DreamWell
In the DreamWell all things are possible. The DreamWell exists in the greatest nation in the world. The imagination! Have you ever had a baby smile at you? Did you ever fly in a dream? Can you get lost in a song? Do you understand the secret? Plan a wonderful future for yourself and take us with you and always always always...... Dream Well.
BluTrain is Blu Mankuma and Alexander "A Train" Boynton
Blu Mankuma, Actor/Singer/Songwriter/Producer/Director, was born "James Michael George" in Seattle,Washington where he grew up singing with his brothers Richard and Stan and a neighbor,Paul,in an a cappella vocal group. They were taught to harmonize by Blu's father,James. While attending Chief Sealth High School,Blu played cello in the high school orchestra and studied drama. After moving to Vancouver he became "King Blue" and then "Blu Mankuma". Blu was in several bands including The Exotics,The Epics and Smokin' Pocket before turning his attention to acting.After a triumphant turn as Othello in a Studio 58 production,Blu was introduced by Mr.Leon Bibb to his long time agent Marie Morton and it was she who introduced him to the movies. His resume includes Letters From Frank, Look Who's Talking,The Russia House,Bird On A Wire,Return To Halloweentown, The Santa Clause 2, Cadence, Don't Call Me Tonto,Intensity,Like Mike 2,Final Cut,Presumed Dead,Another Stakeout, Atomic Train, Jasper,Texas, Fierce People, Tin Man, The Last Rites Of Ransom Pride and 2012, to name a few. Blu is the voice of Tigatron of the Transformer's Beast Wars. He's also the voice for Bailey's Irish Cream. Blu has guest starred in many tv episodes including 21 Jump Street, MacGiver, The Dead Zone, The Collector, Twilight Zone,The Outer Limits, Da Vinci's Inquest, Relic Hunter,Dead Like Me, Stargate, Andromeda,Supernatural,Saved and The X Files, to name a few. He was a regular on Mom PI, Robocop The Series, Forever Knight and Street Justice. Sign:Cancer Chinese sign:(Rat) Agency:Characters 604 733 9800 Agent:Leonard Bonnell
Alexander"A Train"
Alexander "A-TRain" Boynton may be one of the most prominent and influential
composers and musicians in the contemporary Rhythm and Blues (R&B) Jazz
movement on the west coast of Canada. Alexander’s music appeals to traditional R&B,
Pop and jazz fans. He always delivers impeccable, enjoyable and intriguing
music. Alexander is a highly skilled and focused songwriter and bass-player.
Growing up in Los Angeles in the 70’s and 80’s, he received a rich cross
section of exposure to the greats of the time in Funky, Soul, R&B, Latin,
Pop and Jazz music.
http://www.atrainbass.com
http://myspace.com/atotrackz
BluTrain Myspace site
http://www.myspace.com/blutraintracks
Dave Pickell- Producer
One of Canada's best-known studio musicians and producers, Dave Pickell has recorded with many popular artists including Bryan Adams, John Denver, Carly Simon, Dan Hill, Robbie Robertson, Kelly Rowland and Joan Jett,to name a few. As a writer and producer his work has reached millions, topped the charts, appeared in Hollywood movies, and been featured at international events such as the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games.
http://www3.telus.net/dpickell/probio.htm
Artists:
Kenny Colman-http://www.kennycolman.com/
Dee Daniels
Dee Daniels is a crowd pleaser and a musician’s musician. Whether accompanying her self at the piano, fronting a trio, big band or symphony, she is a unique talent who transcends musical borders when she brings her jazz styling, infused with gospel and blues flavoring, to the stage.
Daniels' style was born in her stepfather's church choir in Oakland, California, honed through the R&B era and brought to full fruition during a five-year stay in Europe from 1982 to 1987. During those years, she had many wonderful opportunities to perform with such 'Legends of Jazz' as Toots Thielemans, Johnny Griffin, Ed Thigpen, and Monty Alexander to name but a few. Two other personal highlights while in Europe include having had the opportunity of singing the Blues with the late, divine Sarah Vaughan in The Netherlands, and singing Gospel with the late great Joe Williams in Germany.
Dee's international career includes performances in eleven African countries, Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as in North America and many countries throughout Europe. She has cultivated a diverse career that has seen her on the theatre stage in the musical comedy, Wang Dang Doodle, and the starring role in the 2001 Calgary Stampede.
She has also established herself as a jazz vocalist in demand by the classical music world. She performs her Great Ladies of Swing, and The Soul of Ray: The Music of Ray Charles POPS programs with symphony orchestras across Canada and the USA. A respected vocal clinician and mentor, Dee sincerely believes in sharing her knowledge and experience with young singers/musicians. She is an inspiring motivational speaker.
In 2001, Dee created the Dee Daniels Jazz Vocal Scholarship at the Capilano University in North Vancouver, BC. Also in 2001, she was the recipient of the FANS Award (a North Vancouver, BC Arts Council presentation); was nominated as Vocalist of the Year, and her Love Story CD was nominated for Best Jazz CD of the Year by West Coast Music Awards. In 2002 she was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and a plaque was installed on Vancouver's Walk of Fame.
In 2003 she received the prestigious Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and was inducted into the University of Montana's School of Fine Arts, Hall of Honor where she is also a 1997 Distinguished Alumni.
Her JAZZINIT CD was in the Top Ten CDs of 2007 on several polls. In 2008, she was a recipient of Capilano University’s Presidents Service Award. She served on the Advisory Board of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival from 2001 - 2009.
Dee Daniels- http://www.deedaniels.com/
Sibel Thrasher – Biography
Sibel Thrasher was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and now resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As both a singer and actress, she enjoys an accomplished career in music, theatre, film, and television. In August 2004, Sibel was inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame, for her lifelong contribution to the arts, her community, and her music.
Her extensive studio credits include work with legendary recording artists Roy Ayres, Long John Baldry, Donna Summer, and Linton Garner, and her live performance credits include tours as a featured singer with the Platters in the USA, Japan, and the Phillipines, and an opening slot for the world renowned R&B/Gospel singer Etta James.
Sibel has traveled extensively, and is in high demand as a jazz and R&B lounge singer—she has worked for Carnival Cruise Lines (Splendor of the Seas), and Princess Cruise Lines (Coral and Island Princess) on extensive tours, which included ports of call ranging from Alaska, Mexico, The Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Aruba, Freeport, Florida, Panama, Hawaii, Columbia, St. Croix, and many others. She has also performed in many 5 Star hotels in Asia, including engagements at the The Jinmao Grand Hyatt in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, The Peninsula Matula Hotel in the Phillipines, and Hotel Lotte in Seoul, South Korea.
Sibel’s film and television credits include Zapped, Vice Squad, Death Wish II, Rumble in the Bronx, Tales from The Crypt, and Fierce People, and her theatre credits include productions of Ain’t Misbehavin’, Black and Gold review I and II, Blues in the Night, The Angels Sing, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and It’s Time to Sing.
Sibel has had the honour and pleasure of singing at Vancouver Jazz Festival, Pacific National Exhibition, Saskatchewan DuMaurier Jazz Festival, The Pender Island Jazz Festival, Merritt Mountain Festival, Starry Night Annual Aids Benefit Concerts, and many others.
Other professional credits and honours include; The Vancouver Sun’s Entertainer of the Year, Election to the 1994 Congress of Black Women, Jessie Nominations for Best Performer two times for her stage performances of Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Blues in the Night, and a nomination for the CCWMA Best Gospel Singer of the Year.
J O S E P H C H A P P E L
“Vocalist Extraordinaire”
Joe Chappel first felt the music and the irresistible pull to perform in Oakland, California area churches as a young child. Joseph was born in Oakland, the year, 1951. He was quickly singled out to sing lead vocals in choir. This training was invaluable to him.
Even before junior high school, Joe found that playing trumpet gave him further expression. McClymonds High School developed his talents through their drum corps. The importance of mastering rudiments, reading drum notation, and studying charts further developed his abilities.
On the side, a quartet was formed with young men from his church, under the guidance of the musical director, Mrs. Helen Stephens. This was a period of influence from the Temptations, Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Harmonies and choreography were practiced to perfection so that staging would flow for recognition and approval from audiences throughout the city.
A tour of duty with the U. S. Army, in Germany, led to another quartet of instrumentation, the guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. This experience of entertaining his fellow troops lasted until his tour of duty was complete.
Joe comes from a long line of musicians and singers in his family. Lady Tramaine Hawkins, Grammy, Dove, and Stellar Award winning gospel singer, and Minister Vernon Chappel, accomplished gospel composer and choir master, who most recently was acclaimed for writing and singing the anthem for the Nation Alliance of Faith and Justice for “Justice Sunday,” which was part of the inauguration functions for President Barack Obama.
His uncle is Oscar McLollie, successful Rockabilly and jump blues and rock ‘n’ roll artist. His uncle asked Joseph to join his tour as an opening act, and in June of 1974, Joe Chappel came to Canada on tour.
After this tour, Joe returned to Vancouver with some of the band members and proceeded to change his musical direction by singing rock ‘n’ roll and funk at venues such as Oil Can Harry’s, Point After, The Cave, Sheraton Landmark, and the N. Y. Café. It was there, on his breaks between sets, that he heard jazz groups and was ultimately asked to join, which he did, as the freedom of musical expression appealed to him.
The tour of Canada had now stretched from three months to three and a half years. In 1977, upon returning to Oakland, Joe was introduced to Bernard “Dr. B” Anderson, winner of the 2005 West Coast Blues Hall of Fame. Joe was asked to attend a rehearsal. After being asked to sit in, it was suggested that he should join the eleven-piece band. To complete the group, Joe solicited the services of two friends he had sung doo-wop with for years as backup vocalists. They performed to audiences of 1,500 upwards. Success was sweet and led to a tour of Osaka, Japan; Alberta, Saskatchewan; and again, British Columbia.
In Vancouver, Joe met the renowned Juno Award winning trumpeter, Gabriel Mark Hassellbach. They played Charlie Brown’s, Sheraton Jazz, and the Sheraton in Seattle, Washington, a first for a Canadian band.
After Expo ’86, Joe was asked to coordinate and perform in a male and female tribute to Motown. With this, Joseph traveled across Canada to Halifax, opening for the Temptations, B. B. King, David Ruffin & Eddie Kendricks with Mary Wells
A project close to his heart, the stage production, “Circle of Voices,” was formed upon his return to Vancouver. It later went on to be called, “Santa’s Got Soul.” This musical played at the Granville Island Art’s Club Theatre.
Joseph demonstrates a remarkable style, which sets him apart from other vocalists. He possesses a five-octave range, and is comfortable either behind a drum kit or playing percussion. Joe has also been a part of the Hollywood North acting community. He has had his share of crises and dire circumstances regarding his health, but due to his
strength of character and root beliefs from ‘growing up in the church,’ Joseph has remained ethically grounded and distinguishes himself in his performances with telling power and influence. His sharp mind combined with real technical talents delight audiences whenever and wherever he performs.
Read more...