Get to Know Your Camp Faculty!
JazzWorks Jazz Camp is a unique opportunity for singers and instrumentalists to learn jazz theory and technique from award-winning, highly innovative Canadian and international jazz musicians and special guests. JazzWorks' faculty will guide participants through a varied weekend of jazz master classes and workshop sessions, rehearsals and performances, highlighted by a public concert on Sunday afternoon.
Adrian Vedady
Musical Director/Bass/Composition
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“Adrian Vedady should be considered as one of Montreal’s best double bassists. The quality of his rhythmic accompaniment, the fluidity of his phrasing, the clarity and roundness of his lines makes him one on the most important contributors at the heart of the local scene.” -Alain Brunet, La Presse, 2009.
Since 1999, Adrian Vedady has been performing, recording and touring with Montreal's very best musicians including Wray Downes, Al McLean, Andre White, Joel Miller, Mike Rud, Yannick Rieu, Francois Bourassa, Joe Sullivan, Steve Amirault, Jim Doxas, Chet Doxas, Jeff Johnston and Christine Jensen. And internationally with the likes of Marc Copland, Jean-Michel Pilc, Dave Liebman, Ravi Coltrane, Ingrid Jensen, David Binney, Sheila Jordan, Laila Biali, Azar Lawrence and Ariel Pocock. In 2014, he won a Juno award for best album with Mike Rud's Notes on Montreal project. He has produced 2 albums as a leader, the latest entitled In Three Acts, that feature his compositions. He also co-leads a group with renowned pianist, Marc Copland. Together they have performed at numerous Canadian Jazz Festivals and released an album entitled Live At Largo in 2012. Vedady has performed at jazz festivals and concert halls across Canada, the USA, Europe, Mexico, India and China. |
Nat Reeves
Bass
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During the past 36 years, Nat Reeves has been one of the top bassists in jazz. His supportive and stimulating playing has uplifted a countless number of sessions and recording dates (most notably with the great altoists Jackie McLean and Kenny Garrett) and he has led his own CD State of Emergency. Both as a performer and an educator, he has made a strong impact on the jazz world.
Nat Reeves was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia. Nat had grown up hearing bluegrass, rock and soul records but did not get an opportunity to listen to jazz until he was already a bassist. Nat admired Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius and all of the top electric bassists of the time, being interested in all of the styles. |
“As a bassist it is my function to concentrate on the foundation of the band and make everybody else sound good. To become a better bass player and learn more about the instrument, I started listening to jazz. In jazz there is much more freedom to create one’s own bass part and to develop my own bass sound. It is my job to always learn and not merely play the bass but be a bass player, projecting more than just my notes and always sounding fresh and alive.”
When he was 22 and living in Richmond, Virginia, Nat joined a band led by trumpeter Tom Mitchell and guitarist Randy Johnston. Johnny Coles, trumpeter for Ray Charles who frequently sat in with the band, convinced Nat to switch to acoustic bass. Without taking a lesson, Nat taught himself the new instrument and quickly developed his own individual voice.
In 1979, Nat Reeves moved to New York City. “I listened, played on the streets, listened some more, and learned. It was at the same time that Kenny Garrett, Mulgrew Miller, Tony Reedus and James Williams also came to New York. We were all friends and played together.” He first toured with Sonny Stitt in 1982 during what would be the great saxophonist’s last tour. That year he met Jackie McLean, who became his mentor.
“Jackie McLean had a major impact on me as both a musician and a man. I remember that he told me that people saw you before they heard you so it was important how I dressed and how I talked to people. He introduced me to Dizzy and Miles in the 1980s. I performed with him on and off from 1987-2004 and he is still a major part of my life. Some of the things that Jackie said to me at the time make more sense to me now than they did originally. I still learn from him and I became a teacher because of him.”
Nat began teaching at the University of Hartford (The Hartt School jazz program was organized and run by Jackie McLean) and the Artists Collective (an arts organization founded by Jackie and his wife Dollie). After teaching part-time for years, in 2001 Nat began a full time teaching career at The Hartt School where the African American Music Studies Program had been renamed the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. “I build on what my students already know and try to convince them to be more aggressive with learning. I’ve learned a lot from my students particularly about technology. I often teach what I want to learn. I love helping the students. I think of teaching similar to playing a gig: being well organized, accomplishing goals and solving problems. It is a lot of fun and it makes me a better musician.”
Early in his career, Nat Reeves not only performed with Jackie McLean but such greats as tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson, trumpeter Donald Byrd, drummer Art Taylor and pianists Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Kirkland, Walter Davis, Walter Bishop, Larry Willis and Kenny Drew. He became a longtime member of altoist Kenny Garrett’s group in 1994 and in recent times has worked and recorded with many of the who’s who of jazz including tenor-saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, George Coleman and Eric Alexander, trombonist Steve Davis, pianists Harold Mabern, George Cables, David Hazeltine and Anthony Wonsey, and drummer Joe Farnsworth among many others. Asked which of his recordings are among his favorites, Nat named Jackie McLean’s J-Mac Attack, Kenny Garrett’s Grammy-nominated Songbook and Seeds from the Underground, Steve Davis’ Say When, Joe Farnsworth’s My Heroes and Eric Alexander’s Temple of Olympic Zeus.
During the past year, Nat Reeves has traveled the world including performing in India and Japan, at the San Francisco, New Orleans, Detroit and Atlanta Jazz Festivals, and with Pharoah Sanders at Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center.
https://natreeves.com/
https://natreeves.com/videos/
When he was 22 and living in Richmond, Virginia, Nat joined a band led by trumpeter Tom Mitchell and guitarist Randy Johnston. Johnny Coles, trumpeter for Ray Charles who frequently sat in with the band, convinced Nat to switch to acoustic bass. Without taking a lesson, Nat taught himself the new instrument and quickly developed his own individual voice.
In 1979, Nat Reeves moved to New York City. “I listened, played on the streets, listened some more, and learned. It was at the same time that Kenny Garrett, Mulgrew Miller, Tony Reedus and James Williams also came to New York. We were all friends and played together.” He first toured with Sonny Stitt in 1982 during what would be the great saxophonist’s last tour. That year he met Jackie McLean, who became his mentor.
“Jackie McLean had a major impact on me as both a musician and a man. I remember that he told me that people saw you before they heard you so it was important how I dressed and how I talked to people. He introduced me to Dizzy and Miles in the 1980s. I performed with him on and off from 1987-2004 and he is still a major part of my life. Some of the things that Jackie said to me at the time make more sense to me now than they did originally. I still learn from him and I became a teacher because of him.”
Nat began teaching at the University of Hartford (The Hartt School jazz program was organized and run by Jackie McLean) and the Artists Collective (an arts organization founded by Jackie and his wife Dollie). After teaching part-time for years, in 2001 Nat began a full time teaching career at The Hartt School where the African American Music Studies Program had been renamed the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz. “I build on what my students already know and try to convince them to be more aggressive with learning. I’ve learned a lot from my students particularly about technology. I often teach what I want to learn. I love helping the students. I think of teaching similar to playing a gig: being well organized, accomplishing goals and solving problems. It is a lot of fun and it makes me a better musician.”
Early in his career, Nat Reeves not only performed with Jackie McLean but such greats as tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson, trumpeter Donald Byrd, drummer Art Taylor and pianists Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Kirkland, Walter Davis, Walter Bishop, Larry Willis and Kenny Drew. He became a longtime member of altoist Kenny Garrett’s group in 1994 and in recent times has worked and recorded with many of the who’s who of jazz including tenor-saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, George Coleman and Eric Alexander, trombonist Steve Davis, pianists Harold Mabern, George Cables, David Hazeltine and Anthony Wonsey, and drummer Joe Farnsworth among many others. Asked which of his recordings are among his favorites, Nat named Jackie McLean’s J-Mac Attack, Kenny Garrett’s Grammy-nominated Songbook and Seeds from the Underground, Steve Davis’ Say When, Joe Farnsworth’s My Heroes and Eric Alexander’s Temple of Olympic Zeus.
During the past year, Nat Reeves has traveled the world including performing in India and Japan, at the San Francisco, New Orleans, Detroit and Atlanta Jazz Festivals, and with Pharoah Sanders at Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center.
https://natreeves.com/
https://natreeves.com/videos/
Sienna Dahlen
Vocals/Composition
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JUNO award-winning, Quebec-based vocalist and songwriter, Sienna Dahlen has released 6 albums of original music as a leader over the past 15 years. Her collaboration with guitarist, Mike Rud (Notes on Montreal-Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, 2014) is just one of the many exciting projects to which she has contributed. Sienna is also a lyricist for, and co-leader of several high profile, Canadian jazz composers’ projects including Joel Miller's "Dream Cassette” (East Coast Music Award 2017), Karl Jannuska's "Streaming”, “Halfway Tree”, “Midseason” (Canada/France) and Christine Jensen's "Under the Influence”, Orchestre National de Jazz, (OPUS winner 2018). Sienna’s current record entitled Ice Age Paradise includes nine of Canada’s finest jazz, indie pop and classical musicians with orchestral arrangements by bassist, Andrew Downing. |
Sienna has toured her work extensively across Canada and Europe in addition to having given several performances in Mexico and South America. Sienna’s voice can also be heard throughout the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning animated short, The Danish Poet (Torill Kove/Kevin Dean).
In addition to performing, Sienna has taught at many universities and jazz camps in Canada and has given workshops throughout the country and around the world, including at the Performance House Jazz Camp in Silkeborg, Denmark and the Konsort Music Academy in Moscow, Russia. Sienna currently teaches jazz voice and small ensembles at McGill University and Concordia University in Montreal.
“Dahlen has an extremely alluring voice, one that could sell rainwater in a snowstorm.”
(Pascal-Denis Lussier, All About Jazz)
"...(N)ous avons eu droit à cette matière riche, fruit d'une auteure-compositrice-interprète folkie, pianiste et guitariste dont la connaissance du travail harmonique propre au jazz, aussi aux musiques classique ou contemporaine, s'avère nettement supérieure à la moyenne chansonnière."
(Alain Brunet, La Presse, Montreal, CA)
To see Sienna on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iizIhllMk8o
More information about Sienna Dahlen is available at www.siennadahlen.com/
In addition to performing, Sienna has taught at many universities and jazz camps in Canada and has given workshops throughout the country and around the world, including at the Performance House Jazz Camp in Silkeborg, Denmark and the Konsort Music Academy in Moscow, Russia. Sienna currently teaches jazz voice and small ensembles at McGill University and Concordia University in Montreal.
“Dahlen has an extremely alluring voice, one that could sell rainwater in a snowstorm.”
(Pascal-Denis Lussier, All About Jazz)
"...(N)ous avons eu droit à cette matière riche, fruit d'une auteure-compositrice-interprète folkie, pianiste et guitariste dont la connaissance du travail harmonique propre au jazz, aussi aux musiques classique ou contemporaine, s'avère nettement supérieure à la moyenne chansonnière."
(Alain Brunet, La Presse, Montreal, CA)
To see Sienna on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iizIhllMk8o
More information about Sienna Dahlen is available at www.siennadahlen.com/
Holli Ross
Vocals
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Holli Ross has performed vocal jazz as soloist and in a variety of ensembles in top jazz clubs across the US, from New Orleans’ Snug Harbor to NYC’s Blue Note, and has also performed in Germany, France, Eastern Europe, Japan, the UK, Greece, the Monterey Jazz Festival and the JVC Jazz Festival. A published ASCAP lyricist, Holli’s songs have been recorded by jazz artists Janis Seigel with the Count Basie Orchestra, Mark Murphy, and Meredith D’Ambrosio. Holli has performed and recorded with Jon Faddis, Romero Lumbambo, Bob Mintzer, Eddie Monteiro, Rufus Reid, Ted Rosenthal, Claudio Roditi, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Randy Sandke. Her recording on Miles High Records, “You’ll See” is “a serious jazz vocal album from a singer who knows how to present a song with a measure of elegance… a top-tier jazz vocalist,” says All About Jazz. |
Holli has also recorded several CDs with her female vocal trio, String Of Pearls (www.stringofpearls.net) and was more recently a featured artist on Bill Kirchner's wildly acclaimed CD and DVD concert, “An Evening of Indigoes”, highlighting Kirchner's inspirational compositions.
Holli is a founding member of jazz vocal quartet The Royal Bopsters, specializing in singing instrumental lines and vocal improvisation. Masters of the art of vocalese, their first CD “The Royal Bopsters Project”—a vocal jazz extravaganza album featuring jazz legends Mark Murphy, Annie Ross, Jon Hendricks, Sheila Jordan and Bob Dorough—received rave reviews across the globe and was selected as a JazzTimes Best Album of 2015.
The Bopsters’ upcoming new release, “The Royal Bopsters – Party Of Four”, will again feature Sheila Jordan and the late Bob Dorough, along with 6-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride. “Party of Four” combines masterful solos by Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon and the Tito Puente Orchestra, with the tried and true lyric writing of Bopsters Amy, Holli, Dylan and Pete.
Holli received a Masters of Speech-Language Pathology from Kean University, and in addition to her vocal performance career, has since pursued a specialty practice in voice disorders. As a Singing Voice Specialist, she presents vocal health clinics throughout the Tri-State area in the US and along with her private practice, treats patients at Speech & Hearing Associates and ENT & Allergy Associates. She is a member of ASHA and NJSHA.
Holli is an adjunct professor of Jazz Vocal Studies at Hofstra University and Montclair State University where she also directs the vocal jazz ensemble, “Vocamotion”. She also teaches at Princeton University and The New School in New York.
For further information please visit www.holliross.com.
Holli is a founding member of jazz vocal quartet The Royal Bopsters, specializing in singing instrumental lines and vocal improvisation. Masters of the art of vocalese, their first CD “The Royal Bopsters Project”—a vocal jazz extravaganza album featuring jazz legends Mark Murphy, Annie Ross, Jon Hendricks, Sheila Jordan and Bob Dorough—received rave reviews across the globe and was selected as a JazzTimes Best Album of 2015.
The Bopsters’ upcoming new release, “The Royal Bopsters – Party Of Four”, will again feature Sheila Jordan and the late Bob Dorough, along with 6-time Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride. “Party of Four” combines masterful solos by Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon and the Tito Puente Orchestra, with the tried and true lyric writing of Bopsters Amy, Holli, Dylan and Pete.
Holli received a Masters of Speech-Language Pathology from Kean University, and in addition to her vocal performance career, has since pursued a specialty practice in voice disorders. As a Singing Voice Specialist, she presents vocal health clinics throughout the Tri-State area in the US and along with her private practice, treats patients at Speech & Hearing Associates and ENT & Allergy Associates. She is a member of ASHA and NJSHA.
Holli is an adjunct professor of Jazz Vocal Studies at Hofstra University and Montclair State University where she also directs the vocal jazz ensemble, “Vocamotion”. She also teaches at Princeton University and The New School in New York.
For further information please visit www.holliross.com.
Roddy Ellias
Guitar
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For over four decades, Ottawa guitarist Roddy Ellias has been one of Canada’s most respected musicians and composers. He began his musical adventure improvising on his grandmother’s piano but soon switched to his instrument of choice, the guitar. With a life long study of jazz and classical music and a masters degree in classical composition, Ellias has devoted his musical life to combining elements, aesthetics and techniques of classical music with those of jazz. He has performed and/or recorded with a variety of jazz luminaries including Lee Konitz, Tom Harrell, Marc Copland, Joel Frahm, Lonnie Smith, David Liebman, Kenny Wheeler and many more.
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Roddy’s trio CD, Monday’s Dream, has received high praise from some of the world’s most trusted reviewers. Here’s a bit of what they have said: “His creativity is so obvious, that it is at once both startling and inspiring …” Steve Kinigstein, Just Jazz Guitar. “A work of pensive, folky beauty ... 4 stars!” Brad Faberman, DownBeat Magazine. “Nothing was more beautiful than Ellias’ piece Too Far, which when it was done created in the crowd a silence that spoke volumes before applause did ensue.” Peter Hum, the Ottawa Citizen. “Monday's Dream is an unapologetically beautiful record, one of subtle delicacy and elegance, and alluring grace and finesse.” John Kelman, All About Jazz.
Roddy’s latest recording, Sticks and Stones, with pianist Marc Copland and bassist Adrian Vedady has already been getting stellar reviews from major publications, including a 5-star rating from James Hale (Sound Stage Xperience), a 4.5 star rating from John Kelman (All About Jazz) and inclusion on the CBC’s list of top 10 Canadian jazz recordings of 2017.
More information about Roddy is available at www.Roddyellias.com
(long) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUR8GhpS5bc
(short) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR_TFxHzJmY
Roddy’s latest recording, Sticks and Stones, with pianist Marc Copland and bassist Adrian Vedady has already been getting stellar reviews from major publications, including a 5-star rating from James Hale (Sound Stage Xperience), a 4.5 star rating from John Kelman (All About Jazz) and inclusion on the CBC’s list of top 10 Canadian jazz recordings of 2017.
More information about Roddy is available at www.Roddyellias.com
(long) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUR8GhpS5bc
(short) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR_TFxHzJmY
Lorne Lofsky
Guitar
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Lorne Lofsky is an internationally recognized jazz guitarist. Born and raised in Toronto, he has been playing professionally for the last 42 years. He has played/toured or recorded with a who's who of the jazz world, including Oscar Peterson, Ed Bickert, Rob McConnell, Chet Baker, Joey DeFrancesco, Pepper Adams, Ray Brown, Neils Henning Orsted Pederson, Rosemary Clooney, Kirk MacDonald, Dave Holland, and many other respected members of the international jazz community. In addition, he has been a faculty member at York University's Fine Arts/ Music program since 1978 and also teaches at the Humber College Community Music Program. Lorne is a mainstay of the Toronto jazz scene and performs extensively in the Greater Toronto Area. He has also given clinics and performed concerts at St. FX University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.
For more information, visit: lornelofsky.com |
Derrick Gardner
Trumpet
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Jazz trumpeter, Derrick Gardner, inspired by the finest hard-blowing funky bop bands of the 1960s, is working to extend that great tradition as a composer, arranger, performer, leader and educator. With extraordinary, creative natural talent, Derrick quickly made his mark upon arriving on the New York jazz scene in 1991. There he began a top-flight career that has taken him around the world performing internationally with the Count Basie Orchestra, (1991-present), Frank Foster’s Loud Minority Band, Harry Connick Jr.’s Big Band, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and Swiss tenor player Roman Schwaller’s European Sextet. |
Among his performance locales are Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Japan, South Africa and Thailand as well as many premiere venues in the United States. Over the last 18 years Derrick has worked with a tremendous litany of artists that include late Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Frank Foster, Jon Faddis, Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Rufus Reid and Clark Terry just to name a few.
Mr. Gardner formed his own sextet, The Jazz Prophets, in 1991; it continues to be the primary vehicle of his distinctive, hard-driving music. The band’s three-man horn line, consisting of himself, tenor sax player Rob Dixon and Derrick’s brother, trombonist Vincent Gardner of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, has been together since the beginning. Derrick’s recording by The Jazz Prophets, A Ride to the Other Side, marked his Owl Studios debut in the spring of 2008. Like Slim Goodie (his highly regarded first recording as a leader on his own Impact Jazz imprint in 2005) it boils with the long-standing collective’s sheer passion for the soulful, funky jazz sound for which Cannonball Adderly and Horace Silver built solid foundations with their 1950‟s and 60‟s ensembles. The Prophets take that traditional straight ahead sound into new, invigorating territory.
Derrick Gardner & the Jazz Prophets’ second release on Owl Studios, Echoes of Ethnicity, was heralded with rave reviews and received the honor of being awarded “Best Jazz Album of the Year” by the Independent Music Awards. Echoes of Ethnicity is a solid, dynamic collection of excellence that highlights the deep talent and professional sound being produced by this hard-driving group.
In addition to his own releases, Derrick has performed on multiple recordings with the Count Basie Orchestra (including Grammy-winning The Count Basie Orchestra Live at Manchester Craftman’s Guild), the New York Voices in 1997 and four sessions with Harry Connick Jr. including 2007‟s Hurricane Katrina inspired Oh, My Nola. In addition to recording and touring with the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band (an affiliation that continues as his schedule permits) Derrick was the feature trumpet soloist in the Broadway musical Thou Shalt Not, for which Connick wrote the music and lyrics. As a sideman, Derrick has been on numerous recordings by arranging mentor and close friend Frank Foster, Carlos Garnett, Stefon Harris, Roman Schwaller and Liz Wright, among others.
Derrick has an exceptional record as a dedicated and inspiring teacher. He has been a member of the jazz faculties at Long Island University, The New School for Social Research, The Ohio State University, Michigan State University and The Julliard School of Music bringing over 20 years of teaching experience to the classroom.
http://www.derrickgardnermusic.com/
http://www.derrickgardnermusic.com/videos/
Mr. Gardner formed his own sextet, The Jazz Prophets, in 1991; it continues to be the primary vehicle of his distinctive, hard-driving music. The band’s three-man horn line, consisting of himself, tenor sax player Rob Dixon and Derrick’s brother, trombonist Vincent Gardner of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, has been together since the beginning. Derrick’s recording by The Jazz Prophets, A Ride to the Other Side, marked his Owl Studios debut in the spring of 2008. Like Slim Goodie (his highly regarded first recording as a leader on his own Impact Jazz imprint in 2005) it boils with the long-standing collective’s sheer passion for the soulful, funky jazz sound for which Cannonball Adderly and Horace Silver built solid foundations with their 1950‟s and 60‟s ensembles. The Prophets take that traditional straight ahead sound into new, invigorating territory.
Derrick Gardner & the Jazz Prophets’ second release on Owl Studios, Echoes of Ethnicity, was heralded with rave reviews and received the honor of being awarded “Best Jazz Album of the Year” by the Independent Music Awards. Echoes of Ethnicity is a solid, dynamic collection of excellence that highlights the deep talent and professional sound being produced by this hard-driving group.
In addition to his own releases, Derrick has performed on multiple recordings with the Count Basie Orchestra (including Grammy-winning The Count Basie Orchestra Live at Manchester Craftman’s Guild), the New York Voices in 1997 and four sessions with Harry Connick Jr. including 2007‟s Hurricane Katrina inspired Oh, My Nola. In addition to recording and touring with the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band (an affiliation that continues as his schedule permits) Derrick was the feature trumpet soloist in the Broadway musical Thou Shalt Not, for which Connick wrote the music and lyrics. As a sideman, Derrick has been on numerous recordings by arranging mentor and close friend Frank Foster, Carlos Garnett, Stefon Harris, Roman Schwaller and Liz Wright, among others.
Derrick has an exceptional record as a dedicated and inspiring teacher. He has been a member of the jazz faculties at Long Island University, The New School for Social Research, The Ohio State University, Michigan State University and The Julliard School of Music bringing over 20 years of teaching experience to the classroom.
http://www.derrickgardnermusic.com/
http://www.derrickgardnermusic.com/videos/
Kirk MacDonald
Saxophone
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With an established reputation as one of Canada’s leading saxophonists, Kirk MacDonald cut his first record at the age of thirteen. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, and has worked with many leading musicians in a variety of musical genres. He has performed on over fifty CDs as both leader and sideman, and has participated in numerous national broadcast recordings for CBC Radio. In addition to performing extensively throughout Canada, he has also performed in the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Monaco, Australia, Korea, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. |
For over thirty years Kirk MacDonald has worked and recorded with many leading Canadian, U.S. and International jazz musicians including Claude Ranger, Dave Young, Sam Noto, Sonny Greenwich, Kenny Wheeler, Eddie Henderson, Harold Mabern, Walter Bishop Jr., Tom Harrell, Vic Juris, Peter Bernstein, Adam Nussbaum, Rich Perry, Kurt Elling, David Virelles, Ralph Bowen, Dick Oatts, Ben Monder, Seamus Blake, Jonathan Blake, Lorne Lofsky, Bob Mover, Pat LaBarbera, John Taylor, Ron McClure, Jack DeJohnette, Mike Stern, Jim McNeely, Bob Mintzer, Vince Mendoza, John Clayton, Chris Potter, Glenn Ferris, Maria Schneider, Dave Grusin, Danilo Perez, Adam Rogers, Dennis Mackrel, Nancy Walker, Barry Romberg, Andre White, Rob Smith, Brian Dickinson, Denny Christianson, Bernie Senensky, Phil Nimmons, James Moody, Rosemary Clooney, and the Humber College Faculty Ensemble.
Over 100 performances of Kirk MacDonald’s compositions appear on 25 albums, both as leader and on recordings by other artists. Kirk has established a substantial body of original work as a saxophonist/composer over the past three decades. As a follow up to his award winning recordings Symmetry with Tom Harrell, and Vista Obscura with Harold Mabern, MacDonald released Common Ground, a double CD of his compositions arranged by Joe Sullivan for Jazz Orchestra. Silent Voices, a co-led quartet outing with renowned saxophonist Pat LaBarbera, featuring American jazz great Adam Nussbaum on drums. MacDonald’s latest recording Generations, brings him back full circle to his roots in a program of jazz standards and the Great American Songbook. Generations features three generations of musicians: the legendary pianist Harold Mabern at age 82 and MacDonald’s wonderfully talented daughter Virginia MacDonald, at age 23, on clarinet.
Kirk MacDonald has been active as an educator for over 25 years at leading Canadian jazz studies programs including McGill University (1988) and the University of Toronto (1993-2005). He also taught at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Since 2005 Kirk has held a full time professorship at the renowned music program at Humber College in Toronto, where he holds a cross appointment in the Music Degree Program and the Community Music School. In addition to his teaching at Humber College, Kirk also acts as the Artistic Director for the Youth Jazz Canada project and has directed the Greater Toronto Area Honour Combos (2009-2012) and the National Youth Honour Combo (2012-2013). The Youth Jazz Canada project also hosts a 2-week summer workshop for high school students aged 14 to 18 in Toronto (2010-2013). Kirk is in high demand as a clinician and has conducted master classes in saxophone, improvisation, and composition throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.
Master Classes Conducted Internationally
Escuela de Música Creativa, Madrid Spain
Institute Valencia de art Modern, Valencia Spain
Escuela di Musica. Alicanté, Spain
Escuela di Musica. Lerida, Spain
Seoul Jazz Academy, Seoul, Korea
PaekChe Institute of the Arts Seoul,Korea
Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
State University of New York, Crane Music School, Potsdam, New York
For more information, visit: https://kirkmacdonald.com/
Al McLean
Saxophone
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A native of Victoria, British Columbia, Al McLean has resided in Montreal since 1995. He completed a Masters in Jazz Performance at McGill University in 2001, and has been on the faculty at McGill since graduation, teaching saxophone, jazz combo, and advanced improvisation. He is a sought-after freelance saxophonist, as well as an expert in saxophone design, history, and restoration. McLean draws performers and students from diverse locations around the world to perform or study in Montreal. |
Al McLean is featured in over 100 short films, most of which are part of the "Jazz, Period." series by Montreal filmmaker Randy Cole. These films feature many rare and unusual saxophones restored by, and played by McLean himself. In addition to alto, tenor and soprano saxophone, he can be found performing on many C-melody, C-soprano, and even F mezzo-soprano saxophones.
McLean has been a featured artist with many ensembles, including The Joe Sullivan Big Band, l'Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal, and The Vic Vogel Big Band. He has recorded with the legendary saxophonist Azar Lawrence on multiple releases (Cellar Live).
Additionally, McLean has performed and recorded worldwide with countless artists, including Oliver Jones, Wray Downes, Jimmy Cobb, Jaleel Shaw, Bill Easley, Lenny White, Tyler Mitchell, Gary Smulyan, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Seamus Blake, Slide Hampton, Benito Gonzalez, Jeff Littleton and Roy McCurdy. Al McLean’s improvisations have been described as “a fluid, masterful account of the entire lineage of the saxophone”.
For more information, visit: https://www.almclean.com/
McLean has been a featured artist with many ensembles, including The Joe Sullivan Big Band, l'Orchestre national de jazz de Montréal, and The Vic Vogel Big Band. He has recorded with the legendary saxophonist Azar Lawrence on multiple releases (Cellar Live).
Additionally, McLean has performed and recorded worldwide with countless artists, including Oliver Jones, Wray Downes, Jimmy Cobb, Jaleel Shaw, Bill Easley, Lenny White, Tyler Mitchell, Gary Smulyan, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, Seamus Blake, Slide Hampton, Benito Gonzalez, Jeff Littleton and Roy McCurdy. Al McLean’s improvisations have been described as “a fluid, masterful account of the entire lineage of the saxophone”.
For more information, visit: https://www.almclean.com/
Nick Fraser
Drums
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Nick Fraser (drums) has been an active and engaging presence in the Toronto new jazz and improvised music community since he moved there from Ottawa in 1996. He has worked with a veritable who's-who of Canadian jazz and improvised music. Nick's recorded works as a leader include Owls in Daylight (1997) and Nick Fraser and Justin Haynes Are Faking It (2004). Nick is a founding member of the Association of Improvising Musicians of Toronto, a non-profit organization dedicated to the Toronto improvising community. He is presently on faculty at the University of Toronto music department.
http://nickfraserthedrummer.com/ |
Jim Doxas
Drums
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While studying at Montréal’s McGill University, Jim established himself early on as a versatile percussionist. The pool of strong drummers and percussionists in the city heavily influenced him. During his time at McGill, Jim was honoured with Yamaha’s Rising Star Award in recognition of outstanding achievement as an instrumentalist. In addition, he was a featured artist at Carnegie Hall in a gala performance celebrating young North American talent. Throughout his undergraduate degree, Jim studied with renowned pedagogue and drummer, John Riley. |
Jim has been heavily influenced by rock, jazz, Motown and World Music. His work can be heard on over 150 albums and soundtracks, and he is a popular featured artist at jazz festivals worldwide. Distinguished for his improvisational approach to jazz, he makes the case that percussion can be as performative as a lyrical instrument. What distinguishes Doxas’ approach to improvisation is that he refuses to play it safe, allowing the moment to dictate the kind of framework that will contain, shape and guide the piece of music. He is astutely committed to the belief that significant music is always distinguished by what is left unsaid, the gaps of which inspire him to produce a highly original vocabulary of accents. During the last several years, Jim has been recognized by way of receiving Felix and Juno Awards, as well as nominations for Academy and Grammy Awards. He was also the drummer in the Oliver Jones Trio for over a decade.
Doxas puts premium importance on music education by conducting masterclasses and teaching at various music academies around the world. His current projects include Riverside (in collaboration with Dave Douglas, Steve Swallow, and Chet Doxas), Jean-Michel Pilc trio and the Jim Doxas Trio. Jim is currently a lecturer and teacher at McGill University, while also balancing an active performance schedule.
https://www.jimdoxas.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1RpsXx6490
Doxas puts premium importance on music education by conducting masterclasses and teaching at various music academies around the world. His current projects include Riverside (in collaboration with Dave Douglas, Steve Swallow, and Chet Doxas), Jean-Michel Pilc trio and the Jim Doxas Trio. Jim is currently a lecturer and teacher at McGill University, while also balancing an active performance schedule.
https://www.jimdoxas.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1RpsXx6490
Jean-Michel Pilc
Piano/Composition
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Born in 1960 in Paris, self-taught pianist and composer Jean-Michel Pilc has performed with numerous jazz giants: Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Rick Margitza, Martial Solal, Michel Portal, Daniel Humair, Marcus Miller, Kenny Garrett, Lenny White, Chris Potter, John Abercrombie, Mingus Dynasty & Big Band, Lew Soloff, Richard Bona etc. He has also worked with Harry Belafonte, as his musical director and pianist, and has performed a duet with the legendary opera singer Jessye Norman.
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Jean-Michel is also a virtuoso whistler, as documented on a solo piano & whistle track in the CD Christmas from the Blue Note (2010, Half Note). Always a busy performer, Jean-Michel has been very active in 2013-2016 as a leader, performing mainly solo and trio, and touring across Japan, Taiwan, Europe, USA and Canada. In high demand as a coleader and sideman, he has participated in numerous projects over the world and recorded more than 10 CDs. Among these projects and recordings: duos with Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, Sylvain Luc and the legendary Martial Solal, trio with Thomas Bramerie & André Ceccarelli Twenty, guitarist Teriver Cheung Hong Kong Episodes, Greek bass player Petros Klampanis Contextual, NYC drummer Tony Moreno Short Stories, Moutin Reunion Quintet Deep, Brazilian guitarist Fabio Gouvea, Dutch bassist Jasper Somsen, Danish bassist Mads Vinding, and many others.
Jean-Michel has also built a strong international reputation as a very unique educator. Between 2006 and 2015, he was a NYU Steinhardt faculty member, giving private lessons (piano and other instruments), working with ensemble classes and presenting improvisation workshops. In 2010, he was Co-Director of NYU Summer Jazz Improv Workshop and has also taught for the New School in NYC, as well as privately. His critically acclaimed educational publications include a book, “It's About Music - The Art and Heart of Improvisation” (Glen Lyon) and 2 videos - an educational video for all instruments, “True Jazz Improvisation” (JazzHeaven), and also “Transcending the Instrument (JazzHeaven) , about piano playing and practicing. of jazz education.
Jean-Michel is currently Jazz Area Chair at The Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal, where he teaches jazz, piano, and improvisation (all instruments) and continues to develop and release pedagogical materials.
www.jeanmichelpilc.com
Jean-Michel has also built a strong international reputation as a very unique educator. Between 2006 and 2015, he was a NYU Steinhardt faculty member, giving private lessons (piano and other instruments), working with ensemble classes and presenting improvisation workshops. In 2010, he was Co-Director of NYU Summer Jazz Improv Workshop and has also taught for the New School in NYC, as well as privately. His critically acclaimed educational publications include a book, “It's About Music - The Art and Heart of Improvisation” (Glen Lyon) and 2 videos - an educational video for all instruments, “True Jazz Improvisation” (JazzHeaven), and also “Transcending the Instrument (JazzHeaven) , about piano playing and practicing. of jazz education.
Jean-Michel is currently Jazz Area Chair at The Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal, where he teaches jazz, piano, and improvisation (all instruments) and continues to develop and release pedagogical materials.
www.jeanmichelpilc.com
Kate Wyatt
Piano
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Montreal pianist Kate Wyatt is one of the top tier jazz musicians in the Montreal area. A veteran of many festivals and jazz clubs nationally and internationally, Kate has been invited to perform with many recognized and respected musicians, including Kenny Wheeler, Yanick Rieu, Christine Jensen, Joe Sullivan, Dave Turner, Barry Elms and Don Thompson. Kate has a multitude of recordings under her belt, both as a leader and “sideman”, including jazz albums, pop projects and also music for film and television. Her passion is for improvisation and innovation, and she strives for a high level of sensitivity and interaction in her performances. Kate currently leads her own original music projects, as well as being part of the Adrian Vedady quartet, the Dave Turner Quartet and Kim Zombik’s Intimate Sky Project.
Kate Wyatt is a passionate music educator. She is on faculty teaching jazz piano at Marianopolis College and has been working as part of the Canadian Amateur Musicians/Musiciens Amateurs du Canada (CAMMAC) teaching team for over 10 years. |
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwdTIlyZ5TM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LKZAJp1VNYk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL0LSg1IGJI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LKZAJp1VNYk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL0LSg1IGJI
Steve Boudreau
Piano/Vocal Accompanist
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Steve Boudreau is an Ottawa-based pianist who specializes in jazz and popular music. He currently teaches piano privately and as part of Carleton University's Music Performance program. He also works frequently as a vocal accompanist in many genres. In 2010 he received a Master of Music degree in jazz performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston. He has toured North America with multiple musical productions and has performed as both leader and sideman at various Canadian jazz festivals. His current projects include original music for piano trio, collaborative original works for piano and voice, and getting deeper into the music of Oscar Peterson, Wayne Shorter, Northern India and Björk.
https://www.steveboudreaumusic.com/ |
Chad Linsley
Piano/Vocal Accompanist
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Chad has performed with many of Montreal’s finest musicians including Grammy award winner Jennifer Gasoi, Juno award winners Lorraine Klaasen and the legendary Ranee Lee, Félix award winner Natalie Choquette, and flautist Carolyn Christie of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He can also be heard on Mike Rud’s Notes On Montreal with vocalist Sienna Dahlen, winner of the 2014 Juno award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. As an accomplished arranger, he has done well over a hundred arrangements for Musicnotes.com, the world’s largest e-commerce sheet music retailer and publisher. His work as an educator has earned him a teaching award from McGill’s Schulich School of Music. Chad has studied with Angie Tysseland, Tania Miller, Gordon Foote, Jan Jarczyk, Tilden Webb, Wray Downes, André White, and Tom Plaunt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVRPD33sTok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upB3hDJaNBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1yIOi9_Kp0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cy_FPtgn_k |