My Song To You – A Jazz Album Featuring Ian MacGillivray & George Grosman Musicians: Brandon Walker – piano, tenor sax, string and orchestra arrangements Ian MacGillivray – vocals, trumpet, horn arrangements George Grosman – acoustic and electric guitars, background vocals Rachel Melas – acoustic bass Dave MacDougall – drums and percussion Additional musicians: Andrew Barker – electric guitar (No Plans) Rick Richolson – acoustic bass (The World Has Stopped) Charlie Wood – drums (The World Has Stopped) Album notes: After their successful Sidney Bechet tribute, Sidney Mon Ami, collaborating artists Brandon Walker, Ian MacGillivray, and George Grosman desired to do a project inspired by Chet Baker. On the Bechet tribute, Brandon did the heavy lifting on soprano saxophone, but this time around they wanted to feature Ian’s smooth vocals and trumpet stylings. Initial production and recording commenced in the summer of 2014, when they teamed up with the solid rhythm section of Rachel Melas on acoustic bass and Dave MacDougall on drums. The first session focused on several standards made popular by the trumpet and vocal great. These cuts included “I Fall in Love Too Easily”, “Time After Time”, “Night and Day” and “The Very Thought of You”. With these classics in hand, the team was inspired to write or rediscover original material, as well. “No Plans”, the leading album track by Ian MacGillivray was written specifically as an optimistic tribute to Chet. The second tune on the album, also penned by Ian, “The Sweetest Blues” delivers more of a cool, bluesy mood accented by George’s vivacious guitar playing. Brandon contributes with four originals: the seductive and soulful “Black As Night”; the inspired “New Shoes” with lyrics contributed by Ian; the lush instrumental “Words Can’t Describe”; and the title track “My Song To You”, full of both romance and sorrow, will take you back to a simpler time when jazz was king. George Grosman has been an inspiration to many musicians and audiences internationally and he continues here with his two originals: the poignant “The World Has Stopped” and the Toronto themed tune, “Scarborough Bluffs”. Other classics were added, as well, to balance out the album, including the instrumental version of “Isn’t It Romantic”, an upbeat version of “That Old Feeling”, and George and Ian’s spirited arrangement of Moonglow. As Brandon got deeper into the production of the 15 tracks over the next year and a half, he realized that the album had become more than purely a tribute to Chet Baker. My Song To You was now a deserving work standing on its own merits – a unique and special blend of timeless originals and jazz standards. Biographies: In addition to the piano, sax/flute, and string arrangements performed on the album, the project was recorded, mixed, and produced by Brandon Walker in his studio in Oakville, Ontario. Brandon Walker is a seasoned composer, pianist, saxophonist and recording engineer with over 30 years of experience.  Originally from Southern California, Brandon has been a part of both the LA and Toronto Music scenes, performing at countless venues (Roxy, The Whisky, The Derby), jazz festivals (Playboy Jazz Festival) and events/functions (Hollywood, Florida Mardi Gras). In addition to his solo albums, Brandon has been featured with many groups and CD’s, including the Swingin’ Deacons, the Jazz Connection Big Band, the Jimmy Stahl Big Band, and George Grosman with Bohemian Swing. As a member of ASCAP, his compositions have been heard in film and television, as well as on National Public Radio and many other radio stations across North America. The album features the trumpet bravado and smooth vocals of Ian MacGillivary. Ian is a Toronto-based singer/songwriter and jazz trumpet player. The album also features the guitar playing and several original tunes written by international recording artist, George Grosman. Born in Prague, the city of a hundred spires, George has spent the last four decades living and playing music on three continents. He holds a music diploma from the Royal College of Music in London and a Master's degree from the University of Essex. From the 1980's and until 2011, he led numerous bands in Toronto, Canada, performing at major jazz festivals and venues throughout the city and Canada-wide. In late 2011, sponsored by guitar great Larry Coryell, George relocated to the US and is now active on the Central Florida music scene as a solo artist, as leader of the Zydeco / blues band, Gypsy Bluez and as leader of the jazz group, Jazz Presso. Rooted in jazz and blues, his style falls somewhere between Norah Jones and Ry Cooder, with echoes of his greatest idol, Louis Armstrong. You can hear his music on jazz stations across North America, on satellite radio and on Spotify, Pandora and Jango. He has written music for TV and film and has composed for and produced various artists such as vocalist Amy Rivard, vocalist Lynda Covello, and trumpet player Ian MacGillivray.