Demo Cates

Singer, sax player, composer and actor. Some of Cates’ writing credits include music and lyrics for the animated television series “The Busy World of Richard Scary”, “The New Adventures of Paddington Bear” and “Caillou” Cates has earned the respect of Jazz musicians at home and abroad with his visionary method and superlative talents.

Grown and developed in Detroit Michigan but exposed and revered in Toronto, Cates is a mature Musician and Vocalist who in his words, ‘plays on emotions and allows the sax and his voice to translate inspiration in smooth and sensuous sounds’. In 2005 Cates released “Smooth…Try Something New”. The single “I’ll Try Something New” reached and stayed No.1 on the Wave 94.7 Smooth Jazz Charts for two weeks. The CD was nominated for the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards that year as well as Cates for Vocalist and Instrumentalist of the year.

Stan Fomin

Born in Ukraine, classically trained in piano, music theory and composition. Upon arriving in Canada, he rounded up his education by studying contemporary film scoring and production with Glenn Morley at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He has scored music for Alliance Atlantis, CBC Nelvana, YTV,Barna-Alper Productions. His orchestrating and arranging work includes CD “Classics Go Pop” for Parry Music ( BMG), two musicals “The Forest Song’ and “Little Printce” for Nazarov National Theatre in Moscow, Broadway Songs book published by Hal Leonard. In 2005, Stan released his first CD Smooth Session, showcasing as a composer, arranger and performer. The track Flight 111 made it to number one on the Wave 94.7 Smooth Jazz Charts for 3 weeks.

Stan was nominated in the “Keyboardist of the Year” category for 2006 and 2008 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.

Julie — whose last name is Crochetière — grew up in Montreal, the younger of two girls. As kids, her parents made them pick one sport and one instrument. Copying her big sis, Julie chose the piano. Dance was her other choice. When her sister next went onto singing lessons (even though she’s tone deaf, says Julie), Julie took drawing. Strangely, Julie is now the singer in the family and her sister a graphic designer. For eight years, Julie studied classical piano, although she really wanted to learn the pop music she heard on the radio, such as Richard Marx’ “Right Here Waiting,” but her instructor deemed it too simple. By 13 though, she composed her first song when a boy she liked didn’t pay an ounce of attention.

At 19, Julie got an opportunity that is so commonplace now — on a reality television talent search called Popstars, which sought a girl pop group. Its 2000 self-titled album went platinum and spawned top 10 singles “How Much Longer” and “Days Like That.” The five-piece disbanded in 2002. “It was an education in the music industry,” she reflects. “I liked the ride. I liked that it was going fast. Now, I’m trying to use my building blocks, to create something genuine where things happen and work.”

In 2003, Julie released her solo debut, an EP, Café, produced by Haig.V. (Bran Van 3000). This is when she met drummer Tony Albino in Montreal who will later produce her next album. She performed songs from Café at jazz festivals, showcasing her piano playing and songwriting skills, as well as her ability to make classics her own.

 “I think my motivation is to better myself,” says Julie. “I feel like I can better myself with music. I think it forces me and challenges me to think differently. It forces me to step outside my comfort zone and my comfort zone only gets bigger when I do step outside of it. It makes me a better musician.”

Jay has performed on stage alongside popular artists such as Gregory Isaacs, Culture, Mutabaruka, Dobby Dobson and Admiral Bailey. As a versatile singer and performer, Jay has also leant her talent to fundraising and fashion show events. She has wowed audiences across Canada with her beautiful voice and captivating presence.

As winner of last year’s “Most Promising New Artist” award at the Reggae Music Achievement Awards and nominated for this year’s “Top Female Vocalist” award, Jay Davis is on the rise to worldwide success and recognition in her music career.

He has also performed at the Roy Thompson Hall and has been a headliner at the Canadian National Exhibition. In addition, Jay’s name is synonymous with great entertainment as a featured vocalist on Caribbean and Mediterranean cruise ships A dynamic singer with a captivating stage presence, Jay has performed his wide ranging repertoire of music for audiences around the world, including parts of Europe & Asia.

He has been a featured performer at numerous night clubs and resorts, and major chains such as the Sheraton, Hilton, Ramada, and Holiday Inn, and more specifically, the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and The Matsuri in Japan. He has also performed at the Roy Thompson Hall and has been a headliner at the Canadian National Exhibition. In addition, Jay’s name is synonymous with great entertainment as a featured vocalist on Caribbean and Mediterranean cruise ships.

Chris Smith is a singer/songwriter inspired by his family’s extensive travels around the world and intoxicated by the wonderful music he was exposed to as he grew up. Chris’s music is a blend of various influences including pop, jazz, soul and world rhythms.

To date, Chris has released four albums. His most recent, Let The Ball Roll, was released on June 30, 2009. Back To You was released in 2006, Real Thing was released in 2004 and his debut Room Inside My Heart was released in 1995.

In the company of such successful artists as Michael Bublé and Diana Krall, Chris has been nominated for nine Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards including Best Album, Best Song and Best Male Vocalist.

Early Years

Born in England, Chris Smith was the second son to a Swedish mother and English father. The family travelled extensively throughout Southeast Asia, the Far East and Europe.

Growing up listening to jazz, blues and anything by The Beatles, Chris cites myriad influences, including his older brother, Peter, who became a successful musician in his own right.

He discovered his songwriting talent at a young age and recorded a demo before enrolling in the Jazz programme at Humber College in Toronto. Upon graduating, Chris formed The Graduates with three fellow Humber students performing Chris-Smith originals.

Chris’s next project, Regatta, won the nationally recognized Q107 Homegrown contest and caught the ear of BMG Records who signed the band to an international record deal.

Despite Regatta’s success, Chris knew his future lay in jazz and pop. He leapt into a solo career in 1995 with the release of his debut, Room Inside My Heart and, following that, began an enduring creative association with Greg Kavanagh. Subsequent albums, Real Thing, Back To You and Let The Ball Roll have increased his fan base, achieved critical acclaim and gained industry recognition.