Manitoba Nights - Jazz Winnipeg Festival - Janice Finlay / Jazz On Tap (dancers)

How would a jazz band sound with tap dancers? I soon found out as saxophonist Janice Finlay, joined by veteran local drummer Rob Siwick, U of Manitoba student Will Bonness on piano and another local guy whose name escapes me, on bass, began her show at the Burton Cummings Theatre.


Shot at 2007-06-26
Janice Finlay (above) and Bredna Gorlick, choreographer

Finlay, also a composer, performed some memorable original numbers, including "Good Neighbors Make Great Fences," which will hopefully make it onto her next album. Without mentioning his name, they also played Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo a la Turk," from his smash 1959 album Time Out. Brubeck plays the Jazz Festival tomorrow.

The dancers were sensational and watching them tap along to the music and improvise on their own, was a treat.