humber College where he was chosen as the first recipient of the Oscar Peterson Prize. During the last four years he has appeared with Bunnett’s band Spirit of Havana at major jazz festivals throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Cuba. His contribution can be appreciated on Bunnett’s albums Cuban Odyssey and Red Dragonfly. While the former was nominated for a Juno award, the latter featured David as an arranger and a performer.

“A call and response trio between piano, conga and drums, with a couple of notes as a lead to a blistering 32nd note run in the mid register and then smoothly floating back to the high end, augmented by huge chords in response to the drummers accents. Virelles is playing the rhythm so strongly and soloing so fluidly that he sounds as if he has a sampler or some effect that doubles his capability. Such is not the case, this is just a wizard of a pianist who creates a piano duet in solo mode.”

The Live Music Report

Visit David Virelles's Iceberg Radio website at www.icebergradio.com/davidvirelles

The David Buchbinder Trio featuring the Botos Brothers

David Buchbinder is an accomplished trumpeter, composer, producer and cultural inventor who brings a spirit of intensity and inquiry to everything he does, as he and his gifted co-conspirators go for the jugular. Starting as a student of jazz legend Freddie Stone, David has best been known for many years as the leader of the oft JUNO-nominated and world-renowned FLYING BULGAR KLEZMER BAND; in the last few years he has returned to his roots, stepping into the limelight as a jazz composer and performer with his eponymous ensemble, releasing his first solo CD, SHURUM BURUM Jazz Circus in the fall of 2005.

Luis Mario Ochoa & his 'Cuba Tradicional' ensemble
Sones, Guaarachas & Boleros

Cuban born vocalist, guitarist, composer and arranger Luis Mario Ochoa bandleader of the Toronto based salsa and Latin jazz orchestra Cimarrón introduces his new "Cuba Tradicional" ensemble - The Toronto Cuban Jazz Review to the audience at Olivia's at Fifty Three, every Saturday for the rest of the Summer, with a repertoire that recreates a pre-Buena Vista Social club era. Come ready to groove to the rhythms of Cuba!

Press Excerpts about Luis Mario Ochoa:

Jazz Improv Magazine: Cimarrón: Luis Mario Ochoa and Friends is a "must have" recording for anyone who loves Afro-Cuban Jazz and outstanding vocals. April 06

All About Jazz: Cimarrón is, at any rate, a surprisingly varied and entertaining album that will continue to engage listeners with its appealing arrangements and infectious Latin rhythms…Ochoa certainly proves himself multifariously gifted in original composition, fresh arrangements, and performance on both vocals and guitar. by E. I. Iannelli - June 06

Jazz Review.com: Cimarron 's one of the year's best releases of 2006. by Sheldon T. Nunn.

Jazz Time Magazine: This Latin Jazz session led by Havana native and guitarist-singer-arranger Luis Mario Ochoa is full of fire, finesse and authenticity. by Bill Milkowski, April 2006

Pop Matters: Cimarron is a spectacular coming together of exceptionally skilled players whose individual excellences are only surpassed by their collective ability to exist as pieces of the larger puzzle. by Kevin P. Davis

Jus'Jazz: The ten tracks on ‘Cimarrón' are a showcase for Luis Mario Ochoa to combine the rhythms of Cuba with Caribbean and South American cultures. The end result is a special blend of stylized harmonious music; filled with a serious taste of traditional Latin influenced jazz.

Descarga.com: The second offering from Luis Mario Ochoa is a fresh, up-tempo and high caliber Latin jazz release that provides a well conceived format for his fine guitar work. There are tight, well-knit instrumental tracts as well as some with vocals…It Cooks. Highly Recommended – Editor's Pick – January 2006.

Raoul's Blue Sundays

Raoul Bhaneja, winner of Now Magazine's Best Blues Musician 2007, will host a smoking acoustic blues show every Sunday evening.
Raoul’s Blue Sundays will feature duo performances with some of the country’s most talented blues artists including Juno Nominee Julian Fauth, Tyler Yarema and guitarist Darren Gallen.