Jane Bunnett

Bunnett, Jane
Jane (b Maryjane) Bunnett. Saxophonist, flutist, composer, b Toronto 22 Oct 1956. She studied piano with Harry Heap at the RCMT until tendonitis curtailed her hopes for a concert career. She turned to the flute at 20 and subsequently took up the soprano saxophone. Her teachers in jazz included Jane Fair, Barry Harris, and Steve Lacy. In 1983 she formed a jazz group under her own name, a quintet (or sextet) co-led by her husband, the trumpeter Larry Cramer (b Toronto 7 Jun 1955). The band appeared in local clubs and concerts, at festivals across Canada in 1987 and 1989, and in New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii in 1990. It has often included noted US musicians, among them the pianist Don Pullen and the tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman. Bunnett and Cramer also performed informally on many occasions in Cuba, beginning in 1986, and appeared (with Pullen) at the Havana International Jazz Festival in 1989 and recorded in Havava for CBC radio in 1991. Bunnett and Pullen performed as a duo at the FIJM in 1990.

Bunnett's recordings with Pullen and Redman brought her as much favourable critical attention internationally as has been enjoyed by any Canadian jazz musician of her generation. By virtue of her influences - primarily Eric Dolphy and Steve Lacy (she studied with the latter in Paris on a Canada Council grant) - she stood somewhat apart from the prevailing styles and trends of the day in contemporary jazz in Canada. Bunnett also played with the Toronto orchestras Banda Brava and Hemispheres, and in two groups with Jane Fair, the Ladies of Jazz, formed in 1986, and Music in Monk Time, formed in 1988.

Bunnett's approach broadened in the early 1990s, primarily as a result of her absorption of Cuban music during her visits to that country. Her 1992 album Spirits of Havana won a Juno award, and she and Cramer began a series of fruitful endeavours with Cuban musicians. They recorded several albums in Cuba, and performed in Canada with visiting Cuban ensembles, in a blend of western jazz and Cuban rhythms that became Bunnett's new trademark. With her band, now named Spirits of Havana, Bunnett toured Canada, Cuba, and Europe several times, playing at jazz and world music festivals. Although she took her ensemble to such cities as Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, and San Francisco, US legislation limiting relations with Cubans resulted in cancellations of several 1996 performances in the USA. As of 2003, Bunnett and her group were popular performers in Canada.

Bunnett (with her Spirits of Havana ensemble) was the recipient of a second Juno award, for Ritmo + Soul, in 2001; a National Jazz Award in 2001; and a Grammy nomination in 2003. She performed at the 2001 Genie Awards, for which the NFB film Spirits of Havana, on her collaborations with local Cuban musicians, had been nominated. She was active in providing instruments and instrument repairs to Cuban musicians and arranging performer exchanges, and was bestowed with the Toronto Arts award. Jazz Report and Downbeat magazines also recognized Bunnett.

Her compositions include The Wanderer, Limbo, Five, Ginastera, Make Someone Happy, Nice Work, Hole in One, and numerous other pieces, all recorded by her band, and music for the NFB documentary For Richer for Poorer (1988).

Writings
and Cramer, Larry. 'Don Pullen,' Coda, Sept 1995

Author Betty Nygaard King

Discography

In Dew Time. Cramer trumpet, Redman tenor saxophone, Chancey French horn, Pullen or Dickinson piano, Alexander double-bass, Ranger drums. 1988. Dark Light DL-9001

New York Duets. Pullen piano. 1989. Music & Arts CD-629

Live at Sweet Basil. Cramer trumpet, Pullen piano, Overs double-bass, Hart drums. 1989. Denon CAN-9009 (CD)

Spirits of Havana. 1993. Messidor 15825-2

The Water is Wide. Cramer trumpet, Pullen piano, Hart drums, Overs bass. 1994. Denon CAN 9017

Rendez-vous Brazil/Cuba. 1995. Justin Time JUST 74-2

Jane Bunnett and the Cuban Piano Masters. Vitier, Flynn piano; Puerto double bass. 1996. World Pacific 7243 8 32695 2 5

Chamalongo. 1997. EMI 72438 23684 2 7

Habana Nocturna. Cramer trumpet, Durán piano, Occhipinti bass, Hernandez drums. 1999. Justin Time JUST 125-2

Ritmo + Soul. Cramer trumpet, Durán piano, Occhipinti bass, Prieto drums. 2000. EMI 72435 24456 2 2

Alma de Santiago. Cramer trumpet, Occhipinti bass, Santiago Jazz Saxophon Quartet, Los Jubilados de Santiago de Cuba. 2001. Connector Music 72435 34273 2 0

Spirituals and Dedications. Cramer trumpet, Cowell piano, Redman saxophone, Overs double bass, McLean drums. 2002. Justin Time JUST-169-2

Cuban Odyssey. 2002. EMI 72435 41992 2 6

Bibliography

Miller, Mark. 'Jane Bunnett finds her place on the Toronto scene,' CanComp, 230, May 1988

Vickery, Steve. 'Jane Bunnett: in dew time,' Coda, 226, Jun 1989

Hough, Robert. 'Playing around,' Toronto Life, Jun 1990

Miller, Mark. 'Beyond appearances,' Toronto Globe and Mail, 2 Mar 1991

Keast, James. 'Rendezvous: Jane Bunnett,' Coda, Jan 1996

King, Bill. 'A higher calling,' Jazz Report, summer 2001

Links to Other Sites
The World of Jane Bunnett
The website for Jane Bunnett, Canadian jazz soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader. Features a profile, video and audio segments,discography and more.

JWR International Directory of Fine Arts & Film
A global directory of prominent personalities and organizations involved with show business and the fine arts. Also offers film and stage reviews, interviews, and much more. Check the menu on the left side of the page to search for specific topics of interest. Part of the "James Wegg Review" website.

The Toronto Musicians' Association
The website for the Toronto Musicians' Association, an organization that represents professional musicians in all facets of music in the greater Toronto area. Click on "Multimedia" to access online music videos.