An evening of music, poetry, art and treats from local GTA black artists and businesses.
Featuring sounds of gospel, jazz, soul, and more from musicians Jenna Cowans, Brandon Davis, O’Neil Donald, and Nicole Sinclair-Anderson. Artwork by James Okore on display, too.
FEATURED VISUAL ARTIST
James Okore is a Toronto-based contemporary interdisciplinary artist with a Fine Arts Diploma from Centennial College (2012) and a BFA in Drawing & Painting from OCADU (2021). His work primarily features vibrant portrait paintings, blending Realism and Surrealism to juxtapose reality with imaginative environments. These pieces not only reflect on his own personal experiences, but the experiences of others and aim to challenge the viewers’ perceptions.
ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
Jenna Cowans is an established vocalist and songwriter in the downtown Toronto Area. Growing up in a musical family, she graduated from Humber College’s renowned Jazz Music program, followed by a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from York University. Beginning with piano training at 5 and writing songs since she was 8, she is a sought-after studio vocalist, arranger and songwriter. Follow her at @jennacowans to stay connected.
Brandon Davis is an improvising musician and composer who has been active since 2011. He is primarily an upright bassist with roots in Toronto’s avant-garde improvising and singer/songwriter communities, and is a versatile musician with experience in a wide variety of contexts. He performs in folk, pop, metal, electronic, jazz, improvisatory, experimental, and classical contexts; and has filled roles as varied as guitarist, ukulele-player, vocalist, producer, and audio engineer in addition to his primary work as an upright bassist. In each of these contexts, he is a committed, intentional, hard-working and deeply present musician motivated by a passion to create vulnerable, honest, and impactful music. He is currently in the second year of his doctorate at the University of Toronto where he studies the phenomenon of unselfconscious decision-making in improvisation, and is enjoying learning how to parent a toddler.
O’Neil Donald. Take a 2000s urban pop groove and a robust baritone-tenor voice, wrap it in a few synthesizers, dip it all in a booming background vocal arrangement and you have O'Neil Gerald Donald.
Although he doesn't identify as a dancer, O'Neil loves producing music that makes people comfortable to do their own little 2-step. He uses catchy melodies to unpack complex truths about faith.
O'Neil cites influence from the likes of Timbaland, Darkchild and Kirk Franklin—all distinctly known for their musical intricacy and explosive energy.
Outside of his own music, he produces for his wife, MIAMAGINATION, leads the music department at his church and runs Reclaim Your Voice—a vocal coaching business centred on helping singers fortify their mindset and freely share their musical message.
Nicole Sinclair-Anderson, A Toronto native, has a shared love of two things: God and music. Nicole is a graduate from Humber College with a diploma in Jazz Studies. There she honed her skills by studying with great instructors such as Trish Colter, Pat Labarbara, Lisa Martenelli, Denny Christianson, Shelly Berger and Don Thompson. She graduated in 1998 from Humber College and quickly started to use her God given gift becoming one of the most sought after studio musicians.
A principle soloist with the Juno-awarding winning Toronto Mass Choir for over 20 years, Nicole has been featured on many of their gospel recordings such as Holy Is The Lord, Soar Like An Eagle, How Sweet The Name of Jesus and Satisfied. Nicole also recorded with Aileen Lombardo, Mark Masri, Laila Biali, Jenna Burke, Dave Brown and Anthony Brancati.
Nicole has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Joe Hendricks, Mike Janzen, Alvin Slaughter, Andrew Craig, Larnell Lewis, Sam Williams, Corey Butler, Renee Rowe, Rob Brown, Matthew Burnett, Otis Williams, Toya Alexis, Shelly Berger, Isaac Cates, Julie Black, Patricia Shirley and many other seasoned artists. Nicole was also on the inaugural television season of Canadian Idol, making it to the top 30.
For over 8 years Nicole is the Creative Arts Director at Malvern Christian Assembly and is always happy to share with others her unique vantage point of being not only an experienced singer/worship leader but also a seasoned gospel/jazz music artist/instructor. She also had the opportunity to work for Whitby Christian Assembly and Pickering Pentecostal Church, and mentor many other churches and their worship teams.
For over 40 years, Nicole has been using her God given talents on piano and in voice to bless thousands and believes that this is what it is all about. Nicole came full circle and had the opportunity in 2019 to become the Course Director of the Humber College gospel choir course and in 2022 had the opportunity to become a Course Director at York University directing and instructing the York University Gospel Choir. Nicole currently is a Music Tutor at York University and enjoys pouring into the next generation. She is also blessed to work alongside Karen Burke as the Assistant Director of the Toronto Mass Choir. In 2018 Nicole opened her own music school, ‘Niki’s School Of Music’ but since the pandemic had to close it down.
Nicole released her first single in September 2023 entitled Keep Your Head Up: a song created to inspire togetherness and love just how God designed it to be. Her second single was released on April 5, 2024 entitled Pray For Me. More recently, Nicole was a part of the Women In Jazz initiative with Jazz FM which featured her in a 1hr interview with Heather Bambrick and a live to air concert.
Nicole is set to walk the path the Lord has in store for her holding on to these words: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.”