The Historic Rex presents a Swingin Vocal Jazz Quartet from Vancouver and NYC - (Queen W/University) at The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar

Known for her clever original lyrics, timeless style, and captivating stage presence, don’t miss West Coast–based jazz artist Angela Verbrugge as she returns to the stage at The Rex January 11 and 12th with NYC pianist Ray Gallon. Angela and Ray are celebrating the release of their new album, In the Wonder of the Night, a vocal jazz collection of standards and originals that explore how nighttime makes space for romance, connection, and contemplation.

Possessing a “winsome, brightly-burnished, pliable voice, ample emotional intelligence, and conspicuously good taste… now is the time for Angela Verbrugge”, writes Andrew Gilbert for JazzTimes Magazine. Inspired by Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, and other jazz vocalists popular in 1940s/50s, Angela brings tenderness, wit, and passion to her interpretations of standards. Her originals are inspired by the classic Gershwin–Cole Porter tradition. Her collaborations include songwriting with Caity Gyorgy, Ken Fowser, Nick Hempton, Neal Miner and Ray Gallon.

Since 2021, Angela has performed across Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Türkiye, England, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, France, and from coast-to-coast in Canada. She has won reader polls in JazzTimes and All About Jazz, released four acclaimed albums on US and German record labels, and was recently nominated for Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Her music is played by CBC Saturday Night Jazz, and on prominent jazz programs around the world. Her catalogue has accumulated almost a million streams across music platforms. Verbrugge has shared the stage with leading Canadian jazz artists such as Neil Swainson, Terry Clarke, Jim Doxas, Miles Black, Jodi Proznick, Reg Schwager, Kodi Hutchinson, Karl Janusska, Sylvain Gagnon, and international jazz musicians such as Evan Sherman, Franck Amsallem, Julian Schmidt, Massimiliano Rolff, Xaver Hellmeier,Hiroko Mase and Akane Matsumoto.

For the Rex, Angela will be joined by a wonderful trio: Grammy-nominated New York City pianist Ray Gallon, alongside two musicians well-known to Toronto audiences… Juno-nominated bassist Duncan Hopkins (Diana Krall, Scott Hamilton, Kenny Wheeler, Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass), and first-call Canadian drummer Morgan Childs (Amanda Tosoff, Pat LaBarbera, Phil Dwyer, Kelly Jefferson, Kirk MacDonald, Lew Tabackin, Ingrid & Christine Jensen, Eric Alexander, Laila Biali).

Ray Gallon is a veteran New York jazz pianist whose expressive, swinging style bridges bebop tradition and modern creativity who Ahmad Jamal called “extraordinary”. Mentored by the likes of John Lewis, Hank Jones, and Jaki Byard, Gallon has performed worldwide with icons including Ron Carter, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Les Paul, and Wycliffe Gordon, and has appeared at the White House and Kennedy Center alongside Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, and Joe Williams. An in-demand accompanist in New York and beyond, he accompanied Jon Hendricks, Sheila Jordan, Jane Monheit, and Chaka Khan. His acclaimed Cellar Live trio albums Grand Company (with Ron Carter and Lewis Nash) and Make Your Move (with David Wong and Kenny Washington) showcase his inventive originals and inspired interpretations of standards. A full-time faculty member at The City College of New York in Harlem, Gallon has also taught at Juilliard and The New School. Pianist Bill Charlap calls his work “informed, passionate, and personal… with a wrought-iron jazz vocabulary.”

URLs:
Bandsintown: https://go.evvnt.com/3416578-4?pid=11710
YouTube: https://go.evvnt.com/3416578-5?pid=11710
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3416578-6?pid=11710
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3416578-7?pid=11710

Artists: Angela Verbrugge, Ray Gallon, Duncan Hopkins, Morgan Childs

Time:  20:00-22:30