Indie-Swing chanteuse and bandleader Denielle DeLange (Bassels) hails from Toronto ON. Her original music whimsically weaves a caravan of influences from her childhood and travels abroad from folk and blues, to Parisian jazz manouche and swing. Denielle’s original music has been described as “Ella Fitzgerald sipping tea on a rollercoaster with the Mad Hatter”. Denielle’s voice is as pure and rich as her performance style. She will immerse you in her tales. Denielle will be joined by Julien Bradley Combs on guitar and Russ Boswell on upright bass.
AWARDS:
In 2014 Denielle won Grand Prize in the Jazz Category of the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting competition with subsequent wins as finalist in 2015, and 2016 garnering over $10,000 in prizes. She is the recipient of two generous grants from the Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts towards her current album “What About Wool Wishbags”. In 2016 Denielle was awarded a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to study with her mentor Thais Morell in the Bossa Nova style while exploring jazz scenes in France and Spain. Andy Mac (Guitarist) Andy was awarded a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to study with Montreal guru Denis Chang. In four months of one-on-one with Chang, Andy transcribed many of his ideas into a comprehensive set of gypsy jazz instructional notes on topics ranging from picking technique and comping to vibrato, bends and tremolo. Andy Mac had been invited to conduct workshops and lectures on the subject of gypsy jazz at Ryerson University, Humber College, McGill University and at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts for the Django in June festival.
PRAISE/QUOTES:
OttawaJazzScene.ca editor Alayne McGregor had this to say: “Probably the biggest surprise at this year’s Merrickville’s Jazz Fest was Toronto vocalist Denielle Bassels. She was an unknown quantity when she walked onto the stage of the Baldachin Ballroom on Saturday, October 18, but her charisma and her quintet’s swinging music quickly grabbed the audience’s attention.”
“She will stop you in your tracks!” – Juliet Dunn, Twilight Jazz Series / TD Niagara Jazz Festival
“Bassels has a winning combination here: a strong, clear voice, great stage presence, along with a tight rhythm section, forceful gypsy-jazz-influenced guitar, and expressive clarinet and tenor sax.” Brett Delmage, ottawajazzscene.ca
“There is something about the imaginative way in which Denielle thinks, crafts and creates music that is undeniably her own. What About Wool Wishbags is a remarkable collection of songs that brings together the past and the future with strong songwriting structures that still leave room for all sorts of adventure. 2017 has been blessed.” -Dani Elwell, JAZZ FM 91.1
“Unique and Fresh!” – Farley Flex, Canadian Idol
Upcoming Shows:
DATE: Friday, October 1st, 2021
EVENT: In Your Own Backyard
LOCATION: Secret pop-up location in Port Weller
TIME: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM
TICKET PRICE: Show Only: $49; Charcuterie Box and Show: $69; Dinner and Show: $99 (plus HST on all prices)
CLICK HERE for more information.
BAND MEMBERS:
Julien Bradley Combs – Guitar
Russ Boswell – Upright Bass
Past Shows
DATE: Sunday, July 29th, 2018
EVENT: JAZZ in the PARK
STAGE: Swingin’ Sunday Stage
ADDRESS: Simcoe Park, Picton St. and King St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
TIME: 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
TICKET PRICE: FREE * Bring your own lawn chair
BAND MEMBERS:
Drew Jurecka – Clarinet & Violin
Julien Bradley Combs – Guitar
Scott Hunter – Upright Bass
Andrew Scott – Drums