On Clarinet - Peter Cusick

Solo virtuoso

Peter has a long history playing the clarinet, beginning his journey at age 7. Raised in a church setting, church music and classic Great American Standards are his music of choice. Peter has achieved a level of excellence many aspire to but few achieve.

First, he is a classically trained musician, earning the Grade Eight Royal Conservatory level, which is typically the level earned by symphonic players. Peter indeed played in a symphony orchestra. Second, he is an adept jazz improviser, seamlessly crafting jazz solos that delight.

Peter also plays in three other  musical settings - playing popular songs in seniors homes, playing bass in a praise band and playing as part of the large Derrick Drover Band, where he recorded two CDs.

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Peter truly has all the tools to craft the kind of music that pleases audiences.

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When not playing music, Peter is a church pastor and a certified Spritual Director.

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On Guitar - James Todd

The Rhythmic Heart...

James Todd grew up hearing fusions of musical styles as the normal way of making music. In his early years, he regularly listened to both Frank Sinatra and the Beatles. In the 70s and 80s, he was drawn to horn-driven bands like Chicago, BS&T and Lighthouse that merged jazz and rock. An early influence was guitarist George Benson, who fluidly blended jazz playing in pop songs.
In the 80s James discovered three guitarists he has since followed for life. First he encountered Pat Metheny, who plays original jazz with a rock feel. Later James uncovered a 30s and 40s gypsy jazz guitarist named Django Reinhardt, and was especially influenced by his melodic playing partner violinist Stephan Grappelli. Finally, he found Jim Hall, the mellow West Coast jazz guitarist who introduced him to the idea that the guitar can cover melody, harmony and rhythm all at the same time.
In the late 80s and 90s, James played in Big Bands in Calgary and in the London area, as well as playing jazz/rock fusion in a Chicago tribute band.
In 2000s, James shifted again, to the more subtle and nuanced sound of a guitar accompanying a muted trumpet playing jazz classics in a jazz duo called Shorelines that performed from Chatham to Tillsonburg, Port Stanley to north London.  After a few more years of solitary practice, he has re-emerged in a new light jazz duo with accomplished clarinetist Peter Cusick, merging a quiet Cool Jazz feel with swinging popular songs and jazz standards.
In the daytime, James is a college professor and a professional public speaker.
James plays an Ibanez Artcore jazz guitar with imported Thomastick-Infeld strings into a beautifully refurbished Roland JC77 jazz amp, able to manage a full sound at low volumes.