U of M grad Borle serious about career as jazz singer

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This article was published 17/12/2001 (9019 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JODIE BORLE knows what she wants. She wants to sing. She wants you to listen. And she wants to combine the two into a career as singer; more specifically, a jazz singer.

That desire moved closer to reality recently when the 24-year-old singer was awarded a grant from Manitoba Film and Sound to produce a demo CD that she can use to promote herself to music companies, festivals and bookers.

Borle, who graduated from the University of Manitoba with a bachelor of music degree last year, has made the commitment to pursue a singing career.

For example, she’ll be performing Thursday night at the opening of The Hollows (the former Mother Tucker’s); she performed last Thursday as part of the Jazz Winnipeg/eatons Cool Thursdays series at the Polo Park store with Apogee, the vocal group she helped start. You’ll also see her perform around town, leading small combos.

Borle’s recorded submission to the provincial agency included two songs — Slow Hot Wind and Lady Be Good — and a request for $3,000 to produce a four-song, album-quality demo disc. She got a grant for half that amount, the top amount Film and Sound awards, Borle said.

The demo will include those two songs, and a couple more, Borle said. Slow Hot Wind, a Mancini tune, is not recorded very often, she said. “I don’t want to record something for the 70th time.”

Lady Be Good “is the only Gershwin tune I do in my entire repertoire,” Borle added, “but Ella is my idol.”

She will record the new demo next month with Jeff Presslaff (piano), Gilles Fournier (bass), Kelly Marques (drums), Floyd Hall (soprano saxophone) and Tim Cummings (guitar).

She’ll use the new demo to reapply to Film and Sound in April for a grant to produce a full album. It will also be used to promote the singer for jazz festival spots and work around town. It will be ready in time to seek a spot at the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, which looks at local acts in January or February, she said, She may send it to other western Canadian festivals, such as Edmonton’s.

It’s also good for seeking showcase concert spots at conferences, Borle said, and the Prairie Music Awards will be held in Winnipeg next year, which means she can try for a performing spot and, if the full CD is ready, it could be nominated for an award.

In the meantime, Borle is doing some teaching — “part-time substituting” — but mainly concentrating on her music.

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Jazz violinist Regina Carter will make history on Dec. 30 when she becomes the first African-American and first jazz musician to perform on Paganini’s legendary Guarneri violin in Genoa, Italy, at a concert at the Teatro Dell’Opera.

This year marks the first time that a non-classical musician has been chosen to perform on the Guarneri. Carter trained as a classical violinist while growing up in her home town of Detroit, but she is known as a leading jazz musician.

Being invited to play the famous instrument is no small task.

The Paganini Institute allows the violin to be played by only select guest soloists. The selection process requires approval from the communal government, the mayor of Genoa, the Paganini Commission, the technicians that care for the violin, and, finally, the Italian Cultural Ministry, Carter’s record label, Verve, said in a news release.

The violin was created by Bartolomeo Guarneri in 1743. It was used by Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) during his career as a violin player and composer. It is nicknamed the “cannone” (canon) because it is so loud and has such a powerful sound. The Guarneri is an Italian national treasure; it is stored in a bank vault in Genoa and travels with an armed police escort. It was the first thing President George W. Bush requested to see on his visit to Genoa for the G-8 Summit this year.

Carter, who describes the chance to play as “truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” will be joined by her quintet: Werner “Vana” Gierig (piano), Mayra Casales (percussion), Chris Lightcap (bass), and Alvester Garnett (drums).

chris.smith@freepress.mb.ca

PHOTO KEN GIGLIOTTI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS