"The Roaring '20s, the Gay '30s & All That Ja-a-a-a-zz!"

Christmas Week at Windamere - 20th December 2006 to 1st January 2007

Come to the Himalayas, to Darjeeling, the abode of the Gods, to spend a holiday at the romantic Windamere Hotel, during Christmas 2006, for an unforgettable musical experience of the ’20s and ’30s...

Windamere Hotel is proud to present straight from the world-famous Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, UAE - Diane White in 'The Roaring '20s, the Gay '30s & All That Ja-a-a-a-zz!' with Lance Anderson

 

 

Diane White

Diane White

Diane was the FEATURED HOUSE ARTISTE at the Burj-al-Arab Hotel in 2006 and also a guest performer at the Emirates Palace for H.H. Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktum in 2005.

Diane's unique musical style resounds with her intense love of life, her seductive relationship with the arts and the polished professionalism that flows from formal musical studies – all elements of her personal dedication to music and entertaining. Diane's sultry songs are a rich mélange of classic jazz and innovative, modern melodies and harmonies. Diane's formal education included work with Canadian jazz gurus Mohammed Abdul Al Kabbyr, Charles Ellison and Dave Turner en route to a Jazz Studies degree in Fine Arts from Montreal's Concordia University.

As a musical performer, she's performed big band, funk and musical theatre; her talents include trombone, piano, voice and song writing. Diane was also one of the producers on her album Pure and Simple. When asked what was her most memorable performance experience Diane replied "It would have to be when I performed for our troops in the Middle East just before the war broke out in 2003".

As an actress, she has starred in film and television productions with Eddie Murphy; Stephen Baldwin, Wayne Brady and with famed Canadian comics, Colin Mochrie and Patrick McKenna. Along with several television commercials she has also performed on radio and television voice-overs productions.

Her career as a commercial model has allowed her to be seen by many as her face has represented the Canadian Mortgage Corporation, Ontario Tourism, Loeb the Ottawa Tulip Festival, the Ontario Lottery Corporation, McCain French Fries and Speak Easy among other well respected companies.

Diane has an unquenchable thirst for diversity - savouring the classic style of Billie Holiday, the sassy tones of Sarah Vaughn and the funky sounds of Horace Silver. Diane's innate ability to make innovations that resonate with the jazz tradition is one of the secrets of her successful career. By popular demand, her ubiquitous tones have been heard at The People's Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Ottawa and Montreal International Jazz Festivals, clubs and events in New York City, and a long term residency at the world-famous Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai UAE.

Originally, Diane was cut out to be a classical pianist but along the way, she found the trombone. The trombone did not offer the same avenues for development in classical music as the piano; on the other hand, it was an instrument that seemed to have been made for jazz. Diane developed a passion for this musical art form, and eventually graduated with a Jazz degree. You may ask what the trombone has to do with Jazz Singing? She found her jazz voice fairly late, with a quality and style she never knew she had! From this point on, there was no stopping her racing down the path of Jazz performance that allowed her natural skills to flow and take form.

Diane can't wait to meet our guests at the Windamere and to present her own story of "THE ROARING '20s, THE GAY '30s, AND ALL THAT JAZZ! Her accompanist is that most accomplished of musicians, Lance Anderson.

 

Lance Anderson

 Lance Anderson

As a player, he is widely known and respected for his wide knowledge and enthusiasm for the tradition of Jazz and Blues, and "My N'Orleans" style of piano playing. Lance is also very proud of the fact that he is one of a handful of players left in the world who is an expert with the 'Hammond B3 organ' - he described it as an ability to play the bass with both feet, while "comping" with his left hand, whilst filling in with his right hand and singing - all at the same time! Quite a feat!

Lance is a successful producer, with recording credits such as 'Leahy' (double 'Juno Award' (Canada), Platinum Virgin Music recording artists) and a number of recent recordings under his own label, 'Make It Real' Records include the internationally acclaimed '2B3 the Toronto Sessions, Live at the Wolf' by Garth Hudson ('TheBand'), 'My Regeneration' by the 'Prima Donnas', and 'All Play and No Work' by 'The Cameo Blues Band'.

Lance also initiated and co-produced the 'Oscar Peterson Multimedia CD ROM', now treasured by jazz fans and players worldwide.

In addition to his work as a producer and keyboard player, Lance has an extensive credit list of original compositions and arrangements for TV, film and orchestra. His 'Maple Blues' nominated solo piano CD, 'Shorthanded' showcases his talents as a Blues piano artist and his latest recording 'Footwork' by 'Anderson/ Sloski', features his virtuoso playing on the Hammond B3 organ.

Lance toured Canada in 2005 as the Musical Director for the international recording artist 'Roger Whittaker' and spent many years touring as keyboardist with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) children's icon 'Mr. Dress-up' (a very well-known television personality in children's' programming)

In 2002, Lance produced and arranged the theme for the 'World Youth Day' and the mass for the Papal visit to Toronto.

He continues to be in demand for Festival appearances, either with 'Anderson/ Sloski' or 'The All Star Tribute to Ray Charles', which he formed at the 'Orillia Spring Blues Festival' (Canada) in2005, - the latter was also was a highlight of this year's famous 'Mariposa Festival' (Canada)

His "claims to fame" range from:

  • Working with the legendary Canadian and internationally famous jazz artist, 'Oscar Peterson'
  • Winning two 'Juno Awards' for producing 'Leahy', (a musical story about a legendary Canadian family of nine siblings who danced and played fiddle at the same time). The Leahy family performers were the leaders in the Celtic music invasion of North America. Their CD sold Multi Platinum in Canada.
  • He was a "Hermit" for a weekend, backing up 'Peter Noone' (of the UK's famous 'Herman's Hermits').
  • He has written songs with 'Gordon Pinsent' (a famous Canadian actor) and has been a performer on the 'Canada Day Show' from Parliament Hill, Ottawa, where he performed with 'Offenbach' (a legendary Quebec Band) and 'Amanda Marshall' (again, a famous Canadian performer)
  • He wrote the music for the International TV hit - 'The Worldwide Wine Series' - shown in over ten countries of the world, and was the only composer who ever wrote another theme for 'Sesame Street' - 'Sesame Snippets' was a Canadian version of the show that ran on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
  • Most recently, he was invited to play on the Senate floor of the Government of Canada in Ottawa.