Home » Jazz Articles » Mike Murley
Jazz Articles about Mike Murley
Mike McClelland Rm 210: You'll Hear It: The Music of Bob Fenton
by Pierre Giroux
The Mike McClelland Quartet in this release has adopted the title of Mike McClelland Rm 210, led by McClelland on drums and joined by a stellar trio of Toronto musicians, including Mike Murley on tenor and soprano saxophones, Reg Schwager on guitar, and bassist Neil Swainson. The band pays a heartfelt tribute to pianist and composer Bob Fenton with You'll Hear It-- The Music of Bob Fenton . Fenton left an indelible mark on the Toronto jazz scene, ...
Continue ReadingMike Murley and Mark Eisenman: Recent History
by Pierre Giroux
Mike Murley and Mark Eisenman are well-recognized jazz musicians known for their considerable talent and contributions to the jazz genre. Their collaborative album Recent History is a testament to this music, showcasing their ability to create a cohesive and engaging musical conversation. Added to this satisfying outing is the internationally acclaimed rhythm section of bassist Neil Swainson and drummer Terry Clarke to complete the quartet. The make-up of this mainstream session is four Murley/Eisenman duo tracks ...
Continue ReadingThe Nimmons Tribute: Volume 2--Generational
by Jack Bowers
If you live in Canada and are not familiar with the name Phil Nimmons, you probably have not been paying close enough attention. Nimmons, who surpassed the century mark in June 2023, is often referred to as the “Dean of Canadian Jazz," and listing his many accomplishments and awards would require far more space than is ordinarily set aside for a complete review. Suffice to say that Nimmons has been active as a composer, arranger, performer and educator longer than ...
Continue ReadingThe Nimmons Tribute: Volume 2 - Generational
by John Chacona
Anyone who listened to Canadian radio after the adoption of the so-called Canadian Content requirement in the '70s probably heard a lot of Phil Nimmons' music. To be sure, the clarinetist, composer and arranger had achieved some recognition south of the 49th parallel through his RCA recordings of the '50s but, by choosing to base his career in Toronto, he became a living symbol of Canadian jazz. When the nation celebrated the 100th anniversary of Confederation in 1967, Nimmons was ...
Continue ReadingNoam Lemish: Twelve
by Jack Bowers
The number Twelve has several explicit meanings on Israeli-born composer/pianist Noam Lemish's eighth album as leader of his own ensemble, which is twelve members strong (well, thirteen on the first two numbers, on which Laura Swankey adds wordless vocals, and twenty-five if one counts the thirteen-member chorus on Track 3). Returning to the basic premise, Lemish composed his first piece of music at age twelve, and it has been twelve years since he relocated from San Francisco to Toronto, Canada. ...
Continue ReadingWinnipeg Jazz Orchestra: Twisting Ways
by Jack Bowers
For the better part of its latest recording, Twisting Ways, Canada's Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra may as well scrub the word “Jazz" from its name, as the music mostly bears scant resemblance to that time-honored genre. The overall mood may best be described as funereal, epitomizing themes of a mostly exploratory nature, interrupted all too seldom by passages that are more akin to the essence of traditional jazz. As the composers, David Braid and Philippe Cote, are well-known and well-respected in ...
Continue ReadingRichard Whiteman: Very Well & Good
by Edward Blanco
One of the finest jazz musicians on the Canadian jazz scene, Toronto-based pianist / bassist Richard Whiteman lays down what he considers, perhaps, his best recording to date on the audacious Very Well & Good. A long established pianist for decades, Whiteman picked up the double bass in 2004 and has not put it down since. On this sparkling album the pianist performs on the double bass, leaving the keys to Amanda Tosoff, and presents nine of his best compositions ...
Continue Reading
