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This year marks ACI member Janice Finlay’s 25^th year as a freelance musician!

Janice, a saxophonist who specializes in jazz performance and composition, earned her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from McGill University. At the present time she is enthusiastically working on an original big band composition commissioned for the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra and scheduled for its world premier on March 16/08.

Janice is a very active band leader, leading her own jazz groups, jump-blues group The Swing Cats, Premium and her dance band, CLASS ACT.  She is a long-time member of the Ron Paley Big Band and her artistry is frequently heard at Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra “pops” concerts.  In 2002 Janice released her critically-acclaimed feature CD, She’s Hip, which showcases both her lyrical, engaging playing style and her evocative well-crafted compositions.

Highly innovative, last June Janice collaborated with outstanding local choreographer Brenda Gorlick to present Jazz on Tap at the 2007 Jazz Winnipeg Festival’s Manitoba night. This show featured a number of Manitoba’s most outstanding tap artists who added a highly percussive element to some of Janice’s original compositions as well as a few jazz classics. 

Janice is a “triple threat” in the woodwind world, playing flute and clarinet in addition to all of the members of the saxophone family.  This versatility has afforded her many opportunities to perform as a member of pit orchestras for a great number of musical theatre productions both at Rainbow Stage and M.T.C.  In fact, later this month Janice will be “in the pit” for The Full Monty and in late April she will be part of the orchestra for the M.T.C. production of Dream Girls.  She is also a first-call musician for touring acts that require local musicians, including jazz legend Clark Terry, children’s entertainers Sharon, Lois and Bram and country star Kenny Rogers.  A career highlight was the Janice Finlay Jazz Orchestra being the opening act for comedian Bob Newhart.

Over the many years she has pursued her musical passion, Janice has developed into an extraordinary educator whose gift for teaching was acknowledged in 2004 when she was awarded the Xerox Manitoba Jazz Educator of the Year Award.  From 2005 -2007 Janice was the inaugural Jazz Program Coordinator at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts and she remains an active private instructor in addition to teaching various jazz ensembles and jazz appreciation courses for the general public.

Recently Janice thoroughly enjoyed presenting a workshop entitled “Finances for Freelancers” at the Dance Transition Centre’s On the Move conference.  In mid-January, her Jazz Quartet performed a concert to rave reviews in Kenora and will play Mardi Jazz at the Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre on February 12.

“Finlay’s saxophone was the anchor of (the Janice Finlay Jazz Quartet’s) sound with catchy songwriting that weaved with the passion of musical storytelling… her musical ability and creativity have the strength to carry the group on her own…” 

Jon Thompson, Kenora Miner and News

“…Janice Finlay’s rock-solid saxophone solos.”

Holly Harris, Winnipeg Free Press

“Findlay (sic) is a truly classic player, able to take the conventions of jazz and create a fresh sound.”

Cindy Filipenko, Herizons magazine,

“…you can’t miss the conviction, whether she’s tearing up a chart on tenor or alto with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra or blowing cool flute on a club date.”

Randall McIlroy, Uptown Magazine

“…it’s the musical director, Janice Finlay, one of the most sought-after musicians…on Winnipeg’s jazz scene, who comes across as the real star of this outfit.”

SCENE Roots and Blues Magazine

For bookings or information please contact:

Class Act Music Productions
72 Amarynth Crescent, Winnipeg Manitoba R2Y 0C1
E-mail: info@classactmusic.com
Phone: 204-661-4834
Website: http://www.classactmusic.com

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