The Mohawk College music faculty is well stocked with world-class jazz musicians.

Among them is bassist Pat Collins. He's played with Rob McConnell, Oscar Peterson, Diana Krall, Shirley Eikhard and Ed Bickert, to name a few. There's also saxophonist Darcy Hepner. He's toured around the world with Blood Sweat And Tears, Buster Poindexter and Artie Shaw. On drums, there's Kevin Dempsey. He plays in bands led by Peter Appleyard and Dave McMurdo (another Mohawk faculty member). If you need a pianist, there's Adrean Farrugia. He's jammed with Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Wheeler, Lorne Lofsky, Don Thompson, Terry Clarke and Phil Dwyer.

So when local jazz singer Josephine Biundo decided to record an album, she knew where to look for musicians. Biundo is a recent graduate of Mohawk's three-year jazz program and she couldn't think of anybody better than her former teachers.

Collins, Hepner, Dempsey and Farrugia all appear in backing roles on Biundo's finely crafted new CD, Let There Be Love.

"My experience at Mohawk was phenomenal," says Biundo, a 22-year-old Hamiltonian who has already gained a respected reputation for her voice performing local festivals and functions in the Italian-Canadian community.

"I learned so much, not just about my voice and singing, but music theory," Biundo says about her years at Mohawk. "My teachers are incredible, they've played for everyone. I'm so honoured that they're playing on my CD and playing at my concert. They're wonderfully talented players."

The tracks on Let There Be Love show Biundo's love for her Italian heritage as much as her love for modern jazz. Among the dozen songs on the album are standards by North American composers Johny Mercer (Meglio Stasera), Lionel Hampton ( Evil Gal Blues), Oscar Hammerstein (Lover Come Back) and Sammy Cahn (Bei Mir Bist du Schon).

"I really started appreciating this music when I started studying jazz in school," Biundo explains. "I chose the music for the lyrics. They tell a story."

As well, there is the operatic favourite, Time To Say Goodbye, and two original songs written in Italian by Biundo, her mother Maria, and their collaborator Leucio Zoccolillo.

"Italian is a really big part of my heritage," she says. "I sing at a lot of Italian festivals and that's why there's a lot of Italian on there. Growing up, it was a big part of our life. It's beautiful music. I wanted to put everything that was a part of me on this album."

One of the standout tracks on the album manages to bridge both worlds. It's her rendition of the '60s Bee Gees hit To Love Somebody.

"I actually heard it first in Italian and I thought 'that song sounds familiar,' " Biundo says. "My mom told me it was that old Bee Gees song. So I decided to do it half-and-half, Italian and English."

Hear Graham Rockingham Thursdays between 4 and 6 p.m. on the Scott Thompson show AM900CHML. For an audiovisual version of his Best Bets visit thespec.com.

grockingham@thespec.com

905-526-3331

Showtime

What: Josephine Biundo, CD release concert for Let There Be Love

When: Friday, June 27 Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Show at 8 p.m.

Where: Redeemer University College, 777 Garner Rd. E. (Rymal Rd.), Ancaster

Tickets: $20 general admission seating, josephinesings.info