The Ault Sisters
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2006 | SELF | AFM
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Ault Sisters hit the summer jazz fest circuit
Three sibling singers from Mississauga have a new CD out, Timeless.
By: Trish Crawford Music, Published on Thu Jul 03 2014
You wouldn’t describe any of the three Ault Sisters as being young at heart.
When the jazz singers are asked for their favourite singers, they reach back two generations to Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole. They positively swoon at the idea of releasing a record entirely of Chet Baker tunes.
The Ault Sisters are Alanna, 19, who has just finished high school and will attend Humber College’s jazz program this fall; Alicia, 21, who is studying voice at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., and Amanda, 22, a graduate of York University’s fine art and music program.
The three Mississauga sisters, whose mother is a doctor and father a lawyer, have just released the jazz CD Timeless, produced by Greg Kavanagh. It includes new jazz arrangements of Manhattan Transfer’s “Boy From New York City” and Joni Mitchell’s “River.” But there’s also Gershwin’s “You Can’t Take That Away From Me” and the standard “When I Fall In Love” giving the CD that old school vibe.
Two new songs were written by Kavanagh and Chris Smith for the CD, which held its release party at the Jazz Bistro recently. All of the arrangements were by Debbie Fleming. The musicians on the CD include Robi Botos on piano, George Koller on bass, Ben Riley, drums, Ted Quinlan, guitar, and William Sperandei, trumpet.
The Ault Sisters are launching themselves into the summer jazz festival scene, appearing at Jazz on the Mountain at Blue (Collingwood) July 6; Beaches International Jazz Festival, July 19; and the T&T Waterfront Night Market on Cherry St. July 25. They end the summer with a gig at the Jazz Bistro on Aug. 21.
Alanna sees this summer as their opportunity to get exposure for their record, build their audience and mingle with other musicians.
“They are in a unique place,” says Kavanagh. “There is no competition, there is nothing like them.”
The Ault Sisters’ ability to “sing these tight vocal harmonies is a particular gift,” says Kavanagh. “There are no female (jazz) trios, it is a very rare thing.”
The sisters take turns singing lead, depending on the voice demands, and there are times when they sing together, very much like the Andrews Sisters.
The Ault Sisters, who are of Chinese Canadian descent, say people are always trying to guess their backgrounds, frequently asking if they are from Hawaii.
They spent two summers studying music in Hawaii, but that’s the only connection.
They admit their parents wanted them to go to medical school but, says Alicia, “Our brains were more artistically inclined.”
“It is so much fun to be onstage with your sisters,” adds Amanda.
And, if one makes a mistake, the other two are there to help out, they say.
Alanna and Amanda still live at home, but they are all determined to make a career in jazz.
“We just want to keep singing and building our reputation,” says Alicia. “Ideally, we would like to be doing another album. We are all serious.” - The Toronto Star
TIMELESS
The Ault Sisters
The joys of sweet sibling harmony singing are showcased to great effect on Timeless, the new album from The Ault Sisters. Amanda, Alicia and Alanna Ault have become live favourites on the Toronto scene with their charming live shows, ever since 2006's debut Christmas Feelings. They've always been musically eclectic, and they turn their talents to jazz and pop here, via covers of tunes by Joni, Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder and The Gershwins. Stellar contributions by such A-list players as Robi Botos, George Koller and John Johnson, arranger Debbie Fleming and producer Greg Kavanagh (who co-wrote two tunes here with Chris Smith) add up to a package that is indeed of timeless appeal. The CD will be launched at Toronto's Jazz Bistro on March 11.
Kerry Doole - New Canadian Music
Timeless
Ault Sisters
Independent AAA13001 (aultsisters.com)
The Ault Sisters are a fresh and vibrant vocal trio, featuring three youthful and charming vocalists – Amanda, Alicia and Alanna Ault. On their second outing as recording artists, longtime producer Greg Kavanagh has assembled a stellar band, including the thrilling Robi Botos on piano, George Koller on bass, Ben Riley on drums, John Johnson on saxophones, Ted Quinlan on guitar and the dynamic William Sperandei on trumpet. In addition, well-respected vocalist Debbie Fleming is responsible for all of the clever vocal arrangements (aside from a wonderful contribution by Dylan Bell on Van Morrison’s perennial Moondance).
The Ault sisters have an almost supernatural vocal blend that can only be achieved when genetics are involved – and the sisters freely and effortlessly adopt different vocal parts depending on the material. Although the repertoire on Timeless tends to travel safely down the middle of the road, the Ault Sisters’ purity of sound and musicianship easily make the most out of each neo-standard.
The peppy opener, Back to You, an original by Chris Smith and Kavanagh, sets the tone for this up-beat and entertaining recording. Other standouts include a stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell’s River, featuring the great John Johnson on soprano saxophone; a lush, romantic arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s gorgeous (and rarely performed) ballad Ribbon in the Sky and a crisp contemporary take on the Gershwins’ immortal They Can’t Take That Away From Me. These talented young artists have a tremendous future ahead of them and we should all look forward to what’s next on their mutual dance card!
Concert Note:The CD release for the Ault Sisters Timeless is March 11 at the Jazz Bistro. - The WholeNote
Discography
Christmas Feelings (CD) 2006
Butterflies (CD) 2010
Timeless (CD) 2014
Photos
Bio
Vocal jazz at its best. That’s what you get from The Ault Sisters – a talented trio of sisters who put their signature and sublimely tight and lovely vocal harmonies to good effect on a dazzling selection of jazz standards and other classics. It may be a bit of a stretch to call The Ault Sisters veterans, since Amanda, Alicia and Alanna Ault are barely into their twenties. However, this up-and-coming vocal trio has left novice status long behind, given that they have been producing music together for over a decade. The sisters have all pursued formal education in vocal music – Amanda at York University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program, Alicia at the renowned Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and Alanna at Humber College’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program.
The Ault Sisters have enjoyed tremendous support from CBC Radio in Canada, with several tracks from their latest album, Timeless, playing on such shows as Here and Now, Tonic, and Fresh Air. The track, “Back To You”, from Timeless was chosen in January, 2014 as CBC Radio 99.1 FM Here and Now’s Song of the Week. Timeless has also received radio play on various radio stations across Canada, and on over 50 radio and internet stations in the US, including 6 Billboard stations. Timeless has had extensive coverage on college and campus radio in 2014, which resulted in strong showings on Earshot National Jazz chart, Radio Laurier, CFBX, CHRY, CJLY and CFRC jazz charts.
The Ault Sisters' 2014 performance schedule began with a January show at Toronto's Lula Lounge (they returned to the venue in June as part of Jazz FM’s One-Stop Vocal Jazz Safari). In March they launched Timeless with a CD release performance at Toronto's leading jazz club, Jazz Bistro. This was followed by appearances at Jazz On The Mountain At Blue Festival in Collingwood, a mainstage appearance at the famed Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto, and at Toronto's T and T Waterfront Night Market.
In October, The Ault Sisters played at Kensington Market club The Round, and then they wrapped up the year in style by playing two major Toronto shows in one day, on Dec. 21. First up was a sold-out matinee holiday concert at Hugh Room's, the ninth consecutive year for an Ault Sisters Christmas show at the noted venue. From there, they headed off to the Trinity St. Paul's Centre for an evening performance as part of the star-studded International Divas III concert, sharing the stage with such acclaimed vocalists as Rita Chiarelli, Maryem Tollar, and Lara Solnicki.
The Ault Sisters welcomed 2015 by opening for Fergus Hambleton at his CD Release Concert at Hugh’s Room in Toronto. Since then, they have been performing extensively at Toronto clubs such as Lula Lounge, Monarch’s Pub, Chalker’s Pub and 120 Diner, as well as appearing at the Barrie Promenade Days and the Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival.
The diversity of venues and events at which The Ault Sisters have performed with such distinction speaks volumes to the refreshing versatility of their voices. Both live and on record, they have worked their vocal magic on material ranging from classical and Christmas selections through to jazz, pop, r 'n b and Latin numbers. They are able to adapt their setlist to suit the venue and audience, ensuring a crowd-pleasing show at every stop. The ace players featured on their albums, such as George Koller (bass), Robi Botos (piano), Ben Riley (drums), and Nathan Hiltz (guitar), often reprise their roles at Ault Sisters concerts, ensuring musicianship of the highest quality.
On disc and in performance, different sisters take the lead on different tracks, adding to the vocal variety, while their intricately interwoven harmonies are another signature part of their performances.
These three charming young women have now developed very distinct individual personalities, but the collective musical identity of The Ault Sisters remains a highly unified and coherent one. Look for that personality to be expressed with great distinction on record and in performance in the years ahead.
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