Arioli had been singing in jazz clubs in Montreal when she met guitar player Jordan Officer

Jordan Officer

Jordan Officer is a Montreal based jazz / blues / country musician.Jordan Officer grew up in Montreal, studying violin, and later bagpipes, and eventually guitar which is now his main instrument...

 at a jam led by Stephen Barry. Together they started the Susie Arioli Band. Their first big opportunity came in 1998 when after a successful outdoor show they were asked by the Montreal International Jazz Festival to open for Ray Charles

Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...

. Their opening set got the attention of Montreal critics and soon after they released their first CD, [ "It's Wonderful"].

Arioli now has four albums on Justin Time, three of which were Juno nominated, and all of which were best selling jazz titles in Canada.