The Valiant Thieves (Canada)


Music, Creative Entertainment

This entertaining Canadian jazz quartet plays tunes exclusively from the 1980s, although they arrange renditions which deviate far from the originals in either funny, ironic, or poignant ways. Using styles such as New Orleans funk, Bossa Nova, Big Band Swing, Blues, and even Reggae the Valiant Thieves breathe new life into 80s classics such as “Material Girl”, “Smooth Criminal” and “Take On Me”, to name a few.

Sophisticated and yet accessible, the calibre of this quartet is second to none; with enough Juno awards and international achievements between them to make even Corey Hart blush. Their 2008 self titled release landed them spots in both the Edmonton and Calgary Jazz Festivals, while they also perform at many private events, dressed in classy retro matching outfits, from the 1980s, of course.

The group is fronted by vocalist “Ms. April Valiant”, a stage name for Ann Vriend, who is an accomplished and internationally known Canadian singer-songwriter in her own right. Vriend has recorded 4 acclaimed albums, and has headlined festivals in Germany, Poland, Canada, and Australia. A scholarship winner and graduate from the vocal program of the esteemed Grant MacEwan University, Vriend brings her “soulful, inspiring, brave, and bluesy” (Rip It Up, Adelaide) voice and “vocal prowess” (Obscure Magazine, NYC) to the Valiant Thieves' sound. Her bell-like, soaring vocal ability has drawn comparisons ranging from Aretha Franklin to Dolly Parton. Writes A n E Vibe (Canada): “Her voice is serene, with a great amount of precision to it, and yet wild at the same time, like unchartered, untamed vocal territory”. Vriend handles the variety of styles covered by the Valiant Thieves with ease and vigour, and has a natural rapport with her wide range of audiences.

Upright bassist James Forrest has been playing professionally for 15 years, beginning in jazz clubs, while he was still underage. He attended Vancouver Community College's music program, but never completed it because he got too busy playing gigs nearly every night of the week, in some cases replacing gigs of some of his very own bass teachers. Since then he has toured with a number of award winning bands, including Ann Vriend, and recently won a Juno Award with the band Digging Roots. A band leader in nearly every situation he plays in, Forrest brings groove, fluidity and poise to the Valiant Thieves sound.

The pianist and drummer for the Valiant Thieves is a rotating roster of professional and accomplished jazz musicians from around the world. There is never a shortage of top calibre players in every town honoured to perform with the Thieves, and under Vriend and Forrest's leadership and experienced organisation this ever-fresh combination of musicians makes every performance exciting and innovative.

Indeed, exciting and innovative is what the Valiant Thieves are, with never a dull moment, and quite a few fun ones. This group is the perfect combination of amusement and sophistication, appropriate for any occasion, and yet far above and beyond the average cover band.

SONG LIST

  • Take On Me - Aha
  • Material Girl - Madonna
  • I Wear My Sunglasses at Night - Corey Heart
  • Pop Goes the World - Men Without Hats
  • Don't Stand So Close to Me - The Police
  • Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
  • We Are the Champions - Queen
  • I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen
  • Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
  • Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
  • Shook Me All Night Long - ACDC
  • Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
  • Welcome to the Jungle - Guns 'N Roses
  • Blame It on the Rain - Milli Vanilli
  • 1999 - Prince
  • Love in an Elevator - Aerosmith
  • She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
  • Walking on Broken Glass - Annie Lennox
  • New Sensation - INXS
  • Land Down Under - Men At Work
  • Hungry Heart - Springstein
  • Heart of Glass - Blondie
  • Rockin' in the Free World - Neil Young
  • Baracuda - Heart
  • Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
  • Hungry Eyes - Eric Carmen
  • Invisible Touch - Phil Collins
  • Love Shack - B 52s
  • Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar