Toronto is a true hub for music around the world and a lot of night clubs get really excited when they receive such snazzy musicians. Recently, I saw jazz act Miranda Ceara and the Oddfellows Orchestra. They reimagine “the sounds of prewar jazz, blues, and calypso…to create an original and entirely modern cabaret-noir of brass”, per their bandcamp.

Ottawa jazz band brings cabaret vibes

This band hails from our capital city of Ottawa and I believe this is their second visit to Toronto.

Miranda Ceara and the Oddfellows Orchestra bring the past back into the present with their music. We are talking about 100-year-old music and some of that material was original new material from this band.

The evening started off as a Vaudeville Cabaret sound from a lazy day point of view. It was the second song that really pulled in the crowd to a different era. This tune sounded very haunted and a little eerie from around the 1920’s but transformed itself into what I can only describe as Baltic Salsa.

Miranda’s vocals are very reminiscent of the jazz they were playing back in those days. Her wispy and slightly distorted vocals really changed the soundscape of the room, and you became a part of a time machine. This was accomplished through a special amp and a microphone that looked like it came from that era.

Once you were on this time-travelling ride, you could feel the sway of the room, and you probably held the drink in your hand a little tighter.

Caberet vibes in multiple ways

The spicy part of the evening literally unveiled itself when a harlequin walked onto the stage and the ancient room turned into a burlesque show.

Not many people saw this, but I was sitting next to a Father and his 15-year-old daughter, when this all began. Can you say- AWKWARD! Even the MC of the evening had to mention this moment in the audience when the band took a break. And yes the two of them had left the building.

When the band came back on, they started with a mid-tempo swing slowly built the audience up again. Miranda shared a private moment of a song that was written for her grandfather who is known as Opa. He was a poet and a creative thinker and like his upbringing really enjoyed a good rum punch. The song dedicated to him had all the ingredients of making a good rum punch. The song was done Calypso style, just the way Opa would have loved it.

Near the end of the second set that pesky Burlesque dancer showed up again to please the audience. She even had the nerve to walk deeper in the audience to show the people in the back a good time. And what a good time everyone was having.

The band finished strong by sneaking in the classic Cab Calloway tune, “Minnie the Mooch”. The Drom was in full bloom singing HI-De-Ho!

Here are a bunch of Oddfellows:

Wrapping Up

I will leave you with my personal favourite moment. The dancer was in full bloom and Miranda pulled out her special Easter egg and sang Tom Waits, “Chocolate Jesus”.  What a way to spend this Easter weekend!

If you want to follow this band you can follow them you can find them on Instagram- www.instgram.com/theoddfellowsorchestra/

I also found the dancers handle so if you ever need a dancer to spice up your evening, you can find her right here. www.instagram.com/starlottesatine/