Kristian Alexandrov & Shannon Gaye Quartet

Due to forest fires the VJC had to cancel our season’s opening gig with this quartet in September. The club is thrilled to offer the next best gig of honour, the closing act, to this amazing quartet.

Vancouver-based Bulgarian pianist Kristian Alexandrov and soulful singer/percussionist Shannon Gaye join forces to present an evening of melodic, groove-driven material steeped in Jazz, Soul and R&B tradition with a fiery approach to improvisation.

The union of these recording artists evolved naturally over the years – the dynamic duo’s collaborations on stage and in the studio have resulted in eight original CD’s and performances across Canada, the U.S. and Europe, as well as song placements in film and TV.

Onstage Kristian has worked alongside some tremendous Canadian and International artists, including:  Randy Brecker, kd Lang, Eric Marienthal, Allen Vizzutti, Alain Caron, Bob Mintzer, Jackie & Kim Richardson, Wycliffe Gordon, The Canadian Tenors, Tommy Banks, All Star Brass and Order of Canada Big Band.  Kristian is a long-standing musical director for acclaimed trumpeter Jens Lindemann, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Youth Singers of Calgary and R&B/Soul recording artist Shannon Gaye.  Kristian is also a frequent pianist for the pops program of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Shannon has recorded six solo CD’s and been a featured vocalist on many others; she’s been logging time in the studio writing, singing and producing since she was sixteen.

Shannon has always had an affinity for Soul and R&B. Early musical inspirations include the masters, powerhouse singers like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, as well as jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O’Day.  Present day influences include artists like Grace Potter, Alicia Keys, and Joss Stone.  From a songwriting perspective, Shannon finds herself drawn to classic and modern poets – wordsmiths like Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Citizen Cope, and Ricky Lee Jones.

YOUTUBE LINKS:
Kristian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1k_V7j2AIk
Shannon “Muddy Water”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R09Kvy4CsrE
Shannon “Flower”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ngX3XzQTr4
Shannon “It’s Love”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iREDSTrsMhI