The Nightbird Wedding Band
We'll bring a taste of old-school and a pinch of vintage spice to your special event.
The Nightbird Band is a six-piece vintage Jazz/Swing/Motown group that specializes in performing music of the 1920s to '60s. This wedding and event band, based in Toronto, ON, bring an old classic flavor to every venue they step into. Their warm sound is deeply nostalgic, redefining a romantic wistful affection for the golden age music of the Swing Generation.
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Musician Bios:
EWEN FARNCOMBE
Ewen Farncombe has been playing piano for 9 years. He started playing piano at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts teaching himself, and then one year later began taking jazz piano lessons from Brian Rudolph. Brian turned Ewen on to Community Music, a program at Humber College for youth wanting to learn about music and jazz. There he studied with Kirk Macdonald, Lorne Lofsky, and Barry Romberg. After his experience in the Community School, Ewen decided to attend Humber College for Music Performance where he is currently enrolled. Ewen has played with artists such as Mike Downs, Larnell Louis, Donny McCaslin, Heather Bambrick, George Koller, Daniel Barnes, Kirk Macdonald, Pat Labarbera, Vito Rezza, Lorne Lofsky, and Alex Dean to name a few. He has been playing around the Toronto area for 4 years at places such as Gate 403, The Rex, The Jazz Bistro, Pantages Martini Bar, Harlem Underground East, and various other private parties and events. He has won the Music Fest Canada Phil Nimmons Outstanding Jazz Performer Award, and The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar Emerging Artist Award, and the Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance.
Ewen Farncombe has been playing piano for 9 years. He started playing piano at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts teaching himself, and then one year later began taking jazz piano lessons from Brian Rudolph. Brian turned Ewen on to Community Music, a program at Humber College for youth wanting to learn about music and jazz. There he studied with Kirk Macdonald, Lorne Lofsky, and Barry Romberg. After his experience in the Community School, Ewen decided to attend Humber College for Music Performance where he is currently enrolled. Ewen has played with artists such as Mike Downs, Larnell Louis, Donny McCaslin, Heather Bambrick, George Koller, Daniel Barnes, Kirk Macdonald, Pat Labarbera, Vito Rezza, Lorne Lofsky, and Alex Dean to name a few. He has been playing around the Toronto area for 4 years at places such as Gate 403, The Rex, The Jazz Bistro, Pantages Martini Bar, Harlem Underground East, and various other private parties and events. He has won the Music Fest Canada Phil Nimmons Outstanding Jazz Performer Award, and The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar Emerging Artist Award, and the Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance.
NICK TATEISHI
Nick Tateishi became hooked on music and guitar immediately after hearing the solo to the Beatles “Let It Be” at the age of ten. Soon after, he began tirelessly dissecting the musical language of classic rock and blues. As his skills progressed, his musical tastes widened to include hip hop, country, gospel, jazz and nearly every other genre in Western music. His pursuit of diversity led him to the music program at Humber College, where he was awarded the Gordon and Anne Wragg Memorial Scholarship and held the guitar chair in the prestigious Humber Studio Jazz Ensemble. Nick has shared the Humber stage with Joe Lovano, Donny Mcaslin, the New York Voices and jazz fusion legend, Mike Stern, who showered him with numerous praises, including that, “he plays his heart out.” He has been described by mentor, Geoff Young, as, “one of the most inspiring young guitarists of his generation.” He also had the privilege of working as an assistant engineer in the multi-million dollar Humber studio in his final year. Now graduated, Nick is establishing himself professionally. He can be seen performing with Canadian jazz/soul greats, Denzal Sinclaire and Juno winner Kellylee Evans and with R’n’B up and comer, Pluto. He gigs regularly around Toronto with Dead Penny, The Nightbird Band led by Kalya Ramu, and as a freelance musician for private corporate events and weddings.
Nick Tateishi became hooked on music and guitar immediately after hearing the solo to the Beatles “Let It Be” at the age of ten. Soon after, he began tirelessly dissecting the musical language of classic rock and blues. As his skills progressed, his musical tastes widened to include hip hop, country, gospel, jazz and nearly every other genre in Western music. His pursuit of diversity led him to the music program at Humber College, where he was awarded the Gordon and Anne Wragg Memorial Scholarship and held the guitar chair in the prestigious Humber Studio Jazz Ensemble. Nick has shared the Humber stage with Joe Lovano, Donny Mcaslin, the New York Voices and jazz fusion legend, Mike Stern, who showered him with numerous praises, including that, “he plays his heart out.” He has been described by mentor, Geoff Young, as, “one of the most inspiring young guitarists of his generation.” He also had the privilege of working as an assistant engineer in the multi-million dollar Humber studio in his final year. Now graduated, Nick is establishing himself professionally. He can be seen performing with Canadian jazz/soul greats, Denzal Sinclaire and Juno winner Kellylee Evans and with R’n’B up and comer, Pluto. He gigs regularly around Toronto with Dead Penny, The Nightbird Band led by Kalya Ramu, and as a freelance musician for private corporate events and weddings.
CONNOR WALSH
Connor Walsh is an accomplished bassist from Edmonton, Alberta. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto, as well as a Music Diploma in Jazz and Contemporary Music from Grant MacEwan University. A versatile electric and upright bass player, Connor has performed with jazz big bands, small jazz combos, folk groups, and rock bands. As the bassist for the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra, he has performed with jazz greats Mike Murley, Dave Liebman, and Wycliffe Gordon, among others. In 2013, Connor appeared at the Ottawa Jazz Festival with jazz/pop singer Tia Brazda, and at the Edmonton Jazz Festival with vocalist Laura Swankey and with guitarist Tim Lemke. In 2014, he was selected to participate in Ottawa’s TD Jazz Youth Summit, an intensive eleven-day workshop with some of the world’s top jazz musicians, which culminated in two performances on the main stage of Ottawa’s Jazz Festival. In 2011, and again in 2014, Connor was featured in the musical production Year of The Rabbit, starring Edmonton TV host Bridget Ryan, which appeared at the Edmonton Fringe Festival and at the Citadel Theatre. Connor also has considerable recording experience, including appearances on albums by Edmonton folk artist Jordan Norman and Toronto singer-songwriter Danielle Knibbe. He can often be seen performing at venues around Toronto including the Rex, the Cameron House and the Dakota Tavern.
Connor Walsh is an accomplished bassist from Edmonton, Alberta. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto, as well as a Music Diploma in Jazz and Contemporary Music from Grant MacEwan University. A versatile electric and upright bass player, Connor has performed with jazz big bands, small jazz combos, folk groups, and rock bands. As the bassist for the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra, he has performed with jazz greats Mike Murley, Dave Liebman, and Wycliffe Gordon, among others. In 2013, Connor appeared at the Ottawa Jazz Festival with jazz/pop singer Tia Brazda, and at the Edmonton Jazz Festival with vocalist Laura Swankey and with guitarist Tim Lemke. In 2014, he was selected to participate in Ottawa’s TD Jazz Youth Summit, an intensive eleven-day workshop with some of the world’s top jazz musicians, which culminated in two performances on the main stage of Ottawa’s Jazz Festival. In 2011, and again in 2014, Connor was featured in the musical production Year of The Rabbit, starring Edmonton TV host Bridget Ryan, which appeared at the Edmonton Fringe Festival and at the Citadel Theatre. Connor also has considerable recording experience, including appearances on albums by Edmonton folk artist Jordan Norman and Toronto singer-songwriter Danielle Knibbe. He can often be seen performing at venues around Toronto including the Rex, the Cameron House and the Dakota Tavern.
IAN WRIGHT
Ian Wright, from Belleville, Ontario, began playing drums at age nine. Ian grew up attending the Humber College Community Music School program, and is a 2014 graduate and Oscar Peterson Award recipient from the Humber College Degree in Contemporary Music program. Ian Wright has had the opportunity to study with Ethan Ardelli, Barry Romberg, Mark Kelso and Larnell Lewis, as well as internationally acclaimed artists including Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, Ben Monder, and Stephan Crump. Currently based in Toronto, Ian has performed locally, nationally and internationally with various groups and artists including: Autobahn, I Double You, Hawksley Workman, Kellylee Evans, Denzal Sinclaire, David Occhipinti, Nancy Walker, Shannon Gunn Quartet, Mara & The Marigold, CADE, Midcoast, and the Andrew McAnsh Quintet.
Ian Wright, from Belleville, Ontario, began playing drums at age nine. Ian grew up attending the Humber College Community Music School program, and is a 2014 graduate and Oscar Peterson Award recipient from the Humber College Degree in Contemporary Music program. Ian Wright has had the opportunity to study with Ethan Ardelli, Barry Romberg, Mark Kelso and Larnell Lewis, as well as internationally acclaimed artists including Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, Ben Monder, and Stephan Crump. Currently based in Toronto, Ian has performed locally, nationally and internationally with various groups and artists including: Autobahn, I Double You, Hawksley Workman, Kellylee Evans, Denzal Sinclaire, David Occhipinti, Nancy Walker, Shannon Gunn Quartet, Mara & The Marigold, CADE, Midcoast, and the Andrew McAnsh Quintet.
ANDREW MCANSH
Currently Andrew is in Toronto playing shows with his very own “Andrew McAnsh Quintet”. This group is like none other in the jazz world. His original writing is a beautiful balance of simple yet complex, sparse but melodic. “This group delivers it all,” said Larry Larson, principle trumpet for KW Symphony, as he caught the last set of the band playing at The Jazz Room in Waterloo. Andrew is also currently involved in some of the best corporate bands Toronto has to offer, such as the St. Royals, Band Bajha Brass, and the Spandex Effect as well as being a regular session musician for Phase One Studios. He is also a regular sub for musicals and big bands around the GTA. During all of this, Andrew still finds time to teach the younger generation about music and the trumpet via private lessons. Andrew’s musical life began when he was given a set of drums for his 10th birthday. Andrew practiced obsessively under his father’s direction. The trumpet soon followed as he quickly established himself in the musical community of his hometown Cambridge, ON. Andrew then began playing and hosting festivals and events in his teenage years in the Waterloo area on both trumpet and drums. After leaving his hometown, Andrew attended Humber College, playing in the top studio ensembles under the direction of Pat Labarbera, Denny Christianson, Brian O’Kane, and Al Kay. He has had the chance to perform with world-class musicians Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Terence Blanchard, Jack Dejohnette, and the Labarbera brothers during his time at Humber. Since then Andrew has gone international, taking advantage of the rare opportunity playing in the Vivian Clement Quartet on Celebrtity Cruise Lines. During this time, he got to experience Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Soon after, Andrew “got the call” to play his horn in Japan in world class bands like the Global Jazz Orchestra, alongside the great Bobby Shew.
Currently Andrew is in Toronto playing shows with his very own “Andrew McAnsh Quintet”. This group is like none other in the jazz world. His original writing is a beautiful balance of simple yet complex, sparse but melodic. “This group delivers it all,” said Larry Larson, principle trumpet for KW Symphony, as he caught the last set of the band playing at The Jazz Room in Waterloo. Andrew is also currently involved in some of the best corporate bands Toronto has to offer, such as the St. Royals, Band Bajha Brass, and the Spandex Effect as well as being a regular session musician for Phase One Studios. He is also a regular sub for musicals and big bands around the GTA. During all of this, Andrew still finds time to teach the younger generation about music and the trumpet via private lessons. Andrew’s musical life began when he was given a set of drums for his 10th birthday. Andrew practiced obsessively under his father’s direction. The trumpet soon followed as he quickly established himself in the musical community of his hometown Cambridge, ON. Andrew then began playing and hosting festivals and events in his teenage years in the Waterloo area on both trumpet and drums. After leaving his hometown, Andrew attended Humber College, playing in the top studio ensembles under the direction of Pat Labarbera, Denny Christianson, Brian O’Kane, and Al Kay. He has had the chance to perform with world-class musicians Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Terence Blanchard, Jack Dejohnette, and the Labarbera brothers during his time at Humber. Since then Andrew has gone international, taking advantage of the rare opportunity playing in the Vivian Clement Quartet on Celebrtity Cruise Lines. During this time, he got to experience Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Soon after, Andrew “got the call” to play his horn in Japan in world class bands like the Global Jazz Orchestra, alongside the great Bobby Shew.