FIFTH ELEMENT MUSICIANS
The members of Fifth Element represent a diversity of background that comes together in a blend of creativity and maturity as reflected in these brief biographical sketches:
Nina Richmond - Vocals
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Nina has been passionate about singing her whole life, performing in genres from musical theatre and pop to jazz and blues. During her many years practising law and raising a family, Nina was the featured singer with the Advocats Big Band and the Tokyo Giants, R & B band, as well as the swing band, Atomic Cocktail, and many other smaller formations. She has performed at high-profile events such as the Beaches International Jazz Festival, Eat to the Beat for Willow, the Angel Ball for Providence Centre, AidsBeat, as well as at weddings, parties and book launches. She has appeared at many venues around Toronto, including, The Rex, The Duke Toronto, Old Mill Toronto, Reid's Distillery, Seven44 Restaurant & Lounge, Gate 403, the Rivoli, Revival Bar, The Pilot and more. Now, with her children grown and the practice of law behind her, Nina has more time to devote to her music. In addition to her other ensembles, she is a member of The Way Back, leading and harmonizing on tunes from as far back as the 60’s, and is the featured vocalist in Fifth Element jazz quintet.
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Kurt Lund - Tenor Sax
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Whether he’s playing tenor, alto or soprano sax, flute or clarinet, Kurt Lund has been engaging audiences in the Toronto area since as early as 1980, when he moved to Toronto after studying at the Douglas College Music Program and the Berklee College of Music. In 2006, Kurt produced an album called “Kurt Lund Meets the Rhythm Section” (ask him about the title sometime), with the late Archie Alleyne, Bernie Senensky and Duncan Hopkins. He played lead alto in Ross Wooldridge’s “Tribute to Benny Goodman” Big Band, in the Tribute to Jim Galloway Big Band, featuring Mike Murley on soprano sax, and in a jazz quartet (including Paul Novotny, Ewan Farncombe and Jim Gelcer) at the Barrie Jazz Festival in 2022 playing the music of Paul Desmond. Kurt has performed in many of Toronto’s well-known jazz joints, including The Pilot, The Rex, The Montreal Bistro, Top o’ the Senator, Hirut Café, Reid’s Distillery and perhaps every hotel in town... He has appeared with numerous big bands including the Advocats Big Band, George Lake Big Band, Swing Shift Big Band, Bob Cary Orchestra and The Jazz Mechanics. Kurt brings warmth and creativity to every phrase he plays. Fifth Element is delighted to have him on tenor sax (and more).
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Jack Gelbloom - Piano
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Jack Gelbloom has been a professional keyboardist in Toronto since 1970. He has enjoyed a career as music director for Factory Theatre Lab, the Tarragon Theatre, Berkeley Street Theatre and many local theatre groups. He retired after teaching high school music for 35 years. Jack is a composer and arranger and has written music for Lenny Solomon (The Galaxy Trio), The CBC, YTV and TVO. He is a choir accompanist, private music teacher, studio musician and has worked as a pianist/keyboard player with Swing Shift Orchestra, The Vegas North Band, The Bob Cary Orchestra, The Glen Miller Band (Canadian), The Shelley Miller Band and The Rick Levine Band. He has also had the pleasure of performing with The Pointer Sisters, Marvin Hamlisch, Red Buttons and the incomparable Tony Bennett. Jack is delighted to be a member of Fifth Element .
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Ron Johnston - Bass
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Ron Johnston has been playing the bass professionally in and around Toronto for almost 50 years and continues to be one of the busiest bass players around. Notably he is one of the original members of the well-known Hard Bop band “Kollage”. He has performed with numerous big bands such as the Tom deMoraes Swing Orchestra, Swing Shift Big Band, the Bob Cary Orchestra and the Bob Clegg Big Band. Currently, Ron's small group experience includes working with Juno award winner Bob DeAngelis, the Bob Clegg Octet, The Tanya Wills Quartet, the David Coules Quartet, and, of course, Fifth Element.
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Glenn Anderson – Drums
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Known for his hard swinging, yet sensitive drumming style, Glenn has been working on the Toronto music scene for over 40 years in a wide variety of musical collaborations. Glenn has been a rhythm section steady with ‘Canada’s Sweetheart of Swing’, Juno-nominated vocalist Alex Pangman for many years now and continues to be a first call drummer in the vibrant traditional jazz scene. He works with many rhythm sections in support of several Toronto vocalists and leaders including, of course, Fifth Element. Whether it's vintage country music with Colonel Tom & The America Pour, tributes to Artie Shaw’s Gramercy Five or the Benny Goodman Sextet with Ross Wooldridge, it’s always going to swing! Glenn is co-leader of Red Hot Ramble, a Toronto-based band that has been presenting the music of New Orleans for over 10 years now.
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