featuring
Host/Emcee
Jaymz Bee
Amy McConnell/William Sperandei Quintet
performing songs from their new CD “Stealing Genius”
Don Francks meets Roger Clown
with
Tony Quarrington, Great Bob Scott and more
Amy McConnell / William Sperandei Quintet perform songs from their brand new CD, “Stealing Genius” which is being played on JAZZ.FM91 and radio across the country.
“Sperandei’s playing is lush and well-matched to McConnell’s voice. Pianist Mark Kieswetter’s arrangements are intuitively right and Douglas Romanow’s production brings a big-money feel.” – Peter Goddard, Toronto Star
“Amy McConnell brings a strong voice—breathy on one end, brassy on the other…William Sperandei (trumpet-flugelhorn) blows solid jazz licks, blue and cool, that embellish Amy’s impressively controlled vocal lines in a Chet Baker kind of way.” – Stanley Fefferman, Opus One Review
“Versatile-voiced chanteuse Amy McConnell joins forces with noted trumpeter William Sperandei on this beguiling vocal jazz debut for the duo. The eclectic selections range from Songbook standards to Piaf, Zeppelin (“Thank You”) and George Harrison. A standout duet with Michael Kaeshammer on “I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire” has jazz radio play guaranteed.” – Kerry Doole, New Canadian Music
Vocalist Amy McConnell and trumpeter William Sperandei released their debut album “Stealing Genius” to a sold out room and eager crowd at The Gladstone Hotel a month ago. If you missed this show now is your chance to see these two talented individuals live at Hugh’s Room on December 30, 8PM.
“Stealing Genius” is the brainchild of executive producer Feisal Patel who heard William Sperandei playing in a tiny Toronto club late one night and has been wanting to record with him ever since. William and Feisal both wanted to record with a singer and began the search for the right one.
Five years later, at a local jazz jam, Feisal discovered Amy’s incredible voice and the result is “Stealing Genius”, a collection of covers of great songwriters. While the songs are all familiar, several are rarely covered. Amy & William chose with care. They wanted beautiful melodies and poignant lyrics and did not limit themselves to standards. Their repertoire moves from ‘40s pop to ‘50s R&B to ‘60s musicals. Covering Elvis, Edith Piaf and Led Zeppelin, the unifying thread is their distinctive sound and approach to the music.
Don Francks is an actor/singer/jazz musician. He began his music career playing Toronto hotspots such as The Colonial Tavern and George’s Spaghetti House before moving to New York to record and perform with guitar legend Lenny Breau. He was “discovered” by Jackie Gleason whose quote became the title of his seminal sixties recording called “There Is No One On Earth Like Don Francks”. Although he has often played villains on shows such as Mission Impossible, The Wild Wild West, Man From U.N.C.L.E. and countless others, he is an affable, unthreatening man on stage while singing his unique style of jazz. Don will be joined by fellow actor-crooner Roger Clown, who has himself starred in countless films, television commercials and has sung for everyone from Pope John Paul II to the Queen Mum. Expect the unexpected for this show featuring Tony Quarrington, Great Bob Scottand other fearless musicians.