JANICE FINLAY
Genres: Post-Fusion Contemporary, Hard Bop • Canada

Janice Finlay knows jazz. She works, plays, and lives jazz. She performs, composes, teaches, and inspires jazz. So it might come as a surprise to know that in high school, when she first got involved in the school band, she hated jazz. Good thing she picked up the saxophone and gave it a try, because in that moment, jazz began to grow on her. Today, jazz is Janice’s life. Winnipeg jazz fans have named her “top sax” for three years running. As a band leader, she directs her own groups The Swing Cats, Premium, The Janice Finlay Jazz Quartet, and Janice Finlay's Hardbop Herd – an extraordinary quintet comprised of acclaimed Manitoba jazz musicians who swing through music from the 50’s and 60’s hardbop era. She’s a long-time member of the Ron Paley Big Band, and her saxophone artistry is frequently heard at Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra “pops” concerts.  Jazz is Janice’s read more...