Women’s Blues Revue Band
The Women’s Blues Revue Band has been a cornerstone of the Women’s Blues Revue since its inception in 1986. Over the years, the WBR Band has featured many of Canada’s most prestigious instrumentalists and blues musicians, including Donna Grantis, Brandi Disterheft, Suzie Vinnick, Sue Foley, Colleen Allen, Lily Sazz, Carrie Chesnutt, Rebecca Hennessy, Morgan Doctor, Christine Bougie, Emily Burgess, Lindsay Beaver and many more.
The Women’s Blues Revue Band perform continuously throughout the evening, supporting the featured vocalists and forming the foundation of the show.
This year’s Women’s Blues Revue Band includes:
Elena Kapeleris (Sax & Bandleader)
Emily Burgess (Guitar)
Carrie Chesnutt (Sax)
Alison Young (Sax)
Tara Kannangara (Trumpet)
Jasmine Jones-Ball (Drums)
Jenie Thai (Keys)
Angelique Francis (Bass)
BAND MEMBERS
Elena Kapeleris | Saxophone & Bandleader
Elena Kapeleris is a Toronto-based saxophonist, vocalist, composer, bandleader, and educator, whose love of various styles of music has lead her from Jazz, to R&B, to Blues, to World Music and more. A graduate of the Humber College Jazz Performance program, Elena has studied saxophone with world renowned saxophonist Pat LaBarbera, composition with the great Don Thompson, and voice with Shannon Gunn.
Elena is currently a member of blues singer Rita Chiarelli’s touring band, Yetunde Ajasin’s Afrika Libre, and plays with R&B vocalist Sean Jones, Ethiopian vocalist Fantahun Shewankochew, and Friendly Rich.
Kapeleris also leads multiple projects of her own, and is in the process of writing her second album. She is currently a private instructor of voice and woodwinds at Centennial College. During Elena’s career, she has performed with many other recognized artists such as Kellylee Evans, Diana Brathwaite, Jackie Richardson, Brandi Disterheft, Pat LaBarbera, Neil Swainson, Hilario Duran, and many more.
She has played Massey Hall, Roy Thompson Hall and the NAC in Ottawa multiple times with the Women’s Blues Revue. Kapeleris has performed with these great artists at many different venues in the city, as well as clubs and Jazz and Blues Festivals around the world.
Emily Burgess | Guitar
Emily Burgess is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter based in Peterborough, Ontario. As a freelance guitarist, Emily has worked for a wide variety of artists and groups, including The Weber Brothers, The Women’s Blues Revue Band, The 24th Street Wailers, Rita Chiarelli, and Sue Foley. Fronting her own trio, she won the Best New Artist Maple Blues Award in 2018. As a member of The 24th Street Wailers, she and her band mates were nominated for a JUNO award for their 2014 album ‘Wicked’.
As an independent artist, Emily has recorded 3 studio albums: Are We in Love? (2017), Never-Ending Fling (2019), and Arrow (2023).
Alison Young | Saxophone
Born and raised in Ottawa, JUNO nominated saxophonist and composer 
Alison Young discovered jazz at an early age, gravitating towards the exuberance of Sonny Rollins and Cannonball Adderley, who continue to influence her to this day. As well as being featured in the National Youth Jazz Ensemble at the Ottawa jazz festival in 2001 and 2002, she began playing professionally as a teenager, developing an affinity for soul and R&B as well as jazz. Since moving to Toronto in the early 2000s to study music at the University of Toronto, Alison has been an active presence on the Toronto jazz scene.
As a sideman, Alison is versatile and in-demand, at home on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, in a wide range of genres. She has toured across North America, Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and Asia with Joe Sealy, the Heillig Manoeuvre, Alysha Brilla, Big Rude Jake, Johnny Reid, and the Shuffle Demons, and has appeared on over 40 recordings. Her 2018 album, ‘So Here We Are’, has received regular play on JazzFM and CBC radio, as well as numerous jazz radio programs across Canada. In DownBeat magazine, writer Ted Panken described her playing at the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival as having “endless creativity and flair”. In 2017 Alison was chosen as one of the ‘Best 35 jazz Canadian Jazz Artists under 35’ by the CBC. Later that year, she was featured in Pat LaCroix and Ted O’Reilly’s book, “Toronto Jazz Treasures” alongside many of her musical heroes. In the summer of 2019, Alison toured across Canada accompanying iconic pop star Corey Hart, and was featured on his single “Dreaming Time Again”.
Alison has been leading her own band in various formations since 2012, composing and arranging for duo through to septet. Her latest project features a line up of her favourite Toronto musicians: virtuoso bassist Ross MacIntyre on upright and electric; Saskatchewan’s hard swinging Jeff McLeod on piano and organ; the eclectic and energetic Eric St Laurent on guitar; and the excellent Sly Juhas and Chris Wallace alternating on drums. The Alison Young Quintet has played the main stages of the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the Markham Jazz Festival and the Niagara Jazz Festival. Seeking to combine her love of hard bop, soul, and New Orleans-style funk, Alison recorded an album of mostly originals with this ensemble in 2017, putting an emphasis on energy and drive, but also prioritizing elegant, singable melodies. Canadian jazz star Guido Basso joins the quintet on two songs, lending his lyrical sound to the album. The Alison Young Quintet’s debut album, ‘So Here We Are’, was released in November of 2018, and was nominated for a 2019 JUNO in the Solo Jazz Instrumental Album of the Year category.
Carrie Chesnutt | Saxophone
Carrie Chesnutt is a saxophone player as well as a flute-ist and a vocalist.
A veteran of the WBR, (IYKYK), she also is a social media content creator , live streamer, social activist, and former underground cabaret star.
Carrie has played with many of Canadas musical treasures, including Rita Chiarelli and Paul Shaffer.She has done a private event for Rick Moranis and opened for Phyllis Diller.
She has recorded 5 CDs and despite a complete lack of public demand has another idea coming along. You’ve been warned .
Tara Kannangara | Trumpet
JUNO-nominated artist, Tara Kannangara is a second-generation, Sri Lankan-Canadian force of nature, giving you 
music that is deeply personal, genre-bending and culture blending. All this, encompassed by wild trumpet melodies, searing guitar lines, lush synths, and piercing lyricism will make you turn your head and listen. Originally from Chilliwack, BC, Tara eventually ended up at the University of Toronto studying music. After years of studying institutionalized art, Tara was compelled to break the veneer built around her experience of music-making. She began to write about being a dreamer, an outsider, and a woman longing to be seen. Tara’s music has been featured in the Toronto Star, Canadian Beats, CBC Radio One, CFMU “I Heart Hamilton,” CKUA, Dominionated, Erin Radio, Exclaim, FYI Music News/Billboard, Julian Taylor’s Jukebox, Northern Wish with Stephen Stanley, SlowCity, The PR Press, and more. She also performed on Lido’s Grammy nominated record, Miss Colombia . She has had the privilege to work with extraordinary homegrown artists such as Jeremy Dutcher, Charlotte Cornfield, and Witch Prophet. Her own work has been presented at major festivals across North America.
Jasmine Jones-Ball | Drums
Jasmine has been playing drums professionally for over 20 years, playing various
musical styles such as jazz, r&b, rock, gospel and country. Her drumming journey began
when she began drumming for her youth choir. She went on to drum for the Juno award
winning Toronto Mass Choir and the dynamic praise and worship group For the Master.
She is a graduate of the Humber College music program as a percussionist. Currently she
is a member of The 6ixStix and The Hitmen Drumline, which are the official drumming
groups for the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Musical theatre drumming
credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar(Theatre Sheridan) Bittergirl The
Musical(Thousand Islands Playhouse) Charlie and the Chocolate factory(Grand Theatre
London) Onstage percussionist for Romeo and Juliet(Stratford Festival) Drum sub for Six
The Musical(Mirvish) Drum Sub for The Lion King(Mirvish)
musical styles such as jazz, r&b, rock, gospel and country. Her drumming journey began
when she began drumming for her youth choir. She went on to drum for the Juno award
winning Toronto Mass Choir and the dynamic praise and worship group For the Master.
She is a graduate of the Humber College music program as a percussionist. Currently she
is a member of The 6ixStix and The Hitmen Drumline, which are the official drumming
groups for the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Musical theatre drumming
credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar(Theatre Sheridan) Bittergirl The
Musical(Thousand Islands Playhouse) Charlie and the Chocolate factory(Grand Theatre
London) Onstage percussionist for Romeo and Juliet(Stratford Festival) Drum sub for Six
The Musical(Mirvish) Drum Sub for The Lion King(Mirvish)
Jenie Thai | Keyboards
Three-time Maple Blues Award nominee Jenie Thai is a singer, songwriter, and pianist known for her old-school soul and expansive vocal range. Inspired by American songwriting greats, she blends classic R&B and roots music into tough ballads and fiery rockers. Jenie has toured extensively for a decade, playing over 270 dates annually across Canada, the US, and Mexico. She’s earned standing ovations at prestigious venues like Massey Hall, Mariposa Folk Festival, and the New York Jazz Forum Arts Festival. Recently, she’s been a featured act on a multi-year tour with the iconic Downchild Blues Band, cementing her reputation as a captivating presence in the Canadian music scene.
Angelique Francis | Bass
JUNO Winning artist Angelique Francis, is a versatile and exceptionally gifted musician. This multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist, multi-genre singer-songwriter/composer has wowed audiences across the globe with her electrifying performances, instrumental abilities and powerful textured vocals. She is known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including Folk, Blues, Soul, Roots, Gospel and Americana. Angelique has shared the stage/opened for a large roster of well-known musicians such as Gary Clark Jr, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Jimmy Vivino, Beth Hart, Tom Cochran, Burton Cummings, and many more. Her diversity, passion and love of music can be heard in all of her original compositions.
©2025 Toronto Blues Society. Design by Janine Stoll Media.
TBS logo and WBR artwork by Barbara Klunder
The Toronto Blues Society acknowledges the annual support of the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage, and project support from FACTOR< and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Broadcasters, The Canada Council for the Arts, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.