Joe Sealy, a renowned Canadian jazz pianist and composer, has deep ties with Orangeville’s arts scene. In 1994, he played the inauguration of the opera house after it underwent renovation. Together with former ballet dancer and producer/director Veronica Tennant, they performed to an excited audience – it’s a memory Sealy holds dear in his heart.
Fresh from receiving the prestigious Order of Canada, Sealy took to the opera house stage once more on Friday, February 5, as part of the Orangeville Concert Association’s (OCA) 2009-2010 season.
The two hour show featured a range of musical styles, with traditional song numbers done by Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Sealy performed together with three talented songstresses, namely Julie Michels, Adi Braun, and Gillian Margot – the trio also known as the Jazzbirds. And although Margot was unable to perform in Orangeville due to a conflict of schedule, Sealy was quickly able to replace her with Alana Bridgewater, a talented performer in her own right.
The show was a good mix of everything, with Michels performing jazz standards, Alana singing songs that border on R&B, and some other numbers with a gospel influence. Sealy on the other hand, accompanied the Jazzbirds on the piano.
With the show being a success, Sealy is looking forward to make another return to the opera house stage.