Greg Leskiw
Django Reinhardt Hot-Club Swing, Jazz-Swing / Blues from Winnipeg Manitoba
About
Greg Leskiw
Greg Leskiw, former member of The Guess Who, began playing guitar at the age of 12. During "kitchen jam sessions" his father taught him the popular songs of the 30's and 40's. His father was an excellent guitar player who performed with small combos that toured in Western Manitoba in the 30's and 40's.Throughout his school years Greg continued to develop his chops and went on to play with Winnipeg rock bands The Shags, Logan Avenue, and Wild Rice. In 1969 Wild Rice broke up and - perhaps more significantly - in 1970 Randy Bachman left The Guess Who. Burton Cummings gave Leskiw a call and a new exciting chapter in Leskiw's career began.
The Guess Who toured the States and Canada extensively, performing for the Royal Family and at the White House for the president. The band also performed overseas in England, France, Belgium, Germany, and Italy.
Leskiw received gold albums and Juno awards for Share the Land, So Long Bannatyne, and Rockin', and a platinum album for Best of The Guess Who (Volume 1). It was during this period that Leskiw began what was to become a very successful songwriting career, penning songs such as Coming Down Off the Money Bag, One Divided, and Grey Day.
In 1972 Leskiw left The Guess Who to form the critically acclaimed Mood jga jga. The band signed with Warner Bros. (LA) and recorded their debut album in New York with producer Phil Ramone (Paul Simon, Billy Joel).
Mood jga jga's successful career has spanned more than two decades on and off. In 1997 the group released Boys Will Be Boys and performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival and on Gabereau Live! with Vicki Gabereau.
Throughout the 70's, Greg continued to perform with Mood jga jga, Crowcuss, and the Les Q Band which was renamed Kilowatt when signed to Delacorte Records.
The mid-80's saw Greg's focus change from performing live to recording and music production when he opened Vox Pop Studios. Vox Pop soon became a popular recording studio for local Winnipeg Groups such as Crash Test Dummies, The Blue (now New) Meanies and Mood jga jga. The studio operated from 1986 to 1997, during which time Greg continued to write songs, record and produce local Winnipeg artists.
In the summer of 1997, Greg began preparations for his latest music group, SwingSoniq, an exciting acoustic trio dedicated to the feel and style of the 30's and 40's. As well as performing songs of that era (Moonglow, After You've Gone and Beyond the Sea, to name a few), SwingSoniq has developed innovative arrangements of their original compositions.
With the unique voice and guitar playing of Greg Leskiw at the helm, SwingSoniq has created a new and exciting approach to a very popular style of music.
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Camosun College - Gibson Auditorium
