Joanne Griffith World Music Band from Montreal, QC

A graceful woman with a warm voice, leading an acoustic band. Original, Afro-Brazilian sounding songs, with hues of jazz and blues. Joanne Griffith also does covers in her own way: Feeling Good, as a 'world blues', and Iko Iko, where New Orleans comes closer to Rio. Drawing from her roots in the West Indies, this former member of the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir seeks inspiration in love and childhood to interpret songs which are both delectable and accessible. With her magnificent voice, and over Afro-Brazilian rhythms cross-pollinated with a Montreal blend of métissages, she offers songs that explore various facets of the human family, throughout the world. 'On the gentler side of the world continuum, Joanne Griffith's music will have particular appeal for fans of Izaline Calister, Maria de Barros, Lhasa, and the like.' Scott Allan Stevens, Earball Media, Aug. 2005. 'Joanne Griffith's voice offers the colour of the negro spiritual as well as the natural quality of singers from the 70s...' Denys Lelièvre, Voir, Montreal, Qc, May 26 2005. In 1999, Joanne Griffith launched her career as a soloist with a concert entitled Prima at Club Soda, in Montreal. The following year, Brazilian singer-songwriter Bïa invited Joanne to open for her at the Lion d'Or in Montreal, where she performed the first half of an uplifting evening. Since then, Joanne has been singing regularly, developing and expanding her repertory with the help of her musical director, Jean-François Garneau, (guitar and voice) and her musicians, Fabrice Laurent (drums and percussion), Karl Surprenant (bass), Jean Boutin (saxophone, flute, clarinet), and Vovô (percussion). N.B.: Performance format may vary from trio: (voice, guitar, percussion) to quintet. Discograpy: YôYê 12 songs CD, released in October 2004 Label: Independent