Big Band is Back!

BIG BANDEMIC

Here are some comments from people who attended our 2023 Port Stanley Festival Theatre performance:

  •  “This was the first time I have ever seen a live big band and I can tell you, now I understand why my parent’s generation loved this music and loved to dance with live big bands!

    My wife and I will certainly be coming back again!!
    This was truly an amazing performance! The vocals were also excellent!!
    Hats off to every member of the band for making this an afternoon to remember!

    Hope we can join you folks again!!!
    Thanks again for a wonderful time! You guys rock!!!!

    Cheers!”

  • “Great performance yesterday! You guys are good – solid, powerful, confident. I was really glad to be there.

    The little old ladies beside me basically came to hear the crooners that they were familiar with; then you guys just blew them away! They asked if you were professionals; I said that you were, but mostly in other fields and seldom make much money performing. 

    Others around me were abuzz; it was like they hadn’t heard a real big band before.”

  • A very impressive performance by the Band and the Crooners.   An enjoyable afternoon!”

    (A LINK theatre & concerts devoteé on Facebook.)

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Big Bandemic Guest Singers

Denise Pelley is a vocalist who has performed with many great artists including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, gospel and blues legend Jackie Richardson and Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook. In 2003, she opened for the late Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre, now Budweiser Gardens, London. She has also performed with symphony orchestras in Canada, the US and Europe, and has been featured at jazz festivals in Ottawa, Toronto and Waterloo, and at London’s Sunfest and Bluesfest.

Denise also enjoys acting. She had roles in Grand Theatre productions of Ain’t Misbehavin’, Wang Dang Doodle and A Streetcar Named Desire. Jazzabel, her 2004 one-woman show at the Grand’s McManus Theatre, sold out night after night. In 2005, she performed Jazzabel in Washington, DC, at the National Museum for Women in the Arts, and in New York City at Urban Stages Theater. In 2006, she was featured in an article in O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine. Recording credits include seven CDs.

Over the years, Denise has won many awards. She was named London Music Awards’ Best Jazz Artist of the Year six times and Jack Richardson Jazz Artist of the Year twice.

In 2009 she was honoured with a Black Community Achievement Award, and in 2015 was inducted into the London Music Hall of Fame. Her most recent award: a Conservatory Canada Honorary Licentiate in Music.

Denise lends her musical talents to many organizations. She is a volunteer with Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan and has made twelve trips to Gordhim, South Sudan, where she helped deliver an arts and music camp to over 400 children. She is also on the board of Educate the Children which is building a school in Nigeria

Rick Kish is a 3 times nominated, and the recipient of the FCLMA 2019 Jazz Vocalist Award. Rick tours a variety of shows around the province of Ontario, including “The Crooner Show” and “a really Retro CROONER Christmas” with his company LINK theatre & concerts (www.linktheatre.ca) and Rick Kish & Friends. Involved in the London music and theatre scene for many years, having performed and directed on the main stage at The Grand Theatre, the Auburn Stage (formally McManus Studio Theatre), Wolf Performance Hall, The Palace, Paul Davenport and many other venues and spaces, Rick is a proud Londoner. Rick teaches singing and acting lessons from his in home studio in West London.

Connor Boa is a jazz vocalist and actor based out of London Ontario. He came to London nearly 10 years ago and in that time he has had the opportunity to work with many amazing musicians, artists, creators and performers as well as work on many amazing shows, such as a really Retro CROONER Christmas, The Crooner Show and many other shows with LINK theatre & concerts. He has also had the chance to work amongst many great actors in theatre at the Grand Theatre, Palace theatre and many more. Jazz music has always been something that is in Connor’s blood with many accrediting him to have that true and authentic crooner sound from the Frank Sinatra days of music. He is extremely excited to join Big Bandemic and live out a dream to sing with a true big band.

What is your favourite section in the band?