McGill alumni sweep Juno jazz awards

Graduates of McGill Universitys music program posted a clean sweep of the jazz category at Saturdays Juno Awards in Winnipeg.

Program alumni Christine Jensen, Mike Downes and Mike Rud took home the hardware for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, Traditional Jazz Album of the Year and Vocal Jazz Album of the Year respectively.

Jensen, a saxophonist and composer who still calls Montreal home, won for her latest recording Habitat with the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra on the Justin Time label. She graduated from McGillsJazz Performance program in 1994.

Downes, a bass player and composer who is now based in Toronto, completed his undergraduate music degree at McGill and was a regular on Montreals jazz circuit before leaving for Ontario in 1990. Downes won the Juno for his new album Ripple Effect on Addo Records.

Guitarist Rud got his undergraduate music degree at McGill in 1992, which he followed with a Masters in the late 1990s. Hestill lives in Montreal, where he teaches music. Rud took the Vocal Jazz Juno for his independent release Notes on Montrealwith vocalistSienna Dahlen.

Five Junos for Quebec

Rud was one of five artists with their hometowns listedinQuebecto win a Juno last night.

Montreal Grammy winners Arcade Fire took home the Juno for Alternative Album of Year forReflektor.

Montreals Esmerine won Instrumental Album of the Year forDalmak.

Marie-Nicole Lemieux and Andr Gagnon won for Lettres de Madame Roy a sa fille Gabrielle in the Classical Album, Vocal or Choral performance category.

Quebec Citys Karim Ouellet won Fracophone Album of the Year for Fox.

A total of 25 artists with hometowns listed in Quebec were nominated for Junos.