James Ehnes, Mike Downes Bring Home the JUNOS
Two Manitoba-born artists brought home hardware at the JUNO Awards Dinner & Gala on March 29.
Internationally-acclaimed Brandon-raised violinist James Ehnes was the sole double-winner at the exclusive, non-television event, held at Winnipeg's Convention Centre. Ehnes picked up Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble for his Prokofiev Complete Works for Violin and Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Group Ensemble for Britten & Shostakovich: Violin Concerti. This takes Ehnes' JUNO total to an impressive nine wins and 20 nominations. Read our random Q+A with Ehnes
A first time nominee this year, Winnipeg-raised Mike Downes won Traditional Jazz Album of the Year for Ripple Effect. Downes, who was in town to accept the award, also took the stage to play double bass with local Vocal Jazz Album of the Year nominees, Erin Propp and Larry Roy, in their performance of their album's title track, "Courage, My Love". Read our random Q+A with Erin Propp