Third Jazzworkz Concert Series in support of the Joan Mantle Music Trust

The Jazzworkz Concert Series, launched in the spring of 2012, will continue to support the Joan Mantle Music Trust. The Trust provides instruments to students in Rainbow Schools.

Christian Overton is one of the most in demand trombonists, bass trombonists, composers and educators in Toronto. He can be heard regularly in every scene from Jazz and Classical to Salsa, R&B and theatre work. Most recently, Christian Overton has launched Clovertone Music Publishing, an innovative sheet music publishing company designed to get customized Canadian material into the classroom and connect today’s professional musicians with the next generation. 

Jazz collaborations include Hermeto Pascoal, John Clayton, Peter Appleyard, Jane Bunnett, The Art of Jazz Orchestra, and, most recently, The Don Thompson Big Band and Gary Morgan’s Panamerican All Stars from New York. Non jazz collaborations include Glass Tiger, Jully Black, Sloan, Bedouin Soundclash, Do Make Say Think, Classic Albums Live, Alain Trudel and many others.

Christian Overton is currently the composer for his own big band, five television projects, commissions for recent visits by Ranee Lee and Dave Douglas and countless jazz and classical chamber groups.

Melissa Lauren is an accomplished young singer and songwriter making her mark on the Canadian music scene. With a strong influence in jazz and blues, Melissa Lauren has developed an original style of her own, melting together old school sounds with a modern flare.

Her latest album, “The Other Side”, was released in March 2012 to great reviews and is a collection of original compositions and standards. The CD is a tribute to the jazz and swing sounds that shaped the Toronto songwriter’s musical style.  Quickly making a place for itself on Canadian charts, the album offers a variety of classic sounds, mixed with modern pop sensibilities.

Melissa Lauren has performed as part of the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Beaches International Jazz Festival, Markham Jazz Festival and Oakville International Jazz Festival as well as  Canadian Music Week. She recently hit the Canadian Festival scene this year.

The concerts begin at 8 pm and take place at St. Peter’s Church, 203 York Street in Sudbury. Admission is $10 for students and $20 for adults. Tickets are available at Black Cat on Durham Street and Hair to Live For in the Cedar Pointe Mall.

The Jazzworkz Concert Series was created by producer Jack Broumpton, who said the concerts will continue to celebrate the expanding growth and influence of jazz music in the Sudbury community.

The concerts are held at St. Peter’s United Church because of the wonderful, warm acoustics. “It is a wonderful atmosphere to listen to jazz in an intimate setting and will be perfect for our first two concerts of the season,” said Jack Broumpton. “In addition to the concerts, we hope to extend our jazz outreach this season with some educational workshops so the public can get an inside look at jazz performance.”

He added: “The series also allows us to support the Joan Mantle Music Trust. As a long-time music teacher, I recognize the importance of music in our schools and our community. The series will highlight the efforts of the Joan Mantle Music Trust and the great results it has produced to support music programs in Rainbow Schools.” 

About the Joan Mantle Music Trust

The Joan Mantle Music Trust was established in the fall of 2008 to help refresh, modernize and revitalize school music programs in the Rainbow District School Board. The Joan Mantle Music Trust allocates funds to school music programs in Rainbow District School Board, one school at a time.  This ensures that there is a tangible improvement in the condition of equipment in an entire department, allowing for students to achieve more in their musical studies together.

Joan Mantle dedicated many years to music education in Rainbow Schools. She passed away on June 9, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

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Media Contacts:

Jack Broumpton, Producer, Jazzworkz Concert Series, 705-869-1651

Ralph McIntosh, Chair, Joan Mantle Music Trust, 

Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-7551, ext. 6850