Veal 
Who: Luke Doucet (vocal & guitars), Howard Redekopp (bass & vocals - CD), Shane Hayes (bass & vocals - live) and Chang (drums).
What: ultra-cool ultra-pop.
Where: Vancouver
Why: Because every person I know in Vancouver raves about them constantly (and besides, who isn't in search of the perfect pop song?).
To Contact: Alex DeCartier, Square Dog, (416) 534-6422.

It's rare that an entire city agrees on a favorite up-and-coming band, but it seems that Vancouver has collectively decided on Veal. The four-year-old band headed into Vancouver's Blue Wave Studio with co-producer Michael Philip Wojewoda to record their second album, Tilt 'O Whirl. With the veteran Wojewoda behind an old API console, the band spent three weeks working to get as live a sound as possible. They then went to Smilin' Buddha Enjoyment Complex and Uncle Vinky's House of Snakes, where bass player/engineer Howard Redekopp took over the engineer's chair. After all the tracks were down, the trio ventured east to mix at Box Office Poison with in Toronto. By contrast, Veal's debut album, Hot Loser was recorded 'guerilla-style' in a basement over a period of days, shortly after the band's formation. Because they didn't have a history at the time, Doucet recalls, "There weren't enough options" with regard to songs that wound up on the CD. "There's sort of an unadulterated charm to the first album, but this one is a little more focused."

Paul Tobey Jazz Orchestra 
Who: Paul Tobey
What: Contemporary piano jazz.
Where: Toronto
Why: 15-year veteran of the jazz scene and still going strong.
To Contact: Chris Jameson, (416) 730-1024.

Many years ago, shortly after Paul Tobey received his BFA in Jazz from Concordia, he traveled to New York City to apprentice with jazz piano great Kenny Barron. "Kenny taught me a lot about my own fears," he recalls. "Kenny taught me to play with genuine emotion ... with feeling." That emotion now shines through skills honed by years of being a significant contributor to the Canadian jazz scene. Whether Tobey is playing piano, composing pieces or arranging them, his passion is evident. Among the many jazz artists with whom he has worked are Pat LaBarbera, Dave Young, Neil Swainson, Alex Dean and Jim Hillman. Tobey is a regular fixture on the summer jazz festival scene, with recent appearances at nearly every one across the country. Tobey's third full-length album, Wayward, features numerous combinations, including duos, quartets, sextets and even a 12-piece mini-orchestra.

Annick Gagnon 
Who: Annick Gagnon.
What: Vocal stylings extraordinaire.
Where: New Brunswick
Why: One of Canada's undiscovered vocal gems.
To Contact: Paula Danylevich, Hype Music, (416) 410-8691 ext.1

By the time Annick Gagnon was 12, she had opened for Celine Dion and performed at a gala celebration for Moncton's 100th birthday. Her teenage years were filled with appearances on Morningside, Enfants Soleil, YTV's Breakfast Zone, Bonjour Atlantique and Breakfast Television. At 16, she released her debut album, River of Love. Now a veteran at 20, Gagnon's latest CD (self-titled) is gathering CHR steam across Canada with singles like "I'm Temperamental" and "Show Me". Produced by former BKS member Greg Kavanagh (who wrote most of the songs), the CD features a wide range of soulful pop and potential future dance-remix anthems. Gagnon's veteran backing musicians include Ben Riley (drums), Rob Guesus (organ), Steve Lucas (bass) and Richard Evans (piano). Annick Gagnon (the album, not the artist) was mixed by Vic Florencia at Kavasound Studios in Toronto and mastered by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound in New York. Gagnon, who won the 1996 ECMA Francophone Recording Artist of the Year Award, has been tapped to star in the new Vancouver late-night show, V-TV. In the young singer's spare time (!?!) she is working towards her medical science degree at Campus Universitaire Sainte-Louis Maillet.

Credit: Sarah Chauncey is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

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