HEIÐA FORSYTH

HEIÐA FORSYTH is a gifted vocalist who has quickly become a favourite of Winnipeg audiences. Performing regularly over the last 4 years with many groups such as The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Steve Kirby's Oceanic Jazz Orchestra, The Ron Paley Big Band, Rocki Rolletti and The Retro Rhythm Review, Heiða lends her unique vocal ability with passion and honesty. Known for her success as a straight-ahead jazz vocalist, Heiða more recently discovered and began performing in the world of Soul, Funk, R&B and Country creating an eclectic mix of repertoire wherever she performs.

Luke Sellick

Luke is a jazz double bassist from Winnipeg. As of 2009, he is in the jazz studies program at the University of Manitoba, which is directed by his teacher, Steve Kirby. He was the 2009 winner of the Hnatyshyn Foundation Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance.

Luke Sellicks MySpace

Greg Lowe

Greg Lowe was born in Winnipeg Canada on June 30th 1957. He picked up his brother's guitar at age 10 and immediately began composing his own music. Initially inspired by blues and rock musicians he eventually found jazz, and proceeded to Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton to learn the basics of jazz harmony. In 1985 on return from a two week stint studying in New York with guitarists John Scofield, John Abercrombie and Steve Kahn, Lowe put a call into Prakash John, leader of Toronto's premier R&B band The Lincolns, and shortly after began four years of touring coast to coast with many of Toronto's finest players.

Upon returning to Winnipeg in 1990, he began recording his first CD "The Art Of Bending", which lead to the international release of "Greg Lowe" by Jazz Inspiration/MCA in 1993 and "Thrilled Against My Will" by Jazz Inspiration/Allegro in 1996. Jazz Times reviewer Hillarie Grey wrote "making unexpected orchestration seem perfectly natural... Lowe's work is deliberate and clever."

Focusing on composition as much as guitar performance, Lowe's body of work has grown to include large orchestra, chamber ensembles, theatre, television, dance, radio musicals and dramas. He has released seven CDs featuring original music in both electric and acoustic formats.

GregLowe.com

Greg on YouTube

Bruce Jacobs

Bruce is one of the most talented bassists in the city. He has toured accross Canada and other parts of the world. Bruce has played with some of the best and we are excited to have him at Inferno's

Bruce's MySpace

Larry Roy

Over the last two decades, Larry Roy has established himself on the Canadian jazz scene as an artist, composer, producer and sought-after professor. He represents everything that's good about jazz in Winnipeg. As well as teach jazz at the University of Manitoba, this versatile musician writes film scores and performs all over Europe and North America. Roy and long-time musical partner Steve Kirby recently released the album Wicked Grin.

Steve Kirby

Kirby was born in Maumee Valley, Ohio, and his family moved to St. Louis when he was two. He picked up guitar and electric bass while stationed at Fort Bragg, and following this he attended Webster University, receiving his BA in 1985. He worked locally in various ensembles and then got his master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where he played with Lester Bowie. In 1988 he returned to Webster, where he taught until 1993, and while there he won the 1992 Hennessy Jazz Search. In 1993 he returned to New York City and played with Oliver Lake, Claudio Roditi, John Hicks, Slide Hampton, Antonio Hart, Cyrus Chestnut, Joanne Brackeen, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Wallace Roney, Elvin Jones, Kenny Barron, Wycliffe Gordon, Steve Turre, James Carter, and Wes Anderson.

Kirby currently resides in Winnipeg, Canada and is the head of the Jazz Studies program at the University of Manitoba. In 2008 Steve released his first album as a leader "Wicked Grin" with Larry Roy, Stefon Harris, Will Bonness, Terreon Gully, and his wife Anna-Lisa Kirby.

Papa Mambo Trio

When Rodrigo Munoz returned to Winnipeg following an eight-year sojourn in Chile (his home and native land), he not only brought back his welcome exuberance but also an even greater understanding of the intoxicating Latin jazz and big band music that has been his muse since he was a youngster studying classical guitar at the University of Manitoba. Munoz is one of those musical polymaths capable of precise, gifted work on a variety of instruments, but it is his understanding of the interplay between rhythm and melody that gives Papa Mambo its vibe and its soul.