Montreal, QC
http://radio3.cbc.ca/artists/John-Labelle
John Labelle is one of the top crooners from Canada, a singer
influenced by Frank Sinatra's conception but displaying a strong voice
of his own. Labelle was introduced to music by hearing his parent's
records which included several big-band swing albums and a sampler of
hit vocal recordings from the 1940s through the '70s. Although he
played flute and tenor sax in high school, his main interest was in
learning as many lyrics as possible from the classic standards. When he
was 21, Labelle was working as a bartender at the Montreal jazz club
Biddle's when, as a bit of a joke, he was called up on-stage to sit in
with the band. He did so well on his versions of "A Foggy Day" and
"Just in Time" that his singing was taken seriously and he gradually
switched to becoming a full-time performer. In 1995, Labelle made his
recording debut with If You See Her for the Jazz Inspiration label and
appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Among his activities since then
have been an eight year stint singing with the Montreal Jazz Big Band,
joining with two other vocalists in the Three Crooners, performing in
Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Washington D.C., and throughout Canada,
recording further CDs for the Jazz Inspiration and JLP labels, and
becoming a regular fixture in the Montreal jazz scene.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=17073
Blurbs
"... What a voice!" Katie …
John Labelle is one of the top crooners from Canada, a singer
influenced by Frank Sinatra's conception but displaying a strong voice
of his own. Labelle was introduced to music by hearing his parent's
records which included several big-band swing albums and a sampler of
hit vocal recordings from the 1940s through the '70s. Although he
played flute and tenor sax in high school, his main interest was in
learning as many lyrics as possible from the classic standards. When he
was 21, Labelle was working as a bartender at the Montreal jazz club
Biddle's when, as a bit of a joke, he was called up on-stage to sit in
with the band. He did so well on his versions of "A Foggy Day" and
"Just in Time" that his singing was taken seriously and he gradually
switched to becoming a full-time performer. In 1995, Labelle made his
recording debut with If You See Her for the Jazz Inspiration label and
appeared at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Among his activities since then
have been an eight year stint singing with the Montreal Jazz Big Band,
joining with two other vocalists in the Three Crooners, performing in
Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Washington D.C., and throughout Canada,
recording further CDs for the Jazz Inspiration and JLP labels, and
becoming a regular fixture in the Montreal jazz scene.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=17073
Blurbs
"... What a voice!" Katie Malloch, CBC Jazz Beat
"John Labelle is the real deal. He has panache, verve and no shortage of talent." Ross Porter, COOL 99.1 FM
"One of Canada's top crooners"
"heart-felt renditions of infectious classic songs"
Scott Yanow- Author of nine jazz books including Jazz On Film, Bebop, Swing, Trumpet Kings and Jazz On Record 1917-76
"infectious, jazzy vibe"
David Zych, JAZZTIMES/MARCH1999
"Labelle
does what every great singer must do: take any song, old or new, and
display all the musical and lyrical qualities, feelings and meanings
with a fresh style and voice." Rapport Magazine, San Francisco
Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Horn
| FANS |
PLAYLISTED |
TOTAL PLAYS |
| 1 |
17 |
584 |
Posted by John Labelle on Aug 06, 2008
