Atlantic Jazz Collective featuring Norma Winstone and Joe La Barbera Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM PDT

× The Atlantic Jazz Collective is a group of three Juno Award-winning artists from Canada’s Atlantic region: Pianist Florian Hoefner, saxophonist Mike Murley and bassist Jim Vivian - the latter two both former long-time Torontonians who’ve recently returned home. Born out of the Atlantic Jazz Nights concert series, in St. John’s, the Atlantic Jazz Collective’s mission is to develop and promote jazz in Atlantic Canada and beyond through exciting international collaborations.

For their first project, the Collective has invited revered UK-based vocalist Norma Winstone and legendary drummer Joe LaBarbera to join them. Both Winstone and LaBarbara have participated in iconic recordings that have shaped the direction of modern jazz and have set standards for vocal and piano trio recordings. Winstone was featured as vocalist and lyricist on Kenny Wheeler’s influential Music for Large and Small Ensemble (1990). Her 1987 album Somewhere Called Home was described as “one most original yet idyllic of vocal jazz recordings” by Allmusic. LaBarbera was part of Bill Evan’s double Grammy award-winning album We Will Meet Again (1979) and many other acclaimed recordings by the by the trio.

The quintet met for an inaugural performance and recording in St. John’s in 2023. The result will be released under the title Seascape, on May 2, 2025. The repertoire includes reimagined versions of pieces by Maria Schneider, John Taylor, Ralph Towner, Steve Swallow, Wheeler, and others. A brilliant wordsmith whose timeless, poetic lyrics have set the standard for the contemporary jazz art song, Winstone has written original lyrics to these previously instrumental pieces. To celebrate the release the quintet is embarking on a cross-Canada tour to present the repertoire live.
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