The Group
There is a large and impressive network of musicians and other professionals affiliated with the Kevin Barrett Group. Any of these people might be involved in a performance, recording or other project sometime soon.
The following is a list of some of the fine people we work with these days.
Drew
Birston
Bass / Composition
Bassist Drew Birston is a versatile musician who has been active on
the Canadian music scene for over twenty years. He has toured, recorded
and performed with many artists in the jazz and pop scenes, including
Amanda Martinez, the Sultans of String, the Ron Davis Trio, Justin Hines,
Chantal Kreviazuk, Melanie Doane, Sarah Slean, Wild Strawberries, and
the Leslie Spit Treeo. When in Toronto, he keeps busy performing live
and working on albums and jingles. Drew is a member of Polite Science
with Tim Shia and Kevin.
Tim
Shia
Drums / Percussion / Composition
Saskatoon-born drummer and bandleader, Tim Shia has performed and recorded
with many of Canada’s most acclaimed musicians, played festivals
and shows across the country and recorded and composed music for CDs,
television and film. His current projects include: the Worst Pop Band
Ever, LEO37, and the Micronauts, Rhonda Stakich and the Chris Hunt Tentet.
Tim is also a member of Polite Science with Drew Birston and Kevin.
Mark Duggan
Vibraphone /
Percussion
Percussionist Mark Duggan has been active in the Canadian music scene
for many years as both performer and composer. Working with such groups
as the Evergreen Club Gamelan, the percussion ensemble NEXUS, or his
own group Vuja dé, Mark's versatile blend of world and contemporary
percussion has impressed audiences at the Montreux Jazz Festival in
Switzerland, the Festival de Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville and the
Lincoln Center in New York.
Julie Michels
Vocals
Julie Michels has been singing as long as she can remember and landed
her first paying gig at the age of 15. Starting out in folk, rock, and
blues, with a brief detour into Scottish highland dance, Julie had already
begun to develop her distinctively soulful sound in clubs and on radio
when she was introduced to jazz by legendary bassist Richard Davis.
For several years Julie divided her time between gigs in Europe and
North America before settling in Toronto, where she has played with
Kevin Barrett, George Koller, and Wayne Cass. In 2003 Julie & Kevin
released Live at Statler’s, which can be heard regularly on Toronto's
Jazz.FM91.
David Wall
Vocals
David Wall is a singer, composer, lyricist and vocal coach. He has performed
and recorded as lead vocalist of the much revered rhythm and blues band
the Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, and with Toronto’s highly acclaimed
Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, as well as with an impressive cross-section
of artists including Big Sugar, The Barenaked Ladies, Lorraine Segato
and Ken Whiteley. Since 2001 David has developed a busy career as a
composer, working with directors such as Simcha Jacobovici, Avi Lewis,
Michael Maclear and John Greyson and has written many scores for film
and television.
Henry
Heillig
Bass / Composition
Bassist Henry Heillig is best known for his long years as co-leader
of the award winning salsa/funk/jazz band Manteca. Henry has been musical
director for both the Genie and Gemini Awards (Canadian film and Televison)
shows, and has composed music for film and documentaries. Recently,
he has been touring Canada with Carlos del Junco, and leading his own
contemporary jazz quartet the Heillig Manoeuvre.
Glenn
Anderson
Drums
Toronto drummer Glenn Anderson leads his own small big band, whose CD
'Swingin the Blues' was released in 2003. Glenn is also a much sought-after
sideman, performing many styles of music in clubs, concerts, festivals,
cruise ships, recordings, and television appearances. He has worked
with such notable artists as Swing Rosie, Melissa Stylianou, Alex Pangman,
Big Rude Jake, New Orleans trumpeter Kevin Clark, Jake Langley, Georgette
Fry and The Excelsior Jazz Band and many others.
Mark
Shannon
Bass / Recording
Engineer / Producer
Mark Shannon has been producing, writing and performing music in the
Toronto area for over two decades. He has produced recordings for many
talented artists in a wide range of material spanning Jazz, Rock, Gospel,
Folk and Alt-Country. Mark composes music for documentary and feature
films, and has also written and produced radio jingles and themes. He
also gigs regularly on his main instrument - the electric bass, and
is comfortable playing in many musical genres. He owns and operates
The TreeFort Recording and Mastering Studio. Mark co-produced, mixed
and mastered both Kevin Barrett Group CDs, and mastered ‘Live
at Statler’s’.
Mark
Congram
Drums
/ Tech Support
Mark Congram was the original drummer the Kevin Barrett Group, and is
one of the tastiest time-keepers ever. One of the problems in the world
is that Mark isn’t playing much these days. He does, however,
have a successful career as a Systems Administrator, and often helps
keep Kevin’s household "on-line".
Doug
Banwell
Woodwinds
/ Web Design
Originally from Kingston, Ontario, woodwind player Doug Banwell now
makes his home in Huntsville. In addition to his proficiency on just
about anything in the saxophone, flute or clarinet families, Doug is
a busy computer consultant and web designer (you are enjoying his work
right now.) See www.dougbanwell.com
too.