Biography
Raised by ministers of the Salvation Army, Shepherd had early exposure to choirs and brass bands. Trained extensively in conservatories, Shepherd completed a degree in jazz piano from McGill University. She initially entered the music program to pursue a career in music therapy, turning later to songwriting and performing. She returned to Toronto in 2004 and worked as a server at a piano bar. She became the restaurant’s key entertainer and formed a trio with Scott Kemp on bass and Colin Kingsmore on drums.
Shepherd has sold out legendary jazz clubs across the world, from Tokyo's Cotton Club to Detroit's Cliff Bell's. She has also appeared at festivals on both sides of the Atlantic, including Montreal Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival. In 2009, she was personally invited by British souljazz star Jamie Cullum to open for him at a sold-out show at the Hollywood Bowl.
Shepherd has appeared and performed live on many radio shows, including The Gilles Peterson Show on BBC Radio 1 (UK), J-Wave's Modaista (Japan) and Q with Jian Ghomeshi on CBC Radio (Canada).
Read more about this topic: Elizabeth Shepherd (musician)
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