Kim McDonah, Vocalist: Kim took advantage of the excellent school music program in the 1970s under the direction of J. Chalmers Doane, and was busy performing, touring and recording with the ‘A’ Ukulele Ensemble for 7 years. Her musical influences resulted from these early years with Chalmers and his selection of jazz, barbershop, ragtime and unique classical arrangements. She has studied jazz vocal technique with Canadian jazz vocalists Tena Palmer and Lisa MacDougall. Her vocal influences include legendary jazz singers Julie London and Ella Fitzgerald and Canadian jazz vocalists Emilie-Claire Barlow, Diana Panton, and Molly Johnson. Kim’s love of jazz music is reflective in her interpretation of the stories she sings and her warm natural delivery will captivate even the casual listener.
Don Morash, Jazz Guitarist: Don started playing music at a very young age performing throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec in the ‘80s. Over the last two decades, Don has studied jazz guitar with Halifax jazz guitarist Joel Zemel and classical guitar with the late Ken Davidson, Sr. Don’s influences include legendary jazz guitarists Barney Kessel, Ed Bickert and John Scofield. His dedication to jazz music is evident in his personal and honest interpretation of the jazz standards and his embrace of the tradition of jazz guitar. Don’s exquisite playing is representative of the tasteful styling of jazz guitar.
Alec Tilley, Double Bass: Alec has been playing double bass since the age of 14. Graduating from McGill’s Faculty of Music, he moved to Halifax in 1971 and began a long and successful career with the Halifax Music Department including a quarter-century both as principal teacher of double bass, and a conductor of the Halifax Schools Symphony Orchestra. Alec also ran the Music Department’s all-city class in improvisation, and its first Experimental Music Studio. Since his retirement from full-time teaching, he has returned to an active and diverse life as a composer and performer. Often playing the jazz circuit in Montreal during his university years, Alec has played with jazz legends including Julie London and Nelson Symonds. He credits his rhythmic approach to jazz improvisation to his studies in 16th and 18th century counterpoint with Kelsey Jones at McGill.