Gilles' versatility on 4, 5 and 6 string electric and acoustic basses positions him as one of the most in demand musicians in Winnipeg. His formal studies at St. Francis Xavier University were augmented with lessons from Dave Young, Michel Donato, Charles Fambrough and Victor Wooten. Gilles' performance and recording credits include international collaborations with jazz greats Clarke Terry, Arturo Sandoval, Kevin Eubanks, Phil Nimmons and Stanley Cowell, and hometown talents Marilyn Lerner, Jennifer Hanson, Greg Lowe, and Walle Larsson. In the pop music realm he has supported artists such as The Wyrd Sisters, Scrüj McDuhk, Steve Bell, Jake Chenier, Al Simmons and Fred Penner.

Gilles Fournier's MySpace Page

HEIÐA FORSYTH

Ron and Ken have been our regular saturday afternoon house band for a while now. We are excited that the weather has been nice enough for us to get the guys to play outside.

Ron Halldorson

Born 1943 in Winnipeg, Ron has lived and worked here most of his life. He began his musical life at the age of seven as a student of the steel guitar and was playing professionally at the tender age of 11. In his mid-teens, he became a close friend and colleague of jazz legend Lenny Breau, with whom he worked for about 10 years until Breau left Winnipeg. Ron played electric bass on Breau's first recordings (for RCA Victor) - Guitar Sounds From Lenny Breau and The Velvet Touch - the latter recorded at Shelley's Manne Hole in Hollywood. He has been a sideman on scores of other recordings with a diverse array of artists including The Guess Who.

Ken Gold

Ken was born and raised in Montreal where he studied saxophone and music with several fine teachers including Dave Turner, Claude Brisson, and Ed Seigneur. He has pursued lessons and masterclasses with David Liebman, Paquito D'ivera and at the Banff School of Fine Arts. These studies have been supported by grants and scholarships.

Ken is consistently involved with young musicians and saxophonists both through his own teaching studio and workshops throughout the region. He teaches jazz ensembles and jazz saxophone at the University of Manitoba.

Larry and Steve will play on the patio. If it ends up raining they'll move inside.

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.