BIO VINCENT WOLFE BIO BIO BIO

Canadian jazz vocalist Vincent Wolfe has spent the last decade carving out a reputation as one of the most original and promising interpreters of song on the recent jazz scene. His captivating warmth and vocal expressiveness have been described by Manhattan Transfer founding member Laurel Massé as “somewhere between Chet Baker and Mel Tormé… a wonderful place to be!”. According to soul-jazz legend Marlena Shaw, the Toronto native “has been blessed with a golden sound”.

Vincent Wolfe was introduced to music at an early age. His teen years were spent in musical theatre and cabaret. In 1993, he formed his first trio and for the next few years performed constantly in various Toronto nightclubs. It was a backstage meeting, however, with the jazz-R&B vocalist Phyllis Hyman in New York, however, that convinced him to focus on a solo jazz career. The encounter also resulted in a profound friendship and mentorship which lasted until Hyman’s untimely death in 1995.

Time on the road with Hyman enabled Wolfe to meet many renowned vocalists and musicians most of whom saw and heard great  potential. Wolfe began working regularly with Philly soul queen Jean Carne and shared the stage with the likes of Angela Bofill, Miki Howard, Norman Connors, Marion Meadows and the late Grover Washington Jr.

In 1999, Wolfe released his debut CD “Trust The Vibe” with the help of Canadian musicians Sean Bray (guitar), George Koller (bass) and Pat LaBarbera (sax) on the independent Counterpoint Recordings label. The eclectic array of tunes received much praise from both fans and critics. His self-penned ballad Almost You was singled out as a highlight, as was his sizzling take on the Brazilian hit Mais Que Nada. Both tracks received attention from jazz radio programmers throughout Canada and the United States.

In 2001 Vincent Wolfe released his second CD entitled “Until Tomorrow” — a seamless blend of standards and original tunes. The project, featuring Sean Bray, Mike Murley (of Metalwood fame), Ted Warren and Boston’s Matthias Lupri, was singled out by the National Jazz Awards as one of the top releases of the year. Its original compositions, particularly It Might Just Be and Another Point Of View were given heavy rotation on jazz radio playlists across Canada.

In 2002, Wolfe was invited to perform at the National Arts Center in Ottawa. The successful event convinced CBC Radio to promote Wolfe further, exposing his music to an even broader listening audience.

In 2004, Vincent Wolfe was showcased on the Universal Records CD compilation “Here Come The Boys… A Canadian Crooner Collection” released nationally through Maximum Jazz. The release prompted National Post music critic Robert Cushman to label Wolfe as “one of the best lyric interpreters on hand”.

In 2005, Vincent Wolfe reconnected with his musical roots as one of only two Canadian performers chosen to participate in the Cabaret Conference at Yale University. While the ten day U.S. event allowed Wolfe to reacquaint himself with the great American Song Book, it also gave him renewed confidence in his song writing abilities. A performance of Wolfe’s self-penned ballad Almost You received high praise from respected songwriter Carol Hall as well as a request from Cabaret legend Julie Wilson to add the song to her repertoire! Several years prior, Marlena Shaw had shown a similar interest in another original tune: Another Point of View, from Vincent’s second CD.

Earlier this year, Vincent Wolfe performed to sold-out crowds for three consecutive nights at Washington D.C.’s Blues Alley, as the opening act for Jean Carne. He then made his highly successful cabaret debut at Helen’s in New York City, where he was also invited to perform as a guest at the famed Birdland jazz club.

Vincent Wolfe has played in numerous jazz festivals and clubs both in Canada and in the U.S. These include Buffalo’s Trafalmadore Café, Detroit’s Chene Park Amphitheatre, Sculler’s in Boston and The Music Hall in Cleveland. He has also performed at the prestigious Top O’The Senator, The Montreal Bistro, The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar and the Red Guitar Café in Toronto.

Currently, Vincent Wolfe is preparing the release of his third jazz CD entitled Weaver of Dreams. The project features musicians Sean Bray (guitar), Barry Romberg (drums), Lina Allemano (trumpet) and Louis Simao (bass) serving up a mix of jazz standards and pop tunes mainly from the 40s and 50s. Its very catchy title track, Weaver of Dreams, is a reprise of a 1951 hit for Nat King Cole. Wolfe also brings a contemporary jazz-blues feel to the classic James Taylor tune Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight along with an original ballad entitled Divided.