Since his debut release of Crazy Life in 1973, Gino Vannelli has remained one of the most distinctive voices
in contemporary music. His voice is as memorable as his hair, as he has been dubbed, “The Canadian
singer-songwriter with the lion's mane”. But Vannelli’s evolving music has kept his fan base growing for
more than 40 years. From rock to jazz to soul, even classical, this singer-songwriter-producer has left no
musical stone unturned.
With an impressive 19 albums under his belt (20 million worldwide sales), Gino will be releasing his 20th
album, Wilderness Road, on April 5th. The new record which has been five years in the making, contains
thirteen songs, most of which are narratives – stories about recent events and some going back to his
childhood days. The style of music is a fusion of Americana, Soul, with a hint of Classical and Jazz. Most
songs have been performed entirely by Gino, something he’s been wanting to do for a long time. Some tunes
feature many of his touring musicians.
Gino reveals, “The title track, Wilderness Road, is an autobiographical song that looks back on the specific
path taken during youth, that has had a profound impact on later years in my life. This new collection of
songs has been a true labor of love, the kind of words and music I’ve been waiting to sing for a long time…
stories I’ve been aching to tell. We’ll be featuring some of these new songs, for the first time ever, in Toronto.”
Whether performing in symphonic, big-band, pop-ensemble or piano-vocal format, Vannelli remains
impassioned and true to his art. His enduring stature as a powerful and innovative live performer, his wellhewn
skills as composer, poet, producer, arranger and bandleader, are a living embodiment of how some
things get better with age. In the intimate environment of the Bluma Appel Theatre, Gino and his seven
bandmates will be treating fans to his all-time favourites, a selection of his new compositions, and more.