Allan Walsh - Blog #2

Published on July 28, 2011 Allan Walsh

Hello again Jazz Fans! Well,  Summer keeps rolling along and preparations are in full swing for September. We have a number of entries for our Online Talent Contest but of course the more the merrier so please spread the word if you know any young musicians who might be interested. Deadline is July 31

I would like to focus on last years winning group Leïla

Leïla is a Franco Ontarian singer/songwriter from Sudbury.  Raised in a very musical family she very quickly developed her musical talents. Her parents provided her with instruments and signed her up for singing and piano lessons. She was lucky enough to meet her idol, Luce Dufault, during the artist’s tour of Northern Ontario.

In grade 9 at l’École secondaire Macdonald Cartier Leïla began singing, writing and playing piano and guitar as a member of the Groupe 17. As a member of Groupe 17, Leïla has sung at many different events in the Greater Sudbury area such as Earth Day Festival, the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of ESMC, the festivals ‘Quand ça nous chante’ and a number of other festivals and events. She even had the chance to sing with Stef Paquette.

Her group were also finalists of Les Concerts La Nuit sur l’étang’s La Brunante’s showcase program held at Laurentian University’s Fraser Auditorium annually. Members of the group include;Leïla Reguigui - voice and keyboard, Chelsey Rooney - voice and keyboard, Gabriel Grenier guitar - Élyse Champaigne-Klassen - saxophone, Justin Racine - bass and Daniel Veilleux – drums.

I have had the opportunity to coach drummer Dan Veilleux in a jazz combo at Cambrian College last year. I can tell you he is a very talented and natural musician who obviously has good ears exhibited by his great jazz feel on the drum kit. Elyse Champaigne-Klassen recently passed her audition for the music department at Laurentian University and will be one of my sax students this coming year. She is also very talented and committed to her music and I look forward to working with her in lessons, jazz combo classes and performances this year.

I should also mention here the music teacher at L’Ecole secondaire MacDonald Cartier Jacque Grylls whom I have also had as a student years ago when he took my Jazz History & Appreciation course at Laurentian. He was very keen and already quite knowledgeable about jazz. He invited my university jazz combo to perform at his school and it was exciting to touch base with him and meet the students, many of whom were in Groupe 17. I performed with my jazz combo for Jacques and his students and then they performed and we also had an impromptu jam session of course. A necessity when musicians meet.

These up and coming young jazz musicians are a perfect example of the talent we have here in Northern Ontario and jazz will undoubtedly continue to thrive through their efforts and the support of local teachers like Mr. Grylls, our jazz fans and of course JazzSudbury.

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