1. Upon Reflection - Tosoff
2. Retrato Em Branco e Preto - Jobim & Chico Baraque
3. Habitat - Sean Cronin
4. Wandering - Tosoff
5. Concept - Tosoff
6. Still Life - Tosoff
7. Song for Bill - Tosoff
8. The Look - Tosoff
9. Peace - Horace Silver
The Band:
Evan Arntzen - Saxophones/clarinet
Sean Cronin - Bass
Morgan Childs - Drums
Influences
Duke Ellington, Monk, Mulgrew Miller, Phineas Newborn, Wynton Kelly, Bill Evans, Joey Calderazzo, Branford Marsalis, Renee Rosnes, Wayne Shorter, Fred Hersch, Horace Silver, Bud Powell, Kenny Barron, Kenny Werner, etc
Pianist Amanda Tosoff grew up in White Rock B.C where she began studying music at an early age. She attended the prestigious music program at Semiahmoo Secondary school from 1996-2001, where she had the opportunity to play and perform in the jazz and concert ensembles under the direction of award winning educator Dave Proznick. Amanda also studied with renowned jazz educators, including Lloyd Abrams.
After highschool, Amanda continued on to study at Capilano College in North Vancouver
BC, where she received a degree in Music - Jazz performance in 2005. At the college, Amanda honed her piano skills under the tutelage of Juno award winning pianist Ross Taggart, Chris Sigarson and Lorne Kellett. She also had the opportunity to study with some of Canada's most prominent jazz educators and performers, including Mike Allen, Ihor Kukurudza, Rejean Marois, Al Wold and many more. During her tenure at Cap, Amanda performed with the school's top ensembles "Nitecap" Vocal Jazz, and Cap College "ABand", with visiting luminaries Seamus Blake, Cedar Walton, Nneena Freelon, Ed Thigpen, Jane Bunnett, Rob McConnell, Phil Nimmons, Regina Carter, and Kristin Korb.
Amanda has been a recipient of several awards including the Fraser MacPherson Music Scholarship (RBC Excellence in Jazz award), awards from the Vancouver Women's Musical Society, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Vancouver Foundation of the Arts.
Now, at only 23 years of age, Amanda is quickly emerging as one of Canada's top new talents. Already, she has had the pleasure of performing with internationally acclaimed artists such as Chuck Isreals, Ingrid Jensen, Jon Wikon, Russ Botton, Campbell Ryga, Jodi Proznick and many more. Her current project, the Amanda Tosoff Quartet, features the supportive playing of four fellow award winning musicians: Saxophonist Evan Arntzen, Bassist Sean Cronin, and drummer Morgan Childs. Since meeting in college, they have collectively solidified a reputation as one of the most promising young jazz groups in Canada. The group has been featured on CBC Radio programs "Hot Air" and "JazzBeat" and their debut recording "Still Life" continues to be played regularly on CBC and many other stations. Other performance highlights include the 2006 Vancouver International jazz festival, where they opened for jazz legend Bobby Hutcherson and Renee Rosnes at the Centre for Performing Arts. Most recently Amanda’s Quartet was awarded the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, for best emerging artist in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
The quartet's debut CD "Still Life" on the Cellar Live label is available in select stores, at www.cellarlive.com and on www.cdbaby.com
The Quartet plans to release a new record in Spring 2008. If you would like to know about upcoming releases and performances email Amanda
"This group exemplifies so many of the great and positive things that young jazz musicians have going for them; compositional talent, instrumental talent,
and devotion to the music and one another." - Katie Malloch (CBC Radio's "Jazz Beat")
"There's been a steady stream of kudos for this 22-year-old Vancouver jazz pianist, a recent Capilano College grad and already, even without a disc under her name, an assured, forward-thinking voice on the city's mainstream scene." - Greg Buium (Vancouver Sun)
"Amanda performed with her quartet at the Jazz Festival and they were absolutely stunning. Everyone was coming up and asking, 'Who is this band?' She is just 22, but the quality of her composing is extremely high, and she swings, yet she can be introspective. Definitely an artist and a band to watch." - John Orysik of the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society (Globe and Mail December 2006)
"They prove that jazz is in very good hands indeed!" - Paul Grant (CBC Radio's "Hot Air")
Hey - I was listening to my new bill charlap CD - how do they swing so freaking hard!?! I love it. was a fun time we had that day. Also, I'll have to burn you that Piazola CD I got from the library, it's exactly what I wanted! You'll like it i promise. See ya soon :)
Thanks for the add. I never really got a chance to tell you how much I enjoyed playing the Cellar with you folks back in 06. Truly a great rhythm section. You were so good I'd forget myself and count stuff off at tempos I can't actually play.:-)
I'm constantly singing the praises of Vancouver players down here, and playing people your recordings. Folks are just blown away by the quality of playing coming out of a town they're only vaguely aware of.
If there's ever anything I can do in terms of hooking you up with gigs down here, just let me know.
Yo! So much for that recording, but we'll find a way to play or just jam soon. I'm back on December 1st, just in time for some AMANDA BIRTHDAY ACTION!!!!!! I'm free on the 7th ah???
Amanda, you are a monster on the keys kiddo. the Trio Was Fabulous at the Langely Gig on Friday. Superb playing all round.Those Ellington tunes were impressive . Kudos to all of you great to see you again and hear Sean and Morgan too. Uncle B
haha, what a total idiot! I can't believe how many there are in this world! don't worry amanda, you're far from boring. we always have to fight em off eh?!! :)
Hi Amanda-san, Thank you for the add. I'm listening "Still Life" now,feel the passion from your music. I'd like to see your gig one day... take care, ucci
