Christine Jensen

Montreal-based composer and saxophonist Christine Jensen is excited to present her jazz orchestra in an evening of music with an all-star cast, including Canada’s greatest jazz artists from Toronto, Montreal and New York. It is a family affair, as she will be joined by her sister, NY-based trumpet soloist Ingrid Jensen, recognised as one of the world’s greatest improvisers on her instrument. She will also feature Gary Versace on piano, Jon Wikan on drums, and Montreal-based Joel Miller on tenor saxophone. The ensemble includes Toronto’s leading jazz artists, including Lorne Lofsky on guitar, and Tara Davidson, Allison Au, Kelly Jefferson, and Perry White on saxophones. Jensen has become a recognised voice on the international spotlight as a big band composer and arranger. Her album Habitat on Justin Time Records received the Juno Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year in 2014. As well as performing repertoire from this album, she also looks forward to paying Hommage to Oscar Peterson in this concert, as he was a regular voice in her home through her mother’s record collection and the CBC. His absolute brilliance inspired her from a young age to pursue music.

“...orchestral jazz on par with the textural-lyrical magic of Kenny Wheeler and Maria Schneider—though with an earthy dyna- mism more akin to Wayne Shorter and a sense of bittersweet melody all Jensen’s own. *****(5 stars) " - Downbeat Magazine.