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Mandy Lagan

Mandy Lagan was born in England and raised in Ridgetown, a small town in southwestern Ontario. She studied piano and sang in various choirs under the tutelage of her mother who was a piano teacher, organist and choir director. She eventually picked up a guitar and learned some chords so she could accompany herself singing songs she knew, as well as work on her own writing.

After graduating from Mohawk College Music Department Mandy went to McMaster University and got her B.A. in music. She began taking herself seriously as a singer in 1990 when she moved out of Hamilton and into Toronto and formed a band in order to work on some of her favourite music as well as develop her own compositions.

In 2002 she released her first CD, "I Thought About You", a collection of jazz standards and two originals. In 2003 she released her second CD, "You See Me", a selection of five jazz standards and five originals. She has been performing around Ontario at various venues and festivals, working with some of Canada's finest, David Braid, Nancy Walker, Dave Restivo, Keiran Overs, Jim Vivian, Barry Romberg, Kevin Dempsey, David Occhipinti, Andrew Downing, Kevin Turcotte, to mention a few. Her latest project is "Verses" for which she received financial support from The Canada Council for the Arts and The Ontario Arts Council.

"VERSES" is a selection of poems taken from Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses" written in 1885. While the lyric comes from children's poetry, the music speaks to poetry lovers of all ages. Combining this classic children's poetry with musical composition brings the poems to another realm of artistry. The end result is a collection of vignettes that blur the boundaries of jazz, folk and classical music while enhancing the poems' identity. “Verses” is full of intelligent creative writing, imaginative arrangements, and superb, intuitive musicianship, that is tastefully and respectfully presented.

This enchanted collection of songs features the compositional and playing skills of David Occhipinti (guitar), Andrew Downing (bass), Nancy Walker (piano), Joe Lagan (piano), and Carl Horton (piano), along with performances by Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Blair MacKay (percussion), Ross Wooldridge (clarinet) and The Madawaska String Quartet.

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PRESS “Mandy's new recording the Joni Book, is one of the most successful takes on Joni's music I've heard. Great arrangements that keep the integrity of Joni's tunes but makes them sound fresh and new. Also the laid-back and confident vocal approach from Mandy that makes this recording very strong.” Brad Barker - JAZZ FM 91.1

“Folksinger was too limiting a term to describe Joni Mitchell, just as Mandy Lagan, in pushing the boundaries in new and original ways, is no mere jazz vocalist. This combination makes Lagan's project "The Joni Book" a must-listen — make that "must" experience - for music fans from both schools.” Mark Rheaume - CBC Radio

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Toronto

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Mandy has been teaching classical piano to children and adults for over 35 years. She is a graduate of Mohawk College-music department and McMaster University with a BA in music. She offers: group classes, 6 keyboards-6 students private lessons (children and adults)

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Joni Book

Self Produced
2018

buy

Verses

Self Produced
2008

buy

My Old Man

From: The Joni Book
By Mandy Lagan

Videos

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