ben jokela (piano) and garth vogan (bass)

This event happens on Aug 1, 2012.

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Ben Jokela (piano) hails originally from New Brunswick. He came to Toronto at the age of 17 to study music at Humber College where he received an honours diploma in jazz/commercial music studies with a major in performance and a minor in arranging. He has been working as a professional musician in the greater Toronto area since 1995 where he has established himself as one of the top keyboard players in the area for live or studio situations. Ben is also an established music teacher having taught music lessons since 1992. He has been a staple teacher at the Merriam School of Music since 1998 where he served one year as Piano Department Head. Ben now resides in Guelph where he runs his own business – The Music House – teaching lessons, recording, arranging, and providing all forms of live entertainment. Ben also sits on the Board of Directors of the Guelph Jazz Festival. He currently plays regularly with R&B singer, Virgil Scott (including directing Virgil’s theatrical review Songs My Sister Played), multi-talented Krista Blondin and Heather Katz as well as with his own jazz trio with Garth Vogan on bass and Larry Bodner on woodwinds . Ben also accompanies various “Legends” and “Tribute” shows in the theatre and casino circuit with The Casino Brothers including Anthony Von (Elvis), Bernie Jessum (Roy Orbison), Dave Bata (Rod Stewart), and many more, as well as being in the main-stage band for the annual Collingwood Elvis Festival. Ben has also performed and recorded with many other artists including MCA Country Recording Artist Lawnie Wallace; Funk/Disco showband Downstroke; celtic musician Duncan Cameron, singer Mollie Fisher and is an annual guest keyboardist with Tim James.

www.myspace.com/benjokela

Garth Vogan (bass) is the solid bass player you enjoy on many albums and has a long history of session work, theatre engagements, club work and touring.  As the leader of the Fallsview Jazz Trio and first call on bass in many headlining bands, he maintains an active roster of corporate events, award shows and club engagements throughout the year.  Garth has toured and/or recorded with: Sharon Lois & Bram (The Elephant Show) Cambian Productions, Chuck Jackson & The all Stars (Downchild Blues Band) Shirley Eikhard, Buffy Saint Marie; Harris Cole Wilde Productions; Morgan Earl Productions, CBC, Billy Graham (Howard Baer Productions) TV Ontario; US Congress of Libraries Productions, Johnny Max Band, Lessons I learned CD (Juno Nominated 2008) and many more.

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