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Welcome

February 2020
NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA
380 Sussex Drive

THE GIFT OF JAZZ : From Africa to New Orleans to the True North Strong
and Free. – A musical celebration of Jazz from its African and Gospel roots
to modern day expressions including the arrival and influence of Jazz in
Canada.


Contact Odyssey Showcase for more information.

Wednesday, Feb 12 Show: SOLD OUT!

Thursday, Feb 13 Show: (tickets available on eventbrite)

NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA
380 Sussex Drive

(613) 321-2066 or info@odysseyshowcase.org

From its African and Gospel roots to modern day expressions including the arrival and influence of Jazz in Canada, The Gift of Jazz is A Tribute to Black History Month / A Celebration of the profound impact of Black history and culture on music.

This presentation celebrates the courage, determination, grace and unrelenting spirit of men and women who overcame incredible challenges and reflects the history, impact and contributions of these performers on the world of Jazz.

For more information / reviews:

Gift of Jazz Demo Video

Earth to André Review 

The Gift of Jazz.pdf

Odyssey Showcase

Odyssey Showcase is a registered charity (Charitable Registration #849021944 RR0001) that advances education by providing information to the public and presentations on the history of culture, arts and music.

Among its other presentations, it is particularly well known for its annual joint presentation with TD Canada Trust of Canada Roars: A Musical Taste of our Canadian Heritage. This show is an evolving, educational, highly entertaining, and entirely bilingual stage production showcasing the roots and development of our Canadian musical heritage. This production highlights the power of music to educate audiences about the key social and cultural transformations that created modern-day Canada.

Our Mandate

Our mandate is to support and present engaging and educational activities encompassing music, performance, presentation, and various arts practices. As well, we are mandated to present, distribute and archive documentation and history of Canadian art, music, and performance.

Our focus is to support programming that contributes to the study of both music and history in Canada.

Our Goals

Promote Canada’s culture, history and heritage.

Showcase the beauty, harmony and values of the Canadian experience particularly for Canadian students.

Profile the historical context of Canadian music and its links to social, cultural, economic, industrial and political developments.

Heighten awareness of Canadian history and inspire a renewed sense of passion, pride and interest in our shared Canadian experience.

Board of Directors

David Davis – Chair

Tom Gussman – Member

John Jackson – Member

The gift of jazz, the gift of culture, the gift of music, and the gift of a live experience, shared by all ages.

“The gift of jazz, the gift of culture, the gift of music, and the gift of a live experience, shared by all ages.
I met Deborah Davis and her cast and crew of Odyssey Showcase in 2014, and was immediately intrigued and inspired. I was blown away by so many diverse people gathered together, to bring alive our story, our history. It has shown me the passion of our youth and the strength of our elders. Feeling, like a community of storytellers. The original tale around the evening fire. Odyssey Showcase brings community and fire through music, dance and theater. I am honoured to be a part of this family.
Brad Denys 
 
About Brad : In addition to extensive touring across Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, including among other tasks, performing in more than 1600 shows with Cirque du Soleil, Brad has been working with Deborah Davis as a performer and consultant since 2014 with “Canada Roars: A Musical Taste of Our Canadian Heritage”, “Canada Speaks” and “The Gift of Jazz”.
Brad Denys

With song, dance and storytelling, audiences of all ages and especially students have been guided through the importance of Canada’s history and culture.

“For the past 14 years it has been my pleasure to be a part of Odyssey Showcase’s productions. I wholeheartedly feel that their productions are icons of priceless educational and entertainment value.

My name is Darin Kyle. I am the first Canadian World Tap Dance Champion. I am a keynote speaker and local “community building” activist in Ottawa. My roots in this city run deep. And I have deep respect for how Deborah Davis, her crew and her cast have made an impact on the lives of students. With song, dance and storytelling, audiences of all ages and especially students have been guided through the importance of Canada’s history and culture.

Odyssey Showcase is devoted to finding the right talent to do the job and does it extraordinarily well. It is my opinion that if given the opportunity to back the Canada Speaks project, then the only course of action is to throw all of your support behind the initiative and ride the subsequent wave of success. Speaking from experience, it will be a partnership built on mutually assured success. I welcome you to experience this partnership for yourself.”

Darin David Kyle

Darin Kyle

Most of all, Deborah is one of those rare individuals that encompasses musical talent with a deep sense of purpose.

“Deborah Davis is someone people respect and admire with great affection. Partly, because of the incredible energy she is prepared to devote to what she believes in, but even more, it is because that is how she feels about all of them. Cast and crew, sponsors, teachers, children, students and everyone associated with anything Deborah touches all support her because she brings to life in ways others can only dream of, so much that is moving, beautiful, inspiring and, quite simply, the best in us. Deborah brings people together through the arts.”
“…Most of all, Deborah is one of those rare individuals that encompasses musical talent with a deep sense of purpose. Her strong beliefs in supporting Canadian culture have given her a “raison d’être”  She is very generous with sharing a stage with all performers and unwavering in getting the best quality to any project she initiates. My association as musical director for her many endeavors has been a great journey that goes back twenty years including projects such as A Musical Taste of our Canadian Heritage, Satin Dolls, What is this Thing called Jazz, Choonga Changa and various other musical performances.
I would be remiss if I did not mention her generosity to bring out and personally pay for hundreds of economically disadvantaged local children over the past nineteen years to have the opportunity to see the productions……Deborah is very deserving and long overdue for any awards in the arts.”
Peter Beaudoin, Musical Director and Musician

About Peter: Peter has over thirty years of experience as a musician, drummer and band leader. He has also completed nine Canadian Forces world show tours, to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Dubai. He has had an impressive career as a respected and well sought after performer and recording musician with numerous world class Canadian and international artists including Harry Chapin, Petula Clark, Rita Coolidge  and Rob McConnell (Boss Brass) to name a few. Peter has been working with Deborah Davis since 1997 on a number of projects as Musical Director includingSatin Dolls, What is this Thing Called Jazz, Canada Roars and the Canadian Musical Odyssey Ensemble.

Peter Beaudoin

The Gift of Jazz is an experience that perfectly captures the eclectic journey in North American musical evolution.

“The Gift of Jazz is an experience that perfectly captures the eclectic journey in North American musical evolution. The diverse team are professionals dedicated to disseminating the immense beauty and joy that jazz offers the spirit! It is a privilege to create with this production, and I anticipate to every stage that we have the opportunity to share the story and wonder of jazz.”
 Jamall Jackson Rogers (Just Jamaal)
About Jamaal : Jamaal Jackson Rogers is an award winning poet, hiphop artists, arts educator, and creative entrepreneur. He is currently Ottawa’s English Poet Laureate and has brought his work to audiences nationally and abroad. His defining moments are when he makes intimate connections with his participants during his performances and workshop exchanges.
 
His topics range from emotional maturity to social justice, from the struggles of everyday living to the human condition. He is a father of five and resides in Ottawa, Canada, using the nation’s capital and his performance studio, THE ORIGIN ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTRE, as his launch pad to practice, teach, mentor and advocate for the arts.
Jamaal Jackson Rogers

It is always wonderful to witness tribute to an American art form because doing so tips a hat to all of the diversity that contributes to its creation.

It is always wonderful to witness tribute to an American art form because doing so tips a hat to all of the diversity that contributes to its creation. The American experiment, at its very core is a testament to the involvement of so many cultures and backgrounds and the blessings that emerge.

Jazz is an American treasure, a Gift given by its people to the world, musically and rhythmically depicting its pain, joy, energy, youthfulness, recklessness and wonder. This is clearly seen in the presentation by Deborah Davis’ Gift of Jazz, chronicling the birth, resurrection and deployment of this art form on the world stage.

At the core of this performance we see and feel the soul of the African Diaspora.  We hear the agony of the middle passage and hope of a people newly freed from bondage.  As the scenery and century turns and America begins to flex we witness the influences of the European classics and modernity on the presentation of jazz into the mainstream of culture. The ‘Gift’ presentation gives homage to the great performers of Bessie Smith, Louis ‘Satchmo‘ Armstrong, Fats Waller and many more.

All of the ‘Gift’ performers and musicians are dedicated artisans and lovers of both the arts and their professionalism is evident in this performance.

It is very clear the Deborah Davis and Segue to Jazz has a winner in the ‘Gift of Jazz’ as she continues to share this with the Greater Ottawa Community.  When presented again it is a must see.”

Michael Curtis Hanna
About Michael: Michael was blessed with the unique life experience of living in a community with Sarah Vaughn, Al Hibler, Thad Jones, Nat Adderly and a host of noted musicians around the corner from his home. Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey he was immersed in much of the changing musical landscape of the past 50 years.

Finding Jesus and Gospel music Michael sang in church choirs from Detroit to Ottawa. As a solo vocalist, Michael toured with and for his father, the late Sir Roland Hanna in the United States and Japan. Having a fondness for male vocal harmony, Michael nurtured this love of singing with male a cappella groups including the Canadian Men’s Chorus of Toronto.

Michael currently manages Rahanna Music Inc., and has developed over 300 compositions of Sir Roland Hanna. He can also be found on several CD’s in addition to performing in Ottawa and abroad.

Michael Curtis Hanna
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