Band Showcase
Scroll Down to see Band Showcase for each Event
Glen Pearson – Guitarist, Singer
(Valentines)
(Motown Magic)
(Osborn Twins Benefit)
Glen's first grade teacher had him pegged when she wrote in his first report card "Glen thoroughly enjoys music but tends to socialize to much" Anyone who has seen Glen live can tell that he loves what he is doing and likes to make sure his audience have as much fun as he does! Glen started performing professionally at the age of twelve, where he handled most of the vocal duties for his family’s band with his sister Valerie. His dad Gord was one of the original rockers in Vancouver, fronting the "Orbits", one of the first rock & roll bands to tour the province. Growing up in a musical family helped Glen to get fully immersed in his music, and he has been making a living out of it ever sinceGlen originally started out as the bands drummer, but his strong vocal and guitar talents soon brought him out front and center stage. At the age of 18 Glen won a Vancouver wide televised contest, designed to find the best-unsigned vocalist in the city. He has gone on to perform with many top blues men in the area including Jim Byrnes, Buddy Miles and members of BB King's band. There is a tremendous buzz in town about Glen, with many industry insiders calling him one of the premier vocalists and guitar players in the area! His phenomenal vocal range allows him to really belt it out on the upbeat songs and get down and melodic on the slower tunes. He recently teamed up with Jerry Adolphe, world-class producer and drummer for the band Chilliwack, to put out his first self-titled CD, and it has met with rave reviews! Glen looks forward to playing these new tunes to audiences across this country and worldwide. _____________________________________________________ (Motown Magic) (Osborn Twins Benefit) Has a powerful yet sultry voice, with a five-octave range and style all her own. Whether she’s performing live on stage, or in the studio doing numerous projects, there is no doubt the girl can perform. Kelli started singing and playing the piano at a ripe young age of 3, taught by her loving grandmother. By the age of 19, Kelli was packing the house at Richards on Richards, performing to a standing room only crowd. This led her to invitations to numerous events, fundraisers and local Vancouver performances. Music choice has never been a question to Kelli, her blues roots have always shown through, even when singing different genres of music that she enjoys such as Country, R&B and Rock. Along with winning several vocalist competitions, (Royal City Idol 2006, to name just one) Kelli has sung the national anthem at numerous sporting events, and has performed at the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver B.C. Kelli's recent 270lb weight loss has enabled her to further her music dream, and she is more determined than ever to reach her musical goals in life. ______________________________________________________ (Motown Magic) Gord is a man of few words and modest to a fault. Here is the bio he gave me. "Boogie" is an original first wave rock and roller from "The Orbits" ___________________________________________________________ (Motown Magic) Saxophonist Leo Dann began his musical career in Victoria, BC where he played and recorded with several original projects, notably White Knite. In 1993, he enrolled in the jazz program at Malaspina University College where he studied saxophone and vocals. In 2001, he was the winner of the Office Jam Blues Competition for which he was awarded one week of recording and production in a professional studio. He used this opportunity to record the first of three CD’s under his own name. Leo has played in various blues and jazz projects on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland. Currently, his jazz trio can be heard in restaurants and clubs in the White Rock and Vancouver area where he resides and makes his living teaching, performing and following his other passion, visual arts. The Leo Dann Jazz Trio can be heard at the Washington Avenue Grill on Friday, April 11, 2008 at 8pm, Marine Drive,White Rock, BC. “...booting tone and bravura playing.” Alex Browne – Peace Arch News ______________________________________________________ (Motown Magic) ______________________________________________________ "Happiest at the piano and Hammond B3, Barry Powel’s first band at age 15 was an 11-piece Rhythm & Blues review, and though he has played every style of music in one format or another since turning pro when just 18, those original R&B roots run deep to this day. _____________________________________________________ Thedda Marie & the Trademarke Band
Kelli Mitchell - Singer
Gord Pearson – Vocalist (Glen Pearson’s Dad)
Leo Dann - Saxophonist
James Badger (Hollywood Jimmie) -Drummer
Hollywood has played and toured with many of Vancouver's best musicians including Steve Kozak, Brandon Isaak, The Twisters, Jerry Doucette, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne,
The Kingpins, The Dynamics, Phat Edna's Soul Revue, Nigel Mack, The Dubious Bros, Glen Pearson, The Steve Hansen Trio, Powell St.
Music is a way of life with him. 
Barry Powel – Pianist (Motown Magic)
Barry has shared the stage with many notable performers including 60's star Del Shannon (Runaway), the late Long John Baldry (Rod Stewart,Beatles), drummer Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix, Santana), to name but a few, and in more recent years a number of well-known local blues performers such as Jim Byrnes, Cal Batchelor, Nigel Mack, Brandon Isaak, and many more, including a couple of multi-year blues jams with singer/guitarist Glen Pearson thrown in for good measure.
Nothing brings Barry greater pleasure than the privilege and opportunity to perform with truly talented musicians."
Thedda Marie - Vocalist
(Valentines)
(Osborn Twins Benefit)
Born in San Francisco California, Thedda has been singing since the age of four when she started in church. She continued to sing through High School and various choirs. She has perfromed extensively in the US and Canada and her credits include radio, TV, concert halls and various movies. Thedda's programs include R & B, Swing & Jazz, and other HOT music styles. She has performed with the great Joe William of Count Basie fame, Michael Boulton, and mentored by Jay McShann, Dizzy Gillespie and has jammed with many other international musicians and players.
Here are just a few venues where she has played:
Pan Pacific Hotel Railway Club
Sheraton Landmark Jazz Bar Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Orpheum Theatre Hyatt Regency Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Monk MsQueens
White Rock Sea Festival BayShore Westin Inn
Waterfront Hotel Arts Club Lounge
Commodore Ballroom The Yale
Whistler Lodge Rossini's
____________________________________________________
Joe Chappel - MC/Singer
(Valentines)
(Osborn Twins Benefit)
Great MC and old school entertainer, Joe Chappel is a lifetime musician & vocalist. He is known up and down the Pacific Coast for his soaring tenor and baritone growl, hence the nickname "Tiger of Soul". Soon to be posted will be some of his songlist, including the heart-burner ballad "SECRETS"
____________________________________________________
Glenna Powrie - KeyBoards
(Valentines)
(Osborn Twins Benefit)
Glenna Powrie has preferred to devote much of her time to playing and composing fusion, jazz-funk, and crossover jazz. Powrie was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, but she moved to the Big Apple in 1985 to further her career as a musician/composer. Her keyboard playing (which combines jazz with rock, funk, and pop) was influenced by fusionists like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Joe Zawinul, and her composing has been influenced by Corea's Return to Forever, Weather Report, the Yellowjackets, and the Brecker Brothers (among others). Another musician she worked with in the Apple was saxophonist Greg Osby, who produced her debut album, Asha.
In 1989, Powrie signed with Muse and recorded Asha, which was released the following year. Although the New York-based Muse was best-known for straight-ahead bop and post-bop, Asha is a fusion effort that finds Powrie joined by producer Osby on alto and soprano sax, Kevin Eubanks on electric guitar, Tracy Wormworth or Darryl Jones on electric bass, Eugene Jackson on drums, and Mino Cinelu on percussion. Powrie plays no acoustic piano on Asha -- strictly electric keyboards and synthesizers -- and she wrote all of the material herself. Powrie remains active on the New York scene and was still playing and composing in the early 2000's. ~ edited from Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lee Oliphant - Bass
(Valentines)
Since beginning his professional career as an electric bass player at the age of 14, Lee has performed with many well known artists. He is a member of Juno award winning Charlotte Diamond’s Hug Bug Band and has performed and recorded with Fred Penner, also a Juno award winning children’s performer. His career also includes musical theatre. Lee has also performed at many Canadian Folk Festivals and has toured in Europe several times as well as the Middle East with Chilliwack, Ellen McIlwaine, Freddy Roulette, and Cal Bachelor. Most recently Lee was happy to join “Lesismore” under the condition that he learn to play the upright acoustic bass and he has thrown himself into that challenge whole heartedly
Here are just a few musicians he has played with:
Jim Byrnes Jerry Doucette
Powder Blues Band The Platters
Valdy Todd Butler
Long John Baldry Sample-Steams band
Bobby Curtola Beverley Elliot
____________________________________________________
Olaf de Shield
"Osborn Twins Benefit Soiree"
Olaf de Shield is an established musician residing in Vancouver B.C., Canada. His main musical bags are Soul, Ryhthm & Blues, Jazz, and Pop. He is an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, and arranger, and has played and recorded with a host of local and international artists over the years
He currently performs with many of Vancouver's top local artists and bands including The Night Train Revue, Mike Henry, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, This, That & The Other, Soultrax, and Sibel Thrasher - playing in venues such as The Yale, River Rock Casino, Chateau Whistler, Boulevard Casino, Rossini's, and so on.
He also works as a leader in several formats - with his Rock and Soul band; 'The R&B Renegades', in his Jazz trio, and also as a Single act (playing Pop, Motown, and Jazz).
______________________________________________________
Alexander "A-Train" Boynton Bass
(Osborn Twins Benefit)
Originally from Los Angeles, Canadian Alexander “A-train” Boynton plays the electric and contra bass. A-train is also a composer, bandleader and producer in his own right. He not only has a formal music education (Bachelor of Music degree), but he has many years of music experience in professional performance. As a performer, his charm exudes on stage through genuine expressions of music.
A career highlight for A-train was playing for the hugely popular group the Payola$ (1985) laying bass grooves along side drummer Chris Taylor. He has shared the stage Loverboy, Ann Mortifee and others and opened for Bryan Adams, Supertramp and Duran Duran over the course of his career.
A-train had the privilege of working with the late Bruce Fairburn and has studied under David Foster. Working with such amazing international producers has taught A-train the attention to detail that great studio work requires.
As a child, A-train was exposed to the joys and sounds of the Sunday congregation, filled with the spirit and passion that music can bring. The music, the people, the singing, the clapping, the stomping of feet instilled an undeniable rhythm that is the foundation of A-train’s work today. As he grew, A-train’s drew inspiration from such artists as James Brown, Sam Cook, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gate.
His new album, tentatively entitled “Life Time” will be a smooth jazz, adult contemporary offering. The album will fuse traditional jazz with the R&B rhythms of A-train’s past.
From his Bachelor degree to his extensive touring history to his years of studio excellence, A-train’s drive and dedication to his musical accomplishments continues to keep him moving down the track!
_______________________________________________________
Rob Hollingsworth - Guitar
(Valentines)
Rob has played in bands from the age of 13. He’s played for over 25 years and has no intention of stopping. It takes 5 hours a day of dedicted practicing to make a pro like this. Rob has played all across Alberta - Edmonton, Calgary, and in BC, Vancouver, Victoria and the island. When he was younger he had his own LIVE radio show called Surfer a Go Go. They used to belong to a band and travelled around in a white Cadillac. He studied classical guitar and jazz all his life. He’s played with David Foster and Rob Deans, the keyboard player from Trooper. He played in a band called Zipper on the island for awhile
He's played at Harpo’s, was a member of the house band at Mother Superiors in Victoria, played at the Barbary Coast with the great jazz piano player Miles Black and as a regular on the Princess Cruise ship lines. For years he taught at the Conservatory of Music in Victoria, then started teaching at the Langley Music School. He's played with the likes of Odetta, Charlie Musselwhite, and Delbert McClinton. He studied with the Romero Brothers playing classical guitar and at all the flamenco guitar gigs. In Vancouver he played with Kentish Steele and did the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Rob has developed film scores for documentaries for Global TV. He is now the examiner for classical guitar (for the last 12 years) with Capilano College
_____________________________________________________
David Say – Sax
(Valentines)
(Osborn Twins Benefit)
Dave Say is a well-respected and versatile saxophonist. He has been a professional musician for 25 years covering all styles. He has collaborated with George McFetridge (Strange Weather) Claude Ranger (Dave Say Claude Ranger Duo) Al Weirtz (Say/Wiertz Band) Kevin Elaschuk (ESQ) Tony Wilson (Say/Wilson Group), and Above Ground Sextet to name a few
He has worked with various large and small groups such as Chuck Israels, Jill Townsend Bigband, Vegi, Now Orchestra, Hard Rubber, Douglas College nite Band, The Claude Ranger Jade Orchestra, Mike Allen Nonet, Tribute to Monk, Mark Helias Ensemble, Tony Wilson Sextept, Celtic Works, Harris Vanberkle Fusion Group, Eastwind Plus, Brad Turner Quintet, The Wow Bigband, Kenny Coleman, George Lewis, Oliver Lake, Michael Buble, Richard MuhalAbrams, Lynton Garner, Dee Daniels, The Supremes, The Contours, Michael Kaeshammer, Soulstream and many more
_____________________________________________________
Don Powrie – Drummer
(Valentines)
Don has always found his niche in Original bands. He’s found himself in Japan, Poland, Switzerland and many other countries laying down his rock solid beat for Grammy winning Jazz Fusion band, “Skywalk”. He’s also played extensively across Western Canada with band “Lois Lane”, whose singer Deanna Johnson went on to be featured in Rockstar INXS 2006
______________________________________________________
Michael K. Burt - Drummer
(Osborn Twins Benefit)
For as long as he can remember, he has been playing the drums. Since he was a baby, his father had lead a big Latin Band called Julio Miranda Orchestra. When he was little, he slept at his Dads rehearsals or in the dressing rooms while he performed. His brother Gregg was named after the famous Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. because he was born the night his dad had to perform there.
His first professional band was called The Dealers. They played the "chittlin circuit" in and around Washington, D.C. Maryland, up and down the East Coast during the late sixties and the early seventies. Around 1972, they changed the name to The Aggression, added horns and became pretty good. They became the opening act for such groups as Gladys Knight. Kool & the Gang, Larry Graham, Sly & the Family Stone, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Kendriks, and Main Ingredient.
By 1976, he was performing for the Bob Hope U.S.O. Tours. This took him to 86 countries. It was quite an experience. By 1978, he joined the Rock Funk Band called Dragon Fly in Los Angeles, CA. They toured the U.S. and Japan. They eventually moved to Canada and did cross country tours. A lot of road work was done here.
In 1986 a friend hooked him up for an audition through the William Morris Agency for the Legends of Rock & Roll. He auditioned for Little Richard; a week later he had the job. He called everyone in the family.
In 1997, Tom Jones saw him in Branford, Missouri playing with Richard. He asked him if I would like to audition with his new band, The Art of Noise. He made the audition. He still remembers the three songs: No place like home, In the midnight hour, and Kiss by Prince.
He is currently touring Asia on a regular basis. He believes that life has been pretty good to him for being able to do what he loves to do. His favourite saying "Just ride the wave!"
_________________________________________________________
Example Song Playlist
All Of Me
Funny Valentine
My Guy
Will You Still Love Tomorrow?
Feel Like Making Love
Rock With You
Respect!
Chain Of Fools
Since I Fell For You
My Man
Misty
amongst many more, too many to list!