Jayme Giesbrecht brings soul and gospel to Steinbach

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/03/2023 (1133 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Jayme Giesbrecht Combo will perform in the final studio series concert hosted by the Steinbach Arts Council on Friday, March 24.

With a career spanning over two decades on her resume, her repertoire has broadened from traditional gospel spirituals and hymns to soul classics from Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Tina Turner and jazz standards.

Giesbrecht said she’s excited about the performance and the musicians she’ll have on stage with her.

They include accompanist Jonathan Alexiuk, drummer Jim Johnston from the Royal Canadian Air Force band and bass player Jason Munroe.

“To have the three of them with me is kind of a dream team,” she said. “They always show utmost professionalism and talent. I know they elevate me to new heights and challenge me as a vocalist.”

The audience will experience the full range of Giesbrecht’s talents, including jazz standards from the 40’s and 50’s, soul from the 60’s and 70’s and gospel.

“You’ll definitely hear some Aretha Franklin,” she said. “I’ll do a bit of gospel as well so I’m paying homage to my roots.”

The studio concerts are held at the Steinbach Arts Council SCU Studio and are an intimate affair, giving the audience a chance to be up close and personal with visiting performers. They also have the opportunity to meet the artists.

Making that connection is something Giesbrecht does, no matter the size of the crowd or the size of the venue.

“Even if I’m performing in a large concert hall where I can’t see past the second row, I still feel a great connection to the audience,” she said.

Just performing live after COVID was a reminder of what that connection can mean.

“The audience gives me energy and I give it back to them,” she added. “It’s a collaborative experience that I think many of us have missed over the last two years.”

COVID restrictions gave Giesbrecht the chance to take a break and reassess her musical career.

She said before the pandemic she was performing 60 to 70 times a year.

“I enjoyed the break because it wasn’t a break I would have taken on my own,” she said.

Jayme Giesbrecht has performed in Steinbach before. After launching her first gospel album in 2016 she performed locally with violinist Rosemary Siemens.

Since then she prepared a second album, completing it in 2019 just before the pandemic. That album has yet to be released.

“It incorporates all my loves of gospel music mixed with soul and jazz but with that gospel message,” she said.

Giesbrecht plans to refine the album before releasing it later this year.

Jayme Giesbrecht will perform at the Steinbach Art Council’s SCU Studio at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 24. Tickets are available by calling 204-346-1077.