If Serge Gainsbourg, Cleo Laine and Jobim all hung out together one night and jammed, they might sound something like what Mimosa has to offer: a journey into a land of gorgeous melodies, groovy rhythms and stellar improvisations.

Because the quality of the music has given Mimosa such long legs they have been able to create their own vintage sound. They launched into the Festival circuit and began touring (B.C., Quebec including the Montreal and Rimouski Jazz Festivals, United States) and signed a licensing and distribution deal with Saravah, a label in France. Mimosa was also featured in a one-hour long documentary produced by Pierre Rivard from French CBC, aired on TV5.

This increased popularity, however, coincided with baby production. 4 kids later, Mimosa is still around, and able to start touring again. This year Mimosa appeared at the Festival des Voyageurs in Winnipeg and was part of the joint CBC/Productions Rivard TV show "Au Coeur du Festival". Mimosa was also featured on English CBC, with a live broadcast from the Wintersong Festival. This led to Mimosa being featured on English CBC's very first music podcast. Mimosa also appeared at the spring 2008 showcase "Contact Ouest". Mimosa is due to release its third CD Méli-mélo in May and June 2009.

The band consists of vocalist, Rebecca Shoichet, she spent many years playing with some of Vancouver's most established bands (Soul Stream, Famous Players, Kia Kadiri, Lache Cercel) as well as extensive Musical Theatre experience (for example, Joni Mitchell's "River"). Karen Graves is well known as a virtuoso sax and flute player (Joelle Rabu, the Temptations, Marylin Lerner, Maynard Ferguson, Mother of Pearl) and brings passion and incredible improvisations to the combo.  Anna Lumiere is the main driver behind the wheel of the band, playing left-hand bass and keyboards and writing most of the music and lyrics in French, Spanish and English. Drummers Bernie Arai and Nino diPasquale, both incredible rhythm machines, share the drum chair.

Mimosa is a cocktail with only the finest ingredients: Jazz, Brazilian sambas and French chansons. Stir or shake, sip, and get ready to feel good.

Mimosa is:

Rebecca Shoichet - vocals 
Rebecca  is a young yet incredibly  mature vocalist who has toured with bands as diverse as Amanda Marshall, Tom Cochrane, Johnny Ferreira and the Swing Machine, and Vancouver’s new hip-hop sensation Kia Kadiri.   Her experience in acting and musical theatre  guarantee a performance that’s both musically riveting and visually enchanting.

Anna Lumiere - keyboards
Anna is Mimosa’s leader and main composer. Her energy on the keyboards is sure to move you.  She combines great virtuosity and spontaneity while performing the role of two musicians at once.  Not only is she the keyboardist of Mimosa, but her left hand is also the bassist.  Anna has toured Canada, the United States and Switzerland with ensembles such as Green Room, The Anna Lumiere Quartet and Mimosa.

Karen Graves - saxophones and flute
Karen is well known in Vancouver as one of this city’s most-in-demand horn players.  Though perhaps best known for her work in Mother of Pearl, she has performed with numerous ensembles (Joelle Rabu, the Temptations, Maynard Ferguson, etc). Her playing is gutsy and passionate.  She is Mimosa’s most recent and exciting addition.

Nino DiPasquale - drummer
Tokyo born drummer, originally influenced by bands like the Beatles and Led Zepplin turned to Jazz Studies at Capilano College, where he was a member of the prestigious “A” band. Nino studied drums and percussion there with Dave Robbins, Graham Boyle, Blaine Wikjord and played along side four time Grammy nominated jazz singer Kurt Elling, Juno Award winning jazz musician Brad Turner, jazz pianist and philosopher Kenny Werner and received the 2001 Fraser MacPherson Scholarship Award for excellence in jazz performance.
 
MIMOSA takes you on a sentimental journey through time and sound, making dancing a huge temptation. Please let yourself be tempted.