Shannon Gaye w/ Kristian Alexandrov Band - Inlet Theatre Music Series

Powerhouse Singer/Percussionist Shannon Gaye and Bulgarian Juno-nominated pianist Kristian Alexandrov join forces to present an evening of soulful seasonal tunes, featured on Shannon’s holiday CD “Songs of Joy & Peace”. You might recognize Shannon & Kristian from their popular, high-energy show R.E.S.P.E.C.T. celebrating trailblazing women of Soul, Rhythm & Blues, which they’ve performed at the Inlet Theatre.

After many years touring across Canada as a featured artist in Tom Jackson’s Huron Carole Christmas Concert Series, Shannon & Kristian recently recorded their own holiday CD - an intimate, classic album with piano and voice as the driving force. From the bluesy sass of “Merry Christmas Baby” and the gospel fervour of “Do You Hear What I Hear”, to jazz-infused tunes like “The Christmas Song” - Shannon is in full command of her voice. The hymn “Breath of Heaven” and original song “Winterlude” are perfect for a moody winter’s eve, haunting and ethereal. This dynamic duo and their stellar three-piece band (drums, bass, guitar) will take you on a festive, unforgettable musical journey.

The union of these recording artists evolved naturally over the years - Shannon and Kristian’s collaborations on stage and in the studio have resulted in seven original CD’s and performances across Canada, the U.S. and Europe, as well as song placements in film and TV.

“I wanted to record a Christmas CD featuring songs in the genres that I explore in my own original music - Soul, R&B and Jazz. I couldn’t resist adding a couple of traditional carols because they’re so beautifully written and challenging to sing,” Shannon explains.

Shannon happened upon the title for this CD, “Songs of Joy & Peace”, as she was driving home and Joni Mitchell’s iconic tune “The River” came on the radio. The evocative opening phrase seemed a perfect fit: "It’s coming on Christmas, they’re cutting down trees putting up reindeer and singing Songs of Joy & Peace."

Host or Publisher Inlet Theatre Music Series