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Jim Galloway

About Me

JIM GALLOWAY

Leader of several groups including Jazz Canada and his 17-piece “Wee Big Band”, for the past 25 years Jim has also toured extensively on the international circuit, carving a niche for himself through his extremely personal tone on saxophone and his warm, lyrical approach to playing.

Mark Miller, Toronto author of “ Boogie, Pete and the Senator”, a book of Canadian jazz profiles describes Jim's playing style perfectly...”His lines are all melody...melody, which in turn sings, purrs, smiles, lingers and arches into arabesques without obscuring the simplicity of Jim's fundamental design. There is a pure, timeless quality to the playing, something that exists outside any specific point of reference stylistically; as a result, it is remarkably adaptable - as indeed it must be given the breadth of Galloway's associations.”

Galloway has recorded albums in Austria, Britain, Canada, Holland, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States, including twelve for Canada's Sackville label. All have been well received critically. Artists with whom he has recorded include highly respected and historically significant names such as Doc Cheatham, “Wild Bill” Davison, Carl Fontana, Art Hodes, Gus Johnson, Humphrey Lyttelton, Jay McShann, Buddy Tate and Dick Wellstood.

Each year Jim appears at numerous festivals, concerts, clubs and jazz parties across Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

He has performed by invitation at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

Festivals around the world where Jim has appeared as a featured performer include Ascona, Bern, Budapest, Edinburgh, London, Los Angeles, Montreux, Nice, New Orleans and Sacramento.

Jim's regular activities take him to Europe and the States every year although in 1995 his travels also included an extensive tour of Australia and New Zealand and the following year South Africa was added to the list of destinations.

In 1997 he was invited to participate in the Sidney Bechet Centennary in New Orleans and made a return trip to South Africa in addition to his regular visits to Europe.

He was the subject of a half-hour CBC television profile about his life and music.

A CBC Radio network series, ”Travellin’ Light”, a journey through the story of jazz, was written and hosted by Jim.

In 2000, Jim Galloway was honoured by Heritage Toronto in recognition of his contribution to the cultural life of Toronto.

In 2002 he was further honoured by the government of France and made a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

Jim has also been the Artistic Director of du Maurier Downtown Jazz since its inception in 1987.

He contributes a monthly article on jazz and CD reviews to WholeNote Magazine, a Toronto publication covering the jazz and classical music world.

Along with this busy schedule Jim's other passions include old cars, classical music, puns and serious research into the fascinating world of single malts.