Certain musicians in particular, like our bassist George Koller, he’s really helped us along the way and mentored us and encouraged us to keep going with the jazz. We met this radio host from JazzFM in Toronto and he was like ‘OMG, I can’t believe I haven’t met you guys!’ And we were like ‘well, we’re pretty new.’ So he took us under his wing and invited us to be a part of different jazz shows, so from there we got to meet all of these jazz musicians who we built relationships with. I wouldn’t say all the music that we sang initially was jazz, but we were opening for another singer in Toronto a couple of summers ago. So we had always started singing Andrews Sisters sound, that close three-part harmony, which is obviously music of the past, which definitely has that jazzy feel to it. We filmed it near Cambridge (Ontario) with a vintage car and a little surprise dance sequence in there.Īndrea: We just got pulled into it by chance, really, through some of the people we were introduced to. Krista: We’ve released a video, too, for our first song called Breakfast in Bed. Lauren: We have a Christmas album, but this album is full of original big band jazz. On the weekend, that’s more party-time, so this is a refreshing musical experience. So this week, we have some fans of the older sound, and they’re really digging it. Krista: Throughout the stay, there’s a mix of demographics that come through and different crowds. Lauren: We danced together and got a bachelor of fine arts and then through that the music came, and now we’re dancing and singing.Īndrea: Mostly Christmas right now because up at the Lodge they’re full-on Christmas, but like Krista said we’re going to mix some of our original stuff with the Christmas stuff with some of the jazz standards we sing as well. Then we went to Ryerson in 2008 for dance.Ĭraig: So you went for school and then you went pro. Krista: We all grew up together in Edmonton, so we’ve known each other from a young age. Lauren: Edmonton, originally, we’re now living in Toronto. Lauren: Maybe retro isn’t the right word even farther back than that, like the Andrews Sisters.Īndrea: More vintage, like that 30s, 40s, jazz, swing, big band thing. It’s all jazz close three part harmonies with a retro feel and we add some dance moves in there too.Ĭraig: So if you say retro jazz I think of the Supremes and a do-wop sort of look. We sometimes sing a capella but our album has full instrumentation, strings, and horns and a big band with us. But it was a really great gig there!Ĭraig: What can people expect when they come to see you?Īndrea: It’s kind of like a residency at the JPL, some mix of holiday stuff for their Christmas in November, and then we also have tunes from our new album, Tea for Three, we have a pianist with us. Lauren: The only one that wasn’t a major centre was Enderby. Then we did Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver, Enderby, Calgary and now Jasper. Krista: We did Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, that was our Prairie tour. We did a tour of Western Canada starting in Winnipeg and all the way across to Vancouver and we’re working our way back to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal so this is our stopover before we head back east. 19 and 21 respectively.Ĭraig: You’re in Jasper for a series of concerts at the Fairmont.Īndrea: We released our debut album of original jazz tunes in September. 23-25, and play charity shows in Calgary and Edmonton on Dec. They’ll be back at the JPL for three days Dec. They stopped by the BCMM satellite offices in Jasper, AB to chat with editor-at-large Craig Gilbert before their set on Nov. FreeBird brings all the magic of the music to life in a way seldom heard by any tribute act.Edmonton natives Lauren Pedersen, Krista Deady and Andrea Gregorio are The Willows. Russell Ingram on drums and Jeff Brashears on bass nail down the groove and power of Artimus Pyle and Leon Wilkeson rhythm section, while keyboardist Joey Huffman (formerly with Lynyrd Skynyrd and more) gracefully adds in Billy Powell's keyboards for a full and amazing rendition of one of the greatest bands that ever recorded and toured. Guitarists Matt Chenoweth (Ed King/Steve Gains), John Hopkins (Allen Collins) and Jeff Langston (Gary Rossington) play their roles with such explosive energy and skill you'd think you were at a show in the 1970s. Vocalist Chris Howard masterfully catches the essence of Ronnie Van Zant’s vocals and stage persona, guiding the band and players through solos, song after song. If you saw the original line up in the 1970s you will appreciate the accuracy, if you're just discovering the music for the first time, you'll be blown away by hit after hit of incredible music and amazing players. As a band FreeBird's members have been in love with the music since childhood, and they play these songs with the same passion and intensity of Lynyrd Skynyrd themselves. And with those words musical history was set in motion! FreeBird is The Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Experience – period.
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