Trio
Norté 

For more information, visit Trio Norté's web site.

Lenny Solomon - violin
Lenny Solomon's jazz violin virtuosity has been recognized throughout North America, Europe and into Asia. His performances are "packed full of swing, polish and enthusiasm". Called "Canada's premier jazz violinist", he has played a significant role in bringing what was considered mostly a classical instrument into new genres.

Lenny's career has been evolving through the decades: in the seventies Lenny's cutting edge rock violin was featured in the award-winning pop duo Myles And Lenny. In the eighties Lenny went back to a more traditional violin sound playing with the pop string quintet Quintessence where he first collaborated with Bill Bridges. Also during this time he established himself as a popular and versatile studio musician playing on hundreds of recordings and soundtracks. In the nineties Lenny released two well received jazz CDs, After You've Gone and The Gershwin Sessions and has been called "the heir apparent to Joe Venuti". Lenny toured with The Lenny Solomon Trio and was a three-time winner of the Jazz Report's annual Violinist of the Year award. More recently Lenny put together a unique ensemble, The Galaxy Trio marrying classical and jazz styles of the violin. Starting out the millennium with two great projects, "Trio Norté" and "Bowfire", Lenny is hoping to achieve a new direction in entertainment and performance, combining varied styles and great musicians. During his prolific career, Lenny has also enjoyed arranging and writing original compositions. He continues that tradition on this album.

Sasha Luminsky - accordion
Sasha was born in a very small town very close to Kiev. When he was a young boy his uncle came from the United States to visit his family and gave Sasha a small accordion. That is how he started his career in music. He graduated from Music College in Moldavia and studied conducting and accordion at the Conservatory in Leningrad. Sasha plays the piano accordion but also was the first person ever to play a unique accordion called the "Aurora", invented by one of the best accordion players and teachers - Nikolai Kravzov, who was Sasha's teacher. Before 1992 (when he emigrated) he didn't play Klezmer music but was very familiar with this kind of music. In 1993 he joined the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and started seriously studying Klezmer music--especially studying old recordings of Misha Ziganov. He toured and recorded with the band, playing festivals across Canada, the United States, Germany, Holland, England and Scotland. As a member of "Beyond the Pale" Sasha released a 2001 CD entitled "Routes".

Bill Bridges - guitar
Since the young age of fourteen, Bill has been earning his keep in the music business. As a guitarist, composer and arranger with wide and varied experience, Bill is equally at home in almost any style of music. He has played and/or assisted in the musical direction of Broadway theatrical productions; performed on television and film scores; appeared as guest soloist with symphony orchestras; and has performed frequently as a member of the orchestra and on stage with the Canadian Opera Company. He was accompanist for Lena Horne for several years including her concert tours with Tony Bennett and Vic Damone. Bill has performed throughout the world in ensembles and orchestras accompanying Peggy Lee, Eartha Kitt, and Ella Fitzgerald among others. His composition "A Saturday Night Dance in Canada" was premiered by the Quebec Symphony Orchestra. He arranges and composes for John McDermott, Quartetto Gelato, Arlene Duncan and Bowfire. Bill has released two CDs: "Dreaming Of You" on EMI and "Sweet Dreams" and was featured soloist for Solitudes Records.