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Vocalist + Composer

Power Flower is the title of Gillian’s latest album — a project that took two and a half years to complete and is an homage to the music of her influences in 70s and 80s funk, pop, and jazz.  Power Flower was released globally in October 2020 on CD and in March 2021 on vinyl LP by Ropeadope Records.

Following her acclaimed debut Black Butterfly, Toronto native Gillian Margot builds on her unique and emotive interpretations of American Standards with Power Flower, a deeply soothing homage to her influences in the Jazz, Pop, and Funk of the 70s and 80s. Margot spent two and a half years building the work; selecting seasoned titans Geoffrey Keezer, Billy Kilson, Seamus Blake, Ingrid Jensen, and Mark Whitfield Jr, and working the arrangements and recordings to her complete satisfaction. Included in the liner notes is the phrase ‘All vocals recorded without use of any pitch correction technology,’ which sums up the care and attention she has paid to  Power Flower. The song selection reveals the same care; three rare covers from Stevie Wonder, Wayne Shorter, and Joe Sample are balanced with three originals and a wonderful arrangement of the traditional song “Black Is The Color (Of My True Love’s Hair).”  Power Flower was released in October 2020 on CD and in March 2021 on vinyl LP by Ropeadope Records.In 2018, Margot collaborated with pianist Geoffrey Keezer on his latest album, On My Way to You (MarKeez). With Margot featured on five of ten tracks, Ted Panken writes that the vocalist and pianist “achieve an uncanny mind-meld on the co-composed ‘You Stay With Me’ — Margot projects her magnificent contralto to equally compelling effect both when conveying her tender, sensuous lyric and then improvising in dialogue with the piano during the latter section. They also co-wrote the percolating ‘Guanajuato’ (named for the Central Mexican city where they performed a duo concert), on which the protagonists engage in a protracted, intuitive musical conversation.”

Her 2016 album, titled Black Butterfly (Hipnotic) is an artfully crafted set that showcases her multifaceted musicality and speaks to the singer’s passion for diversity. The album blends Great American Songbook standards, intriguing jazz originals, gutbucket blues, contemporary hip-hop flavours and uniquely personal covers of songs by Curtis Mayfield, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, and 80’s English rockers Simply Red.

Having an exquisite voice, a disarmingly wide range and a style that is deeply rooted in the tradition of the great jazz vocalists, Gillian Margot possesses a gift of storytelling and stunning lyrical delivery. A native of Toronto, Canada, Margot studied under a generation of jazz legends including Oscar Peterson, Freddy Cole, Carol Welsman, and Norman Simmons. Equally at home in the musical worlds of jazz, R&B, chamber, and pop, she has been invited to perform in major venues worldwide with a long list of top-tier talent, including rock icon Sting, famed soprano Kathleen Battle, jazz stars Jeremy Pelt and Chris Botti, and GRAMMY® artists Robert Glasper and Geoffrey Keezer. Additionally, her voice can be  heard in commercials, feature films, and television programs including Jane Goodall’s  Wild Chimpanzees (IMAX 2002), New Year (Doublesee 2010), Lethal Weapon (FOX  2016), The Young and The Restless (2016-2019), and One Good Reason (Alone.Calm  2020).

“Gillian Margot’s a jazz singer, and clearly has a fantastic ability to use her voice with the dexterity of an instrument – but she also brings in some nice currents of soul to this standout set [on Power Flower].” — DUSTY GROOVE, CHICAGO

“Gillian has a love for song and the storytelling aspect of musical performance. The tone and sincerity of her voice, her remarkable presence and knowledge, use of phrasing, and ability to communicate with an audience make her relatable and personable. She has a penchant for hard work and a tendency to win over an audience.” – JEREMY PELT (Trumpeter/ Recording Artist/ Producer)

“Margot’s smoky contralto, solid pitch and warm delivery might remind some listeners of Dianne Reeves and the multi-tracked background voices are a creative plus.”– NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD

“…a rich, clear and earthy voice, both rhythmic and free… strong in voice yet vulnerable in spirit, conversant and still melodic… This lady needs to be heard!” — L.A. JAZZ WEEKLY

Vocalist + Composer

Power Flower is the title of Gillian’s latest album — a project that took two and a half years to complete and is an homage to the music of her influences in 70s and 80s funk, pop, and jazz. Power Flower will be released globally in October 2020 on Ropeadope Records.

Gillian Margot is a singer with a rare gift that makes people sit up and listen. She possesses an exquisite voice, a disarmingly wide range and a style that eschews jazz singer clichés in favour of an original, interpretive delivery grounded in a song’s lyrical and emotional content. A native of Toronto, Canada, Margot studied under a generation of jazz legends including Oscar Peterson, Freddy Cole, Carol Welsman and Norman Simmons. Equally at home in the musical worlds of jazz, R&B, chamber, and pop, she embodies a stage presence and confidence honed through years of performing in major venues worldwide with top-tier talent, including rock icon Sting, jazz trumpeters Chris Botti and Jeremy Pelt, pianist Robert Glasper,famed soprano Kathleen Battle, conductors Wayne Marshall (London Philharmonic) and Jukka-Pekka Saraste (Toronto Symphony Orchestra). Additionally, her voice can be heard in commercials and in film and television programs, including Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees (IMAX 2002), New Year (Doublesee 2010), North (Novel 2012), and Lethal Weapon (FOX 2016).

Ms. Margot’s album Black Butterfly (Hipnotic 2016) is an artfully crafted set that showcases her multifaceted musicality and speaks to the singer’s passion for diversity. Involving some of the most in-demand musicians on the New York scene, the album blends Great American Songbook standards, intriguing jazz originals, gutbucket blues, contemporary hip-hop flavours and uniquely personal covers of songs by Curtis Mayfield, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, and 80’s English rockers Simply Red. Her most recent collaboration is with multiple GRAMMY®-nominated pianist Geoffrey Keezer on his latest album, On My Way to You (MarKeez Records 2018). With Margot featured on five of ten tracks, Ted Panken writes that the vocalist and pianist “achieve an uncanny mind-meld on the co-composed ‘You Stay With Me’ — Margot projects her magnificent contralto to equally compelling effect both when conveying her tender, sensuous lyric and then improvising in dialogue with the piano during the latter section. They also co-wrote the percolating ‘Guanajuato’ (named for the Central Mexican city where they performed a duo concert), on which the protagonists engage in a protracted, intuitive musical conversation.”

Power Flower is the title of Gillian’s latest album — a project that took two and a half years to complete and is an homage to the music of her influences in 70s and 80s funk, pop, and jazz. Power Flower will be released globally in October 2020 on Ropeadope Records.

“Gillian has a love for song and the storytelling aspect of musical performance. The tone and sincerity of her voice, her remarkable presence and knowledge, use of phrasing, and ability to communicate with an audience make her relatable and personable. She has a penchant for hard work and a tendency to win over an audience.” – JEREMY PELT (Trumpeter/ Recording Artist/ Producer)

“Margot’s smoky contralto, solid pitch and warm delivery might remind some listeners of Dianne Reeves and the multi-tracked background voices are a creative plus.”– NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD

“Gillian Margot’s a jazz singer, and clearly has a fantastic ability to use her voice with the dexterity of an instrument – but she also brings in some nice currents of soul to this standout set [on Power Flower].” – DUSTY GROOVE, CHICAGO

“…a rich, clear and earthy voice, both rhythmic and free… strong in voice yet vulnerable in spirit, conversant and still melodic… This lady needs to be heard!” — L.A. JAZZ WEEKLY