Accomplished jazz musicians put a classic jazz spin on 1980's pop tunes. A poignant, fun and creative world-class debut album.

8 MP3 Songs in this album (29:36) !
Related styles: JAZZ: Crossover Jazz, POP: 80's Pop

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Details:
You couldnât find a group of jazz musicians in Alberta with a more impressive resume than that of the Valiant Thieves. Yes, they play silly 1980âs cover tunes, and yes, their show is highly entertaining, light, and will bring a smile of nostalgia to the face of anyone who ever wore fluorescent shoelaces or stirrup pants. Plus, the Valiant Thieves have the element of surprise in their favor: one doesnât necessarily expect a well-dressed, classy, jazz quartet to launch into a stirring version of âI Wear My Sunglasses at Nightâ, followed by âPop Goes the Worldâ and âWe Are the Championsâ.

But aside from being highly entertaining, it is explicitly evident the caliber of this quartet is second to none, with enough Juno awards, international achievements, and professional experience between them to make even Corey Hart blush. Truly they are among the best musicians our province has to offer, and have been recorded exquisitely on their debut disk by Juno Nominated producer Douglas Romanow.

In a nutshell, The Valiant Thieves put a new meaning to the term âcover bandââas it turns out, you CAN have top quality class and fun embodied in the same group-- this quartet is exuberant and poignant living proof of it.

The Valiant Thieves are:

Sandro Dominelli, Drums
Sandro is Alberta's first call jazz drummer, maintaining a busy performing and recording career, as well as overseeing Visionary Studio in St. Albert. A 2004 Juno Nomination with his own recording âMeet Me In The Alleyâ is just one of many feathers in his cap; Sandro has shared the stage with New Yorkers Joe Lovano, Sonny Fortune, Kenny Werner, Tim Hagans, Roswell Rudd, Steve Slagle, Mark Murphy, and Ben Monder, and has worked with other performers such as Julian Priestner, Rob Schepps. Mike Murley, Rob McConnell, Guido Basso, Dave Restivo, Kirk MacDonald, Phil Dwyer, Hugh Fraser, Ian McDougall, Cambell Ryga, Chris Tarry (of Metalwood) and the late and celebrated Doug Riley.

Mike Lent, Upright Bass
Michael has played professionally for over twenty years. From touring with jazz greats like Lee Konitz and Sheila Jordan, to recording with kd lang and Jann Arden, Michael's versatility has kept him in high demand. He has also toured with Jann Arden both as her bassist and musical director, and has produced successful albums for local rising stars such as Samantha Schulz and Wendy McNeill. He also the musical director for this yearâs International Leonard Cohen Festival.

Chris Andrew, Piano
Chrisâ resume lists a veritable whoâs who of jazz, having performed with Joshua Redman, Sonny fortune, Bud Shank, Pete Christlieb, Joe LaBarbera, P.J. Perry, Kirk MacDonald, Paquito DâRivera, Brad Turner, and Steve Wallace, just to name some highlights. Locally Chris has performed and recorded with numerous well-known groups including The Jump Orchestra, Maracujah,Tim Tamashiro, The Swinging Bovines, and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Chris has recently been honoured with the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award for his virtuosic talent, and now juggles heading the piano program at Grant MacEwan College with touring with country superstar Paul Brandt, as well as continuing to play with various jazz artists and the acclaimed Latin group Bomba!.

Ann Vriend, Vocals
International performing artist Ann Vriend is a familiar name and voice to Albertans, having received a great deal of press and radio play under her own name as a singer-songwriter. In 2003 Ann won a songwriting contest which took her to Nashville and helped pay for her first album, and within 6 months of graduating from Grant MacEwanâs music program Ann was invited to record at Sony Studios in New York City. Since then Ann has headlined at festivals such as the Holzminden Jazz Festival (Germany), and the Toowoomba Leonard Cohen Festival (Australia), among others, and has sold over 10,000 albums independently. NOW Magazine states âEdmonton vocalist turns soul on its head, belting out delicate introspection in the form of fire", and this is indeed an accurate description of Annâs talent.