www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 26, 2007 - 31 Artscene Oakville Beaver · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 31 Perseverance paying off for jazz singer By Julianne McKall SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Irene Atman is a fast rising star on the jazz music scene. She's appeared on the same bill as Tony Bennett, played with the Stan Hiltz Orchestra, recorded with The Boss Brass, and was regularly featured on CBC Radio's After Hours with Ross Porter. The one-time Oakville resident is an accomplished pianist, senior advertising executive and seasoned jazz singer. Her music is receiving rave reviews from around the globe. One of three sisters, Atman is "the only one with any musical talent in the family," she teases. "I always say, that my greatest inspiration came from my father's fruit cellar," she said. As a child, she brought up a box of old records from the basement and asked her father to play. "Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day. All of the greats", she recalled. "I just loved them. "I really got a lot of musical influence from those singers", she continued. "Even as a teen while my friends gushed over The Beatles, Elton John and The Monkees." At 19, while studying history and religion at the University of Toronto, Atman credits that time as the official start of her professional career. "That's when I started singing with the Stan Hiltz Orchestra," she said. "One of the greatest things about singing with this band was that some of the best musicians in the world would sub in when they were needed. "It was a real treat. Greats like Sam Noto and Moe Koffman," she continued. "I learned a lot from just listening to these guys." After about five years of singing in Canada, Atman decided to head south to try her luck with the U.S. market. She put all of her money together and created a demo. As fate would have it, the musicians that arranged her demo were part of The Boss Brass. "They literally brought in 12 guys from the band, and I recorded my first demo with them," she said. "That was a really big deal for me." For a few years, she worked on a cruise ship and sang on riverboats in New Orleans. Disillusioned by the business and missing home, Atman then headed back to Toronto. "I saw some of the bad side of the music business while I was there, so I wanted to come back. "It's a really difficult business," she said. "At that time in my life, I wasn't "More people should take risks and go out there and live their dreams." Jazz singer Irene Atman Irene Atman sure I wanted that. "I loved to sing, but wasn't too crazy about the business." Atman found steady work when she returned, but it wasn't enough. "Although I was busy, it still wasn't paying the rent, so I got into advertising." She answered a job ad for an advertising agency and was hired on the spot. The creative atmosphere was perfect, and the schedule wouldn't interfere with her singing. Soon, she found herself taking a break from singing. Atman settled in Oakville and focused solely on her advertising career for the next six years. Two years ago, while in Los Angeles filming an advertising campaign, Atman's co-workers persuaded her to sing one night after work. They hired a piano player and set the stage for her to perform at the landmark Sunset Marquis Hotel. "The reaction I got from everybody made me stop and question what I'm doing with my life," she said. Atman vowed to pursue her dream with rekindled passion. Aware that her physical appearance is just as important as her talent in the music business, Irene sought to achieve the `whole package.' She exercised four times a week, reduced her portions and lost 100 pounds. With renewed confidence, Atman was determined to produce an album. "The time was right," she said. "Not only the right time for my music, it's the right time for me." Needing money to make her dream a reality, Atman sold her Oakville home last year and connected with friend and pianist Danny McErlain. For the next two months, the duo produced her self-titled debut CD. "Danny is so talented," she said. "We came out of the studio with some- thing that I'm really proud of." While her music is making waves in North America, her CD is doing exceptionally well in Europe. "The music business is such an ageism business, but they are very sophisticated in Europe. "That's why jazz music and my CD are so well received there. Europe, Australia and Japan are welcoming me with open arms," she said. With advertising savvy and sage advice from her mentors, Atman did all of the promotion work herself. "Glenn Morley of Tambre Productions once told me something that stuck with me," she recalled. "He said that there's no rhyme or reason as to who makes it and why, but there's one thing for sure. You have to promote, promote, promote and you can't stop." Atman did her research, made the connections and now responds to requests for press kits from radio stations around the world. In three months, her CD will be found in 500 record stores all over Japan. Apart from distribution deals and booking European shows, Atman is looking forward to her CD launch Party on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at Live@Courthouse in Toronto. She will be performing with Guido Basso at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford on Nov. 5, and on Jan. 21 at the Old Mill with the Jazz FM91 Sound of Jazz Concert Series: A Tribute to Peggy Lee. "It's been a lot of hard work, but if I'm an inspiration, then that's great", she said. "More people should take risks and go out there and live their dreams. No matter what, you have to get out there, do your work and knock down those doors. Those really, tightly shut doors. You have to crack them open and prove yourself." To learn more about Atman and to sample her music, visit www.ireneatman.com. St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church is proud to present the Viva Las Vegas! WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO LAS VEGAS PLUS $1000 CASH IN A FREE DRAW! SATURDAY, SEP. 29TH 7PM SESSION Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. St. Joseph's Ukr. Catholic Church 262 Maple Grove Dr., Oakville For directions go to www.tserkva.ca ALWAYS THE BEST VALUE FOR YOUR BINGO BUCK! or call the Hotline: 905 Meadowvale Sponsors Assoc. Lic. #36-004 & M507567 ONE LINE GAMES $ 150 $ TWO LINE GAMES $ 300 3 Jackpots 1000 All In Your 7 Page Book For details on all our jackpots and promotions, check out: www.meadowvalebingo.com 821-7883 for further details 2295 Battleford Road, Mississauga Ukrainian dancers (Barvinok), "Barabolya" (children entertainers), Children's Village, Ukrainian food. Baczynskyj & Co., beer garden, raffles, silent auction, and much more. Contact person: Oksana 905-465-3388