Biography All Music Guide Wikipedia
All Music Guide:
One of the finest soprano saxophonists in jazz of the 1990s, Jane Bunnett originally studied classical piano but tendonitis cut short that career. After seeing the Charles Mingus group in San Francisco, Bunnett was inspired to play advanced jazz. On soprano, she recalls Steve Lacy a bit (who she has studied with), while her flute playing is quite distinctive. Bunnett has always had major players on her records: in addition to her husband, trumpeter Larry Cramer, the late pianist Don Pullen had been a fixture on her records; her 1988 debut for Dark Light also featured Dewey Redman; and she utilized Sheila Jordan and Jeanne Lee.
Bunnett has recorded for Dark Light, Music & Arts (a series of duets with Pullen), and Denon. Her most adventurous work is 1991's Spirits of Havana, which matches her playing with many of Cuba's top jazz musicians in Cuba. Jane Bunnett moved to Paris in the mid-'90s. Bunnett continued to record Afro-Cuban jazz throughout the 90's, releasing several critically acclaimed discs for Blue Note records. In 2002, Bunnett took a brief sabbatical from Afro Cuban music and released Spirituals & Dedications, highlighting her interest in both traditional gospel and modern compostions with spiritual themes by Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stanely Cowell and Charles Mingus.
Wikipedia:
Jane Bunnett, OC (born October 22, 1956) is a Canadian soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader known for her Afro-Cuban jazz melodies.
In 2004, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2006, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate by Queen's University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
In addition to her primary instruments, Bunnett also plays the trompeta china, a Cuban wind instrument of Chinese origin.
Awards & Nominations
2009
Juno Awards – Juno Award Winner – ‘Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year’ for “Embracing Voices.”2006
Juno Awards – Juno Award Winner – ‘Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year’ for “Radio Guantanamo Blues Project - Vol. I.”2005
Urban Music Awards – Received a nomination for Best Jazz Recording of the Year (Radio Guantanamo Blues Project - Vol. I).2004
Order of Canada – Jane Bunnett was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honour given in this country, granted to Canadian citizens 'for outstanding achievement and service to the country or to humanity at large.'Grammy Awards – Grammy Award nominee for ‘Best Latin Jazz Album’ for ‘Cuban Odyssey.’DownBeat Magazine Awards – USA – Winner – DownBeat Critic’s Poll for Rising Star Flute.2003
Urban Music Awards – Toronto Urban Music Awards winner for ‘Cuban Odyssey.’American Jazz Writers’ Association Awards – ‘Cuban Odyssey’ voted ‘Best Latin Jazz Album.’Juno Awards – Received a Juno Nomination for Best Global recording for ‘Cuban Odyssey.’Grammy Awards – Received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz recording for ‘Cuban Odyssey.’Jazz Journalists Awards – Received an award for Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year for ‘Cuban Odyssey.’Juno Awards – Juno Award nominee for ‘Best Contemporary Jazz Album’ for ‘Spirituals & Dedications.’Grammy Awards – Grammy Award nominee for ‘Best Latin Jazz Album’ for ‘Alma de Santiago.’DownBeat Magazine Awards – (U.S. Prestigious Jazz Monthly Publication) – Received an award for the “Rising Star” in the flute/sax section as voted on by staff and readers.2002
Juno Awards – Received a Juno Nomination for Best Global recording (Alma de Santiago - EMI Canada, Connector in Europe).Smithsonian Institute Awards – May of 2002 – Honored by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. for “contributions and dedication to the development of Latin Jazz.”Grammy Awards – Received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz recording (Alma de Santiago - EMI Canada, Connector in Europe).Canadian National Jazz Awards – Winner of a National Jazz Award as ‘Saxophonist of the Year.’DownBeat Magazine Awards – Again named ‘Top Flautist’ in the Down Beat Magazine Critics’ Poll in the ‘Deserving of Wider Recognition’ category.Jazz Journalists Awards – Alma De Santiago album nominated by the Jazz Journalists’ Association in the ‘Best Latin Jazz Record of 2001-02’ category.2001
Jazz Journalists Awards – Nominated as ‘Best Soprano Saxophonist” by the Jazz Journalists’ Association.DownBeat Magazine Awards – Chosen as ‘Top Flautist’ in the Down Beat Magazine Critics’ Poll in the ‘Deserving of Wider Recognition.’ categoryJuno Awards – Juno Award to Jane Bunnett and her Spirits of Havana Ensemble for ‘Ritmo and Soul.’2000
Toronto Arts Awards – Awarded the Toronto Arts Award for Music.1995
Socan Awards – Named SOCAN ‘Jazz Composer of the Year.’1994
The Village Voice Awards – ‘The Water is Wide’ album chosen by The Village Voice as ‘Best Record of the Year.’1992
Juno Awards – Juno Award for Spirits of Havana Jazz Album.1991
All-Music Guide Awards – ‘Spirits of Havana’ album picked by the All-Music Guide as one of the top 300 jazz discs of all time.1988
Juno Awards – Juno Award nomination for debut album ‘In Dew Time.’
