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Christie Grace Bio

"Good things are sometimes worth waiting for", Russell Hall, Performing Songwriter.

 

 Christie Grace is an accomplished smooth jazz singer-songwriter and independent recording artist. Grace has wowed audiences with her poise, elegance and passionate performances through self produced sold-out concerts, and exclusive jazz clubs engagements. Her impressive band has some of Vancouver's top jazz musicians, including two time NJA- National Jazz Award Winner, Jodi Proznick, Chris Gestrin, Dave Robbins and Daryl Jahnke. She has also appeared with NJAW Bill Coon, Stan Keen, Bob Murphy, and Bill Sample with a choir guest spot with Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea.

 

Born April 17, 1956 in Thunder Bay ON, CG's mentors were her Father, John McCullough, a charismatic singer-musician-teacher and a popular big bandleader of his own 22-piece jazz orchestra and her brother Murray McCullough, an extraordinary blues bandleader who was asked to open for Dylan.

In 1996, she made her home, in Howe Sound, at the artistic, environment of Bowen Island. Then in 2000, following her intensive study at Vancouver’s Capilano College with teachers & Jazz singers Kate Hammett-Vaughan and Steve Maddock , she released LATE BLOOMER her Debut Independent Latin/Pop CD which received critical acclaim in Canada and the US and has sold over 2,400 copies and is in its third pressing. CG's unabashed Late Bloomer theme, "time to fly free" appealed to thousands of fellow bloomers near and far.  The success of Late Bloomer, led to ongoing concert dates and sold-out appearances at Vancouver's premiere jazz club, The Cellar.   A big fan of Mitchell, Grace drew sell-out crowds to her “Joni Mitchell Retrospective” with the assistance of jazz arrangers, Bob Murphy & Tilden Webb.  Each song, though undeniably recognizable, literally transformed under Christie's sensitive vocals, both intriguing and delighting the audience with her evocative perspective. 

 

 In 2006, during a phone conversation with Paul Shaffer, she asked if he would record with her on her next CD,  and  to her delight one year later, Paul and CG recorded the Mancini/Mercer classic,  "MOON RIVER"   at late night July recording session in New York's Times Square: "Quad" studio. In Oct 2007, With the startling languorous treatment of "Moon River" featuring Paul Shaffer's brilliant accompaniment,  CONTEMPLATION, co produced by CG & Bill Runge was released, to a standing ovation @ the prestigious Vancouver East Cultural Centre with numerous TV, Newspaper and Radio features including ET Canada. The 12-song Smooth Jazz/New Age, collection delivered a mature, marsh-very mellow CG, with enticingly soothing 7 originals and 5 covers.  "Be Yourself ", "Time Won't Wait" & "Steel and Porcelain" are metaphysically juxtaposed against swing and an unexpected, waltz timing. The gossamer ballad of fragility, "Fly Me Away", is a naked ode to grief, while the very popular 2 beat swing BIO," West Coast Girl" revealing CGs pride in her bohemian, island lifestyle. Along and "Woodstock" with the ancient Japanese shakuhatchi flute, the collection of songs showcase CG's pristine pitch and at times haunting vocals, brimming with a distinct sense of peace. Contemplation attracted an expanded fan base with successive sold out shows @ THE CELLAR, selling 1000 copies with distribution into Japan. 

 

 Christie Grace has been featured with Erin Cebula on ET CANADA & CTV, with Peter Grainger on CTV, Jim Gordon & Darren Parkman on THE TRAVEL GUYS, plus several appearances with Michael Eckford & Fiona Forbes on URBAN RUSH with special segments and regular airplay on CBC's HOT AIR, VINYL CAFE, & NORTH BY NORTHWEST and Jurgen Gothe’s DiscDrive. She has appeared in articles in THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, The SUN, PROVINCE, WE, NORTH SHORE NEWS, TIMES CHRONICLE and has recorded with Order of Canada winner, Author / Radio Show Host, PAUL SHAFFER, Musical Director of the David Letterman Show and in 2008 she won two Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards (Internet awards) as best BC Jazz Vocalist and BC Songwriter for her CD Contemplation.  CG has studied online with the Boston Berklee of Music and is currently studying with the acclaimed Vancouver Jazz vocalist, Jennifer Scott. With an exciting third CD collaboration with Chris Gestrin, who has several successful CD’s under his belt. The project in the ether with” no imminent deadline. CG is never one to stand still for long.

THE BAND

Christie Grace

604.947.9277

Cell 778.88.1478

Fax: 604.947.2450

christiegracestudio@shawbiz.ca

christie@christiegracemusic.com

www.christiegracemusic.com

 

JODI PROZNICK / String Bass / www.jodiproznick.com

Jodi is one of Canada’s most accomplished bassists awarded Bassist of the Year at the 2007 and 2008 National Jazz awards. Her group, The Jodi Proznick Quartet, which features pianist Tilden Webb, drummer Jesse Cahill, and tenor saxophonist Steve Kaldestad, won the Acoustic Group of the Year award for their album” Foundations” (Cellar Live) won for Album of the Year . Proznick received her music degree from McGill University in Montreal, was awarded a Performance Scholarship as a member of McGill’s Big Band. Since moving to Vancouver, she has been constantly in demand by scores of international jazz masters such as George Coleman and Ed Thigpen the legendary David Fathead Newman and  opened for the legendary, Oscar Peterson.

 

CHRIS GESTRIN /Piano / www.chrisgestrin.com

Chris is a graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music and is an exemplary keyboardist, composer, producer and engineer.  He has 13 CD’s to his credit the newest release: “The Melody That Is”. with his Trio  which features Andre Lachance and Dylan Van Der Schyff.He has worked with notable artists such as Randy Bachman, Metalwood and Kenny Wheeler and was nominated for ‘Musician of the Year’ at the Western Canada Music Awards for his recording, “Still point”, on the Songlines label.  This compilation was also listed as one of the best albums of 2003 in Downbeat Magazine.  His original music has been featured in numerous TV shows including The Dead Zone, The Outer Limits and many more.

DARYL JAHNKE/ Guitar / www.daryljahnke.com

Daryl is an extraordinary jazz and Latin jazz guitarist. His own creative jazz project resulted in his critically acclaimed CD, “In Other Words” and since then he’s been busy as a performer, studio musician, composer, producer, musical director and educator.  As a teacher, he has taught master classes in improvisation at the Vancouver Community College and other institution, plus, he has worked with some of Canada’s finest jazz musicians, performing in New York, Cuba, Tokyo and across our nation.  He has worked with “Irakere”, Cuba’s premier Latin jazz band, with Tokyo and New York trumpeter Terumasa Hino and bassist Paul Jackson of Herbie Hancock’s "Headhunters’" fame. He has been a featured performer in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival since 1986.

 

DAVE ROBBINS/ Drums  / www.daverobbins.com

Dave is a highly respected drummer, composer, and arranger. Well known as a sideman for his exciting big band work and trio playing, he leads his own sextet and recently released his CD: At the Mark”. He received his Masters in Jazz Studies at McGill University. He has played with Hugh Fraser, Campbell Ryga, Denzal Sinclaire, Miles Black, and others.  He has performed all over the world, in Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Finland, France, Holland, and Ireland with artists such as Gary Bartz, Dee Daniels, Slide Hampton, Buddy Montgomery and Dave Young.  As an educator, he taught at McGill's Conservatory of Music, and then was offered a position in McGill’s prestigious Jazz Studies program. He is now on the music faculty at Capilano College where he instructs arranging, drums, piano, and large ensembles. He is also on the faculty of the Courtenay Youth Music Centre’s Summer Jazz Workshop.