The JD Edwards Band is sometimes a five-piece electric folk-rock experience and other times it is a laid back acoustic group that is quickly becoming a ripple in the Canadian music scene. Through incessant gigging and innovative groovy song-writing, JD Edwards is breaking through the barriers of mediocrity and giving Canadian listeners something to dance about. The band’s sound is a synthesis of Blind Melon’s funk and The Black Crowes’ blues, while JD sings with the stoned sexiness of Dave Matthews and the orgasmic outbursts of Ben Harper. They manage to musically acknowledge their influences without compromising their ingenuity or principle; JD Edwards and his bands will take you on a new adventure in a familiar place every time.
“…The night began with J.D. Edwards, a solo guitar player with a voice so intense you can see the passion of music he has flowing out of him. I was most impressed with the movement and energy he showed on stage - always swaying about, not seeming to sit still and showing how much he feels the music. With J.D., you could tell he played with his whole body and soul…†Gabby D’Angelo - The Argus - Lakehead University’s Newspaper
Born in Oshawa Ontario, JD Edwards lived and breathed music, playing and performing in all sorts high school plays and student bands alike. As time went on, however, he grew to feel that his home town didn't offer him what he was searching for musically, so he moved to Kingston, Ontario to study music and later to Toronto. JD lead a ten piece funk/rock outfit by the name Travel Agent and released, "Terminal 103" in 1999. But years passed and time intervened again as band members faded and the music took another turn.
In 2004, JD was performing mainly as a solo artist throughout the Toronto cafes and coffee houses. One night at the Kathedral, normally a heavy metal bar downtown Toronto, JD met Warren Steer at a open mic stage and the music started to move yet again. Warren, a bass player by night visual artist by day, introduced JD to Mitch Hall who completed the trio as the drummer. Unfortunately, the band played only a handful of gigs and recorded a couple of meager basement jams before tragedy struck the band in May of 2004. Warren Steer, 34 years old, had passed away in his sleep. RIP
As 2005 came to pass, JD found himself in mourning for the loss of his friend and music companion. The opportunity for a change in scenery was at hand. Figuring out that the Winnipeg music scene was something he wanted to be part of and place where he could begin again fresh, he grabbed his guitar and his dog and jumped on a plane for the prairies. Here he met self proclaimed “Guitar-Love-Maker,†Mike Ormonde, who then introduced JD to many other Winnipeg musicians and later to his current line up of players. Winnipeg proved to be a melting pot of musicians with all sorts of backgrounds. With such an eclectic mix of players JD had to work with, an eclectic sound was sure to follow. ??
Now, with more songs than you can shake a drum stick at, JD Edwards has been unleashing his energetic original repertoire across Canada. Already, in the infancy of the group, they have played with some of Canada's finest, including Hawksley Workman, The New Meanies, John K Samson, Coco Love, The Waking Eyes, The NODS, JP Hoe, Jessee Havey and the Quirks, Serena Postel and Patrick Keenan. They have made several appearances on CBC, 101.5 UMFM and 92.9 KickFM. ?
2008 saw the JD Edwards Band release their debut self-titled, full-length album, with Producer and Engineer Mike Wagner. And if that isn't enough, JD has also released "JD Edwards Live at the Gas Station Theatre", an acoustic recording from February 20, 2008 at The Gas Station Theater with some really good friends and producer Dan Donahue.
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View The JD Edwards Band's EPKBUY THE NEW RECORD "JD Edwards Live at the Gas Station Theatre" HERE:
