ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
“Her adept jazz sensibility is beautifully displayed; her consummate vocal skill shines throughout “
(LESLEY MITCHELL-CLARKE, THE WHOLENOTE)
For 25 years, Brenda Lewis has been captivating audiences - most recently as a guest vocalist in the sold-out run of Canada's Gershwins "The Breithaupt Brothers Come Home To Kitchener (with New Vibes Jazz Quintet and the world-renowned Penderecki String Quartet - in the Jazz at the Registry Series), The Jazz Room in Waterloo, in Toronto series at The Jazz Bistro, The Old Mill's Home Smith Bar and 120 Diner, as well as across Ontario in the Niagara Jazz Festival's "Twilight Jazz", McMichael Gallery's Jazz, Merrickville's Jazz Fest, Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, 1000 Islands Jazz Festival, and Guelph Jazz Festival to name a few.
Her most recent JAZZ CD: "Far & Near" (Nov 2015) has been receiving airplay on JAZZ FM Toronto & CBC Radio across Canada! And it's been garnering rave reviews. Mark Rheaume (CBC Radio Canada) who featured it in his picks for the new year on the "Fresh Air " show in January 2016 writes: "The term "high wire act" is often tossed around to describe recordings where a singer is backed by only the most minimal number of players. That's the premise behind Far & Near, but between Lewis's always strong singing, expert choice of material, and a small group that delivers big, the thrill in this case comes entirely from the music."
Originally from Eastern Ontario (Brockville/Prescott/Ottawa/Kingston), BRENDA LEWIS is what is known as a "natural singer". Since moving “west” (near Toronto!) she has been singing professionally - most of those years as a jazz vocalist, performing with some of Canada's finest jazz musicians, including long-time music partners: guitarist MARGARET STOWE, guitarist and Juno Award-winning producer TONY QUARRINGTON, JOHN ZADRO (pianist), ROB MARTIN (guitar), LUKAS BOUDA (guitar), JEFF BIRD (bass - of the Cowboy Junkies), ROSEMARY GALLOWAY (bass), TYLER WAGLER (bass), NEIL SWAINSON (bass), GARY TOMLIN) (drums), ANDY MACPHERSON (drums) MICHELLE JOSEF (drums) and many more.
In 2010, she released the CD: “JAZZLIKE, a collection of cover songs by some of her favourite musicians whose compositions
fit within the jazz idiom. Four of these songs are penned by celebrated CANADIAN songwriters. Jazz guitarist extraordinaire MARGARET STOWE joins Lewis on this recording - a recording which displays the versatility of both musicians and evidences their sheer joy of performing together.
Previous to jazz, Lewis’ background was in the folk/country blues genres - in acclaimed Guelph, Ontario eclectic duo: "LEWIS
& MOLESWORTH" (with Ian Molesworth (guitar, vocals) - aka “HURT & RUN”), and, NONIE CRETE (THOMPSON), along with R&B/funk/gospel/blues. She still enjoys success performing in these genres (for the past 5 years performing in a VOCAL HARMONIES DUO with GAYLE ACKROYD!) - and their influences add diversity to her jazz standards repertoire - all sung in the spare yet emotive traditions of Ella, Julie London and Marlene Dietrich. This versatile mix captivates both the jazz audience and her long-time folk/ R&B fans.
Lewis’ CDs have received radio airplay on the CBC, BBC and JAZZ-FM 91.1 TORONTO. Prior to her first jazz CD: “LEWIS, WILSON
& SHAW: TRIO SESSIONS”, Brenda recorded three folk/roots CDs (with Lewis & Molesworth, and, with NONIE CRETE). As well,
she has guested on many other artists' CDs.
Over the years she has also been featured in numerous concert series including: Brookside Concert Association (Midland Cultural Ctre - 2014), Halton’s Jazz at the Museum, Flying Beaver Pubaret Cabaret Series (Toronto), Arkell Schoolhouse Gallery), and, festivals including Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, Uptown Oakville Jazz Festival, Hillside Festival and Festival of Friends.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Brenda feels especially honoured to have been asked to sing in tribute concerts for 2 stellar Canadian artists who have deeply influenced her musically: "FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS" 2009's "MEMORIES OF JACKIE WASHINGTON" and, the COLLEEN PETERSON MEMORIAL CONCERT (alongside “Quartette”) at HUGH'S ROOM, Toronto. She has also been a recent nominee for The Brockville & Area Music & Performing Arts Hall of Fame.
“Her adept jazz sensibility is beautifully displayed; her consummate vocal skill shines throughout “
(LESLEY MITCHELL-CLARKE, THE WHOLENOTE)
For 25 years, Brenda Lewis has been captivating audiences - most recently as a guest vocalist in the sold-out run of Canada's Gershwins "The Breithaupt Brothers Come Home To Kitchener (with New Vibes Jazz Quintet and the world-renowned Penderecki String Quartet - in the Jazz at the Registry Series), The Jazz Room in Waterloo, in Toronto series at The Jazz Bistro, The Old Mill's Home Smith Bar and 120 Diner, as well as across Ontario in the Niagara Jazz Festival's "Twilight Jazz", McMichael Gallery's Jazz, Merrickville's Jazz Fest, Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, 1000 Islands Jazz Festival, and Guelph Jazz Festival to name a few.
Her most recent JAZZ CD: "Far & Near" (Nov 2015) has been receiving airplay on JAZZ FM Toronto & CBC Radio across Canada! And it's been garnering rave reviews. Mark Rheaume (CBC Radio Canada) who featured it in his picks for the new year on the "Fresh Air " show in January 2016 writes: "The term "high wire act" is often tossed around to describe recordings where a singer is backed by only the most minimal number of players. That's the premise behind Far & Near, but between Lewis's always strong singing, expert choice of material, and a small group that delivers big, the thrill in this case comes entirely from the music."
Originally from Eastern Ontario (Brockville/Prescott/Ottawa/Kingston), BRENDA LEWIS is what is known as a "natural singer". Since moving “west” (near Toronto!) she has been singing professionally - most of those years as a jazz vocalist, performing with some of Canada's finest jazz musicians, including long-time music partners: guitarist MARGARET STOWE, guitarist and Juno Award-winning producer TONY QUARRINGTON, JOHN ZADRO (pianist), ROB MARTIN (guitar), LUKAS BOUDA (guitar), JEFF BIRD (bass - of the Cowboy Junkies), ROSEMARY GALLOWAY (bass), TYLER WAGLER (bass), NEIL SWAINSON (bass), GARY TOMLIN) (drums), ANDY MACPHERSON (drums) MICHELLE JOSEF (drums) and many more.
In 2010, she released the CD: “JAZZLIKE, a collection of cover songs by some of her favourite musicians whose compositions
fit within the jazz idiom. Four of these songs are penned by celebrated CANADIAN songwriters. Jazz guitarist extraordinaire MARGARET STOWE joins Lewis on this recording - a recording which displays the versatility of both musicians and evidences their sheer joy of performing together.
Previous to jazz, Lewis’ background was in the folk/country blues genres - in acclaimed Guelph, Ontario eclectic duo: "LEWIS
& MOLESWORTH" (with Ian Molesworth (guitar, vocals) - aka “HURT & RUN”), and, NONIE CRETE (THOMPSON), along with R&B/funk/gospel/blues. She still enjoys success performing in these genres (for the past 5 years performing in a VOCAL HARMONIES DUO with GAYLE ACKROYD!) - and their influences add diversity to her jazz standards repertoire - all sung in the spare yet emotive traditions of Ella, Julie London and Marlene Dietrich. This versatile mix captivates both the jazz audience and her long-time folk/ R&B fans.
Lewis’ CDs have received radio airplay on the CBC, BBC and JAZZ-FM 91.1 TORONTO. Prior to her first jazz CD: “LEWIS, WILSON
& SHAW: TRIO SESSIONS”, Brenda recorded three folk/roots CDs (with Lewis & Molesworth, and, with NONIE CRETE). As well,
she has guested on many other artists' CDs.
Over the years she has also been featured in numerous concert series including: Brookside Concert Association (Midland Cultural Ctre - 2014), Halton’s Jazz at the Museum, Flying Beaver Pubaret Cabaret Series (Toronto), Arkell Schoolhouse Gallery), and, festivals including Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, Uptown Oakville Jazz Festival, Hillside Festival and Festival of Friends.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Brenda feels especially honoured to have been asked to sing in tribute concerts for 2 stellar Canadian artists who have deeply influenced her musically: "FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS" 2009's "MEMORIES OF JACKIE WASHINGTON" and, the COLLEEN PETERSON MEMORIAL CONCERT (alongside “Quartette”) at HUGH'S ROOM, Toronto. She has also been a recent nominee for The Brockville & Area Music & Performing Arts Hall of Fame.