Larisa Renée
Singer. Musician. Teacher.
Larisa Renée is a singer/songwriter who plays guitar, piano and flute. Larisa has made an album of her own Pop songs with definite Jazz/Blues overtones/influences and more, and four Jazz albums with Swing Shift Big Band which are played regularly on JazzFm.91. She has performed at countless venues in and around Toronto for over 25 years at weddings/festivals and events with different combinations of fine musicians and with Swing Shift Big Band. She continues to do so today.
Larisa has a warm and sometimes sultry voice with a big range that’s full of emotion and sure to move you. Some singer/songwriters that Larisa admires are Rickie Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell who are strong innovators who blur the line between Jazz and Pop; and Kate Bush with her vocal gymnastics and wildly imaginative/sensual lyrics from a woman’s perspective. Her biggest Vocal Jazz influences are Ella Fitzgerald who swings the hardest and Billie Holiday with her heart-wrenching/soulful delivery.
Larisa offers a wide selection of songs in many styles including Jazz, Blues, Pop, Soul, and Latin. Born in Toronto to parents from the Netherlands, she is interested in other cultures and has performed songs in different languages including: French, Spanish, Urdu and Mandarin.
In the 1990’s, Larisa performed at various clubs and venues in Toronto with many different musicians playing Folk, Pop, World Music and Originals. One example is: “Malambo,” a World Music group with Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter from Argentina, Saxophonist/Wind-Controller from Sudan and Drummer/Singer from Sudan.
While performing in the Toronto scene she began her formal music studies:
1989-92: U of Toronto – World Music Ensembles Bulgarian Singing, African Drumming/Singing & more
1992-3: York University – Indian singing/drumming (with Trichy Sankaran) and Jazz Performance.
1993-95: Private Lessons with Jazz Singers (Lisa Martinelli, Shannon Gunn, Trish Colter)
1995: Graduated from Humber College’s Jazz Performance program with the “High Note” Chevrolet Award for “most promising to succeed”
Born out of the Humber College experience, Larisa began performing with “Take 3” Jazz Trio (with Alan Sitar, piano and Craig Steeles, acoustic bass)
2002: Larisa Renee recorded her album of Original songs, “Drive.”
2003-05: Private lessons with Sohail Rana, a well-known Pakistani Composer/Musician
2005-2008 and 2016-18: Punjabi songs at events in the Pakistani community.
2007-2017: Weddings/events with the Dick Felix Jazz Band
2003-present: Weddings/events/festivals with Jim John’s Swing Shift Big Band
*See top for MOST RECENT BIO
Albums
Drive (Original Songs)
Larisa Renée – vocals, acoustic guitar, flute
Chris Gauthier – guitars, djembe, triangle, male vocals
Brandi Disterheft – acoustic bass
Michael Fitzpatrick – drums
Denis Keldie – bandoneon, B3 organ, mandolin
Don Thompson – grand piano
John MacMurchy – tenor, alto sax
Michael White – trumpet
Anne Lindsay – violin
Chuck Jackson – harmonica
Produced by Larisa Renée and Chris Gauthier
Recorded by Jimmy Thompson
Mixed by Alfio Annibalini @ Iguana Recording
Mastered by George Graves @ Lacquer Channel
Photography/Cover design by Liz Floyd and Kelvin Kwong
Released 2002
One More Twice
Artwork by Heather Sinnott,
Produced by Jim John and Jeff Pighin
Recorded by Jeff Pelletier @Phase One Studio
Mastered by Phil Demetro @Lacquer Channel
Released 2017
“Mostly” Canadian, Eh!
Photography by Dieter Hessel and Colleen Clancey
Musical Director: Brent Turner
Released 2011
Alive and Swingin’
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Andy Pryde
Photography by Dieter Hessel and Colleen Clancey
Musical Director: Brent Turner
Released 2010
One More Time
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Andy Pryde
Photography by Dieter Hessel and Colleen Clancey
Musical Director: Brent Turner
Released 2006
Sample album tracks from "Drive"
"In December" with Don Thompson, Piano
"Small and Breakable"
Events, Weddings and Festivals
Larisa has performed live at countless venues including Palais Royale Dance Hall, Markham Theatre, Sheraton Hotel, Toronto Convention Centre and the Living Arts Centre and at many wedding venues including Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex, Rosedale Golf/Country Club and The Old Mill.
