Archive | Odyssey Showcase

2019

All the 2018 and 2019 shows presented at the National Gallery of Canada were sold out.

1. The Gift of Jazz©^®

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.

The series for 2018 presented at the National Gallery of Canada was sold out.

For more information / reviews:

2. A Tribute to Canadian Soldiers in the First World War

This tribute was first presented as part of Odyssey Showcase’s signature event: Canada Roars, A Musical Taste of Our Canadian Heritage from 2014 to 2017 and as part of a special First World War photo exhibit presentation at the National Gallery of Canada on November 11, 2014.

2015 Photo album – The Dumbells, Canada Roars, Algonquin College

3. Canada Speaks©

This is a historical experience as audiences engage with actors portraying key historic figures and scenes from the First Peoples to early explorers and coureurs de bois to the characters of the War of 1812, Confederation and modern day adventurers.

Canada Speaks provides students and others an opportunity to interact with historical Canadian figures in various contexts.

The characters are well researched and dressed in authentic regalia and wardrobe, portrayed by persons with professional experience and deep knowledge of the people they portray.

We have researched, costumed and presented dozens of historical figures who have portrayed their historic contributions through interactions with each other and students and the general public in contexts ranging from fur trading posts to the history of banking.

Characters represent all facets of Canadian history including Indigenous peoples, political, military, pioneering. artistic and other characters from all walks of life, both famous and less well known but important to Canadian history.

2015 Photo Album Canada Speaks/Fur Trading Post at Algonquin College

2017 Photo Album Canada Speaks/National Gallery of Canada

4. The Hiawatha Tree of Peace

First introduced as part of a Canada Speaks pre-show activity for Canada Roars, we invited students to write personal messages of peace and hope on cards which were placed on a specially designed three panel Tree of Peace.

This was a very successful project that we launched in May 2017 at Algonquin College

with an overwhelming response from thousands of students from across the province. (See images attached below) Its most exciting feature is the notes and messages of hope and peace, some very insightful and some very personal written by students, teachers and the general public.

We then repeated the activity as part of a signature event held at the National Gallery of Canada in the summer of 2017 as part of the National Gallery’s summer itinerary Our Masterpieces, Our Stories.

The main focus of the evening was to view and enjoy the new exhibits at the Gallery and engage with, and have a photo opportunity with, actors from Canada Speaks who portrayed key figures from Canada’s diverse history. These characters were stationed throughout the Gallery contributing to the Indigenous and other Gallery exhibits.

2017 Photo album Canada Speaks and The Hiawatha Tree of Peace.

5. Canada Roars©

All of the projects outlined above are projects that grew out of the major signature project Canada Roars: A Musical Taste of Our Canadian Heritage/Notre patrimoine canadien, une odyssée musicale, a unique blend of music and history showcasing key social and cultural transformations in the making of modern Canada.

From the drum beats, voices, colourful regalia and dancing of the Indigenous Peoples to traditional Québecois, Métis, Celtic and Acadian songs and dances; from classical music and opera; to Military music and the patriotic First World War component; from Jazz to Country, Folk and the last one hundred years of pop and rock, and Canada’s contribution to television, film and the world stage, this unique and interdisciplinary production shows how music can stimulate, inspire and inform an audience about key social and cultural transformations in the making of modern Canada.

Audiences relate to this history of Canada through music in ways they have never been able to relate to Canadian history before with enthusiasm, interest and passion.

2017 Photo album Canada Roars

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)

Just Jamaal YouTube Link

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