Le Devoir
Gérard Bérubé
July 3rd, 2009

Sunwing’s Founder, Colin Hunter, Launches Third Album and Performs with Jazzman Joe Sealy

The crooning CEO and founder of Sunwing Group was front and center on the main Rio Tinto Alcan stage yesterday as part of the Festival international de jazz de Montréal. Part of a duo with renowned pianist and jazzman Joe Sealy, Colin Hunter, now with his third CD filled with hits from the 50s has been living and performing his passion in public since 2005, he’s become the crooning CEO
Joe Sealy recounts the first time he met the businessman, which was during a social event. “I invited him to sing a song. And he did. Mr. Hunter then asked me to collaborate on a CD with him. And I did,” summed up the famed Montreal-born pianist. This exchange, which started out brief, produced Mostly About You and led to the outline of a second project for the duo, and the fourth for Sunwing’s founder. “I submitted a few tracks to Joe. Another CD is in the works,” stated Colin Hunter.
Both men were interviewed yesterday prior to setting up for their show. Joined by three other musicians, the duo was performing for the public later that evening with a show at 8 pm and another at 10 pm.
The jazz pianist, who began his career in the late fifties, accompanies the businessman who is having fun reprising that decade’s music and sound. New York, New York, My Way, Fly Me to the Moon, Volare... Colin Hunter sings the classics made famous by big name crooners such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or Tony Bennett. With Joe Sealy, Mostly About You has a more intimate sound, deeper and more romantic. As for Timeless (2007) and Come Fly With Me (2005), Colin Hunter was accompanied by Starlight Orchestra’s 16 musicians. This musical collaboration gave these classic hits more of a Big Band sound; in fact, they can be heard aboard Sunwing flights. “With Joe, we’ll have a more velvety sound, with a little more sentimentality, perfect for easy listening on board.” 
Since 2005, Colin Hunter has been living his passion in public, multiplying albums and stage performances. What started this singing career is a request from Sunwing’s executive inviting the founder to sing a promotional jingle announcing the vacation specialist’s inaugural flight. This marketing offensive coincided with Sunwing’s decision, founded in 2002 and part of the Quebec landscape since 2006, to acquire its own aircrafts. Come Fly With Me was taking shape. The original idea turned into a CD that included a little more than 10 classics borrowed from the world of jazz and crooner hits.
The crooning CEO and jazzman pianist, whose style is inspired from the greats — Oscar Peterson and Horace Silver — will be back on stage November 25 in Playa del Carmen as part of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival.

Le Devoir