Photo by Lisa Waldner
Janice is a very active band leader, directing her own jazz groups, the jump-blues group The Swing Cats, Premium and her dance band, CLASS ACT. She is a long-time member of the Ron Paley Big Band and her artistry is frequently heard at Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra “pops” concerts. In 2002 Janice released her critically-acclaimed feature CD, She’s Hip, which showcases both her lyrical, engaging playing style and her evocative well-crafted compositions.
Highly innovative, in June 2007 Janice collaborated with outstanding local choreographer Brenda Gorlick to present Jazz on Tap at the 2007 Jazz Winnipeg Festival’s Manitoba Night. This show featured a number of Manitoba’s most outstanding tap artists who added a highly percussive element to some of Janice’s original compositions as well as a few jazz classics.
Janice is a “triple threat” in the woodwind world, playing flute and clarinet in addition to all of the members of the saxophone family. This versatility has afforded her many opportunities to perform as a member of pit orchestras for a great number of musical theatre productions both at Rainbow Stage and the Manitoba Theatre Centre. In fact, during 2008 Janice was “in the pit” for The Full Monty, Dreamgirls (M.T.C.) and Peter Pan (Rainbow Stage). She is also a first-call musician for touring acts that require local musicians, including jazz legend Clark Terry, children’s entertainers Sharon, Lois and Bram, 60's crooner Booby Vinton, famous Motown groups The Four Tops and the Temptations, and country star Kenny Rogers. A career highlight occurred when the Janice Finlay Jazz Orchestra appeared as the opening act for comedian Bob Newhart. Janice was also proud to be nominated in the Arts & Culture Category for the 2004 YM/YWCA Women of Distinction award.
Over the many years she has pursued her musical passion, Janice has developed into an extraordinary educator whose gift for teaching was acknowledged in 2004 when she was awarded the Xerox Manitoba Jazz Educator of the Year Award. From 2005 -2007 Janice was the inaugural Jazz Program Coordinator at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts and she remains an active private instructor in addition to teaching various jazz ensembles and jazz appreciation courses for the general public.
In early 2008, the Janice Finlay Jazz Quartet performed a concert to rave reviews in Kenora, Ontario and played to a full crowd at Mardi Jazz at the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre. In mid-March 2008, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra premiered a new composition of Janice's that was commissioned especially for the group.
Reflecting an enduring interest in investing and finance*, recently Janice developed a workshop entitled “Financial Fitness for Freelancers” which she has enjoyed presenting for a number of arts organizations over the past year.
* A little known fact: Janice worked as a tour guide at the Bourse do Montreal (Montreal stock exchange) while completing her degree in jazz performance at McGill University!
Press Clippings:
“Finlay’s saxophone was the anchor of (the Janice Finlay Jazz Quartet’s) sound with catchy songwriting that weaved with the passion of musical storytelling… her musical ability and creativity have the strength to carry the group on her own…”
Jon Thompson, Kenora Miner and News
“…Janice Finlay’s rock-solid saxophone solos.”
Holly Harris, Winnipeg Free Press
“Findlay (sic) is a truly classic player, able to take the conventions of jazz and create a fresh sound.”
Cindy Filipenko, Herizons magazine,
“…you can’t miss the conviction, whether she’s tearing up a chart on tenor or alto with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra or blowing cool flute on a club date.”
Randall McIlroy, Uptown Magazine
“…it’s the musical director, Janice Finlay, one of the most sought-after musicians…on Winnipeg’s jazz scene, who comes across as the real star of this outfit.”
SCENE Roots and Blues Magazine
For bookings and information, please contact Class Act Music Productions in any of the following ways:
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