Twilight Jazz and Blooz Series: Bloozy Mondays featuring the Thomas Nelson Band

📅 DATE: Monday, April 4, 2022
🕑 TIME: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Doors open at 5:00 pm)
🏟️ VENUE: Spirit in Niagara Distillery (VACCINATION POLICY IN EFFECT)
🗺️ ADDRESS: 458 Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
💵 PRICE: Early Bird: $39 + HST; At the Door: $49; Musicians/Arts Workers/Students: $19 + HST

To donate and help support the festival:

Donations to the TD Niagara Jazz Festival (Registered Charity: #80107-7033-RR0001) help us continue to bring live music to Niagara and beyond. Thank you for supporting the arts!

ABOUT THE SHOW

Thomas Nelson Band’s interesting set list is a testament to each band member’s musical versatility. As bassist and vocalist, Thomas leads the band through a variety of fused musical styles. Thomas’ strong ‘in the pocket’ bass style combined with his sassy vocal delivery of songs from the Blues, Funk, Jazz, RnB and Soul song books, is unique fun and entertaining.

The evening’s performance will feature:

• Thomas Nelson on Bass and Vocals
• Bradley Krauss on Guitar
• Graham Lear on Drums
• Randy Stirtzinger on Keyboard

Tickets are non-refundable. Artists and venues are subject to change.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Guests who will be purchasing food at the venue must select “Yes” when prompted during ticket purchase. Those who will be consuming beverages only (or nothing at all) must select “No”, and will be seated in the theatre selection.
• Once you have purchased your ticket online a copy of the receipt will be sent to you. you do not need to print this receipt since we will have your name on our guest list as a paid ticket holder.
• Price does not include food but food IS available on site. Please check out the delicious menu HERE
• Tables are reserved for Guests who will be dining. Regular seating is provided for guests who prefer to just watch the show and purchase a beverage. If you will be dining during the show please contact Darlene (admin@niagarajazzfestival.com or call at 289-259-4997) so that we can let the kitchen know to be seated at a table.

VACCINATION POLICY

All musicians, staff, volunteers and patrons at TD Niagara Jazz Festival events must be double-vaccinated.  Proof of vaccination will be required upon arrival.

Season Pass holders must contact Darlene (admin@niagarajazzfestival.com or call at 289-259-4997) before the show’s date to reserve their seating. Please arrive to claim your seat by 5:45PM, otherwise the seat will be made available for sale for General Admission.

For more details, please email Darlene at admin@niagarajazzfestival.com.

Hosted by Spirit in Niagara Distillery

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

THOMAS NELSON

Thomas Nelson is a Canadian bass player and vocalist. Born in Luverne, Alabama, at the age of two he moved with his family to Niagara Falls, New York during the Great Migration. At five years of age he began singing and was a featured soloist in school and church. Initially getting a few guitar lessons from Nelson W. Thomas, Thomas taught himself to play bass and eventually became the first bass player at his church.

Influenced by James Brown, Wilson Picket, Sam Cooke and The Beatles, at sixteen Thomas formed his first band Supreme Soul. He carved out a space in the local music scene and became a highly respected vocalist and bassist performing in events and night clubs. He is a 2020 Inductee to the Niagara Falls, NY Music Hall of Fame.

In 1970, Thomas immigrated to Canada and began performing with a variety of bands in the Niagara Falls, Ontario music scene. He also toured extensively in the University and College circuit in Canada and the US. The late Colleen Petersons’ invitation to be in her back up band led to nine performances in the Spring of 1979 at Massey Hall 1 of 9 opening for Gordon Lightfoot. Thomas moved to Toronto and the music scene was very kind. Throughout the ‘80s decade, he performed with various artists in the club scene and on various CBC radio and TV shows. For four years he toured with Mark Haines and The Zippers, and recorded the LP Radio Jungle.

Returning to Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1990, Thomas quickly re-established his presence in the local scene with his band Jambone. For the past seven years he is directing his efforts and talents towards the project carrying his name. For years, and through the pandemic, he has developed his own grooving, upbeat sound and large repertoire of covers to appeal to a wide listening and dancing audience.

Al Jarreau, Keb ‘Mo, Esperanza Spalding, James Jaimerson, Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, The Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, and Weather Report are a few influences.

BRADLEY KRAUSS

Bradley Krauss is a professional musician residing in the Niagara Region. Fluent on the piano as well as the guitar, he prefers the latter to convey his contemporary influenced modern jazz style. He has performed around Ontario with various different touring acts and has just released his debut recording, The Brad Krauss EP, featuring 5 original compositions. Brad can be found gigging and promoting his own material in the Niagara region, as a member of the Thomas Nelson Band or as a duo with Chuck Jackson – vocalist for the legendary Downchild Blues Band.

GRAHAM LEAR

Originally from Plymouth, England, Graham Lear began drumming at age eight, auditioning for the Police Boys Concert Band of London, Canada. An early student of Police Band alumnus Don Johnson and Robert Comber, he also cites Canadian jazz great Terry Clarke and Mandela drummer Penti Glan as musical influences. With private tutoring by Ralph Humphrey, Bernard Purdie, Duduka DaFonseca, and a student of Grove School of Music, it all culminated in the development of a unique style that is validated by the thousands of views of his drum solos on YouTube.

In 1974 Graham moved to Los Angeles with Canadian singer Gino Vannelli during which time the Grammy nominated Powerful People and Storm At Sunup were recorded, produced by A&M records icon Herb Alpert. Significantly, drumming legend Buddy Rich covered two tracks from those sessions, Storm At Sunup and Love Me Now, for his Speak No Evil album. The critically acclaimed Vannelli recording, Gist Of the Gemini, followed, engineered by Geoff Emerick at Air Studios UK.

Having listened to the Vannelli recordings on his European tour bus, Carlos Santana tasked then manager Bill Graham with finding Lear for his band. The rock impresario personally located Graham in Toronto rehearsing with guitarist Domenic Troiano, and within the month, Lear was performing before a sold out Wembley stadium with Santana. Recordings from the ensuing European tour resulted in the double platinum album Moonflower for the group. 1987 found him with rock group REO Speedwagon for their U.S. and South American tours, and with the Canadian progressive group Saga for their European tours.

Relocated to Portland OR in the early ’90’s, Graham reunited with Gino Vannelli for his Yonder Tree CD on the Verve label, acclaimed by Gino as a personal favourite. The jazz project Clovis, followed with Tom Bergeron of Western Oregon U. He also worked with Native American Music Award winner Gary Small, and multiple live dates with Joe Cocker percussionist Bobby Torres and saxophonist Patrick Lamb. He also performed with jazz/fusion ensemble Sacbe’ at the Berklee College Latin Cultural Festival Boston.

RANDY STIRTZINGER

Randy Stirtzinger has been and still is to this day, a pillar of jazz music in the Niagara community. He has performed all over the region and beyond as a pianist, bass player and vibraphone player. He first discovered his passion for jazz when he heard Oscar Peterson’s ‘Hello Herbie’ album, Herbie Hancock’s ‘Maiden Voyage’ album and HH’s ‘Headhunters album’ around the of age 16. Since then he has never looked back. His first instrument is the bass guitar and later on came piano, vibes, latin percussion and then upright string bass. Some of his influences include: Milt Jackson, Cal Tjader, Tito, Mongo, Ray Brown, Don Patterson, to name just a few.

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