When some of the biggest international music performers are our Canadian women (Celine Dion, Alanis Morissette, Diana Krall, Shania Twain, Anne Murray, Sarah McLaughlin, Holly Cole, Feist, Joni Mitchell,  Avril Lavigne,  K.D. Laing) you know there must be something magical in the great Northern drinking water.
"I think Canadian women have a way of defining themselves pretty quickly - they're not copying anybody or caught up in trying to be soul singers or next coming of Frank Sinatra. They are what they are and come to it naturally. I think there's a genuine quality - voices with distinct personalities that connect both emotionally and entertain," says pianist, arranger and founder of Real Divas, Bill King.
Bill King created Real Divas eight years ago in Toronto. Every Tuesday night for fourteen months singers of all ages and abilities climbed the stage and sang a couple numbers before a welcoming but critical audience. Emilie-Claire Barlow, Dionne Taylor, Suzie Vinnick were there as well as Jackie Richardson, Shakura S'Aida, Alex Pangman, Dawn Tyler Watson, Melissa Stylianou, Liberty Silver, and a young singer just out of her first year music program at Humber College at the time, Sophie Milman.
Here it is 2009 and new faces and voices have arrived.
"I've been listening and working with all kinds of singers the past few years and thinking about who would fit into the perfect singing group able to sing jazz to opera, Broadway to the Beatles, Latin – a bit of blues, high-end cabaret and the idea for  the group, Real Divas came to mind.
"I'd already worked with singing sensation Sophie Berkal-Sarbit since she was fourteen producing her debut ‘Gypsy In My Soul’ when she was fifteen - Lauren Margison performed when she was 14 years old and with several established singers ( Lori Cullen, Andrea Menard, Karin Plato) in 2006 as part of  Real Divas at  the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival and impressed everyone in the near sold out house. Kinga and I launched CTV's fall season the summer of 2007 at the new Opera House and immediately captured a following. Josephine Biundo won the Chin Picnic songwriter of the year a couple seasons back. The two of us worked together on her debut recording –‘Let There Be Love’ which recently garnered top five jazz airplay across Canada in 2008."
With appearances at the Beaches International Jazz Festival, Waterloo Jazz Festival, Living Arts Centre, out west in British Columbia and Saskatchewan, the Royal Ontario Museum and other venues the past several months, Real Divas found time to record their debut – Café Society for the 7 Arts Entertainment label.
In a matter of eight short months Real Divas have transformed into a substantial singing group. Much of the growth can be attributed to an intense work schedule dividing time between concerts and the recording studio.
The four singers: Kinga, Sophie-Berkal Sarbit, Josephine Biundo and Lauren Margison have found a comfort zone that has allowed the quartet to expand repertoire as well as develop natural interplay between the women. The results are the stunning debut – Café Society – a song penned by the very talented daughter of American icon and jazz critic (the late Leonard Feather) - Lorraine Feather. 
The title track tells the story of the jazz legends who passed through New York jazz spot Café Society and Feather’s desire to revisit the era. “ Kinga begins, “ The photograph is fragile in my hand, I stare at them, the singer and the band – They pull me in the way a magic mirror does, and I’m imagining how sweet the music was – I wish with all my heart that I could be – at Café Society.”
The album continues with a Latin re-make of ‘Tea For Two’ al la – Sarah Vaughan –– a group effort on Burt Bacharach’s classic – ‘Walk On By’ – three Duke Ellington originals, ‘We’re Rockin’ n Rhythm’ featuring Josephine Biundo, ‘The 101’ featuring Sophie Berkal-Sarbit, ‘Rhythm, Go Away’ – featuring Lauren Margison. Throughout there are solo moments as Lauren pays respect to her hero Frank Sinatra – ‘Come Fly With Me’ – Sophie gives a steamy laid back reading of ‘Lazy Afternoon’ – Kinga’s swings hard on -‘Call Me Irresponsible’ featuring the splendid saxophone work of Mike Murley and trumpet sensation William Sperandei.
Other gems – Ewan McColl’s heartbreaking ‘First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ – Leonard Bernstein’s ‘ Somewhere’ and a Latin version of ‘How Deep Is the Ocean.’
Café Society is produced and arranged by Bill King for 7 Arts Entertainment. The recording features an stellar cast of front line Canadian jazz musicians: Mike Murley, Kelly Jefferson, Rob Somerville, William Spernadei, Mark Kelso, Sly Juhas, Duncan Hopkins, Jorge Torres ( Papisoco), Bill King.
Real Divas are four young singers who can conjure the spirit of Peggy Lee, swing like Sinatra, touch the heart like Sarah Vaughan, and reach for the bright lights of Broadway. Real Divas present an evening of great songs with a personal touch and youthful vitality.
Coming dates: The National Jazz Awards 2009 – May 14, 2009 – Fleck Theatre, Toronto
Beaches International Jazz Festival – July 26, 2009

For more information:  www.billkingmusic.com