The Game of Love Jake Wilkinson Quintet featuring Michelle Willis FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jake Wilkinson (an award-winning trumpeter, conductor, composer, lyricist, producer and arranger) is happy to announce the release of his latest project The Game of Love. This is the culmination of thirty years of playing and fifteen years of writing and crafting songs. “The inspiration for writing this collection of songs came from trying to marry a contemporary experience within an older Tin Pan Alley style.” Wilkinson has assembled a swinging rhythm section of pianist Mark Eisenman (Chet Baker, Randy Brecker), drummer Joel Haynes (Seamus Blake, Harry Allen, Gary Smulyan) and the fine young bassist Jon Meyer. Singer Michelle Willis, “a remarkably brilliant sensation in the Canadian jazz scene,” garners frequent comparisons to both Nancy Wilson and Norah Jones. Added to all of this is, of course, is the leader Jake Wilkinson (John Hicks, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Liberty Silver, Norman Marshall Villeneuve, Don Thompson, Bob Mover) who the Globe and Mail has championed “the finest soloist to emerge from the latest generation of jazz musicians in Toronto.” The string section, which Jake conducted and arranged, performs with grace and poise, adding yet another dimension to this exciting new jazz CD. Unlike most current jazz vocal sessions, The Game of Love is 100% CanCon (Canadian Content) having been composed, arranged and produced by the gifted Wilkinson. This project of new songs strikes a great balance between old fashioned values and modern sensibilities. Mr. Wilkinson is currently doing interviews, clincs and concerts in support of the release. Contact him at Jake@jakewilkinson.com. ‘Count Your Lucky Stars’, (track 3 on the cd) just became a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition. The Toronto Star calls The Game Of Love “a winning set of love-centered tunes” and hails Jakes writing as “outstanding”