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Rubim de Toledo

Canadian bassist and composer . jazz . Brazilian . Latin . world

About Me

Rubim de Toledo. bassist . composer Award-winning bassist and composer Rubim de Toledo combines the influences of his Brazilian heritage and his dedication to the jazz tradition to create an approach to music that is refreshing and uplifting.

Boasting a diverse musical palette focused on global grooves and inspired by Latin, Caribbean, African, jazz, and contemporary music, a lure towards improvisation and a forward-looking traditionalism, Rubim nurtures a commanding sound and style as a bassist and composer. ​ In 2021, Rubim won the Western Canadian Music Award (WCMA) for Instrumental Artist of the Year along as a nomination for global artist of the year. In 2018 he won the WCMA Jazz Artist of the Year award.

At seventeen, Rubim began his professional career in Edmonton, performing with Albertan jazz legends Tommy Banks, PJ Perry and Clarence “Big” Miller. Since then, he has become a sought-after sideman and a productive bandleader releasing seven full-length CDs of original music and securing himself as a celebrated Western Canadian musical artist. ​ ​As a bassist, Rubim has been fortunate to accompany many international artists such as Vince Mendoza, Mulgrew Miller, Wayne Bergeron, Terrell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Wycliffe Gordan, Peter Bernstein, Sean Jones, Jason Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, D.D. Bridgewater, Luis Bonilla, Victor Goines, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Tomas Chapin, Ralph Bowen, Gary Smulyan, Peggy Stern, Dave Mancini, Hendrik Meurkens, Benny Sharoni, John Riley, Oliver Jones, Ross Taggart, Phil Dwyer, Brad Turner, John Stetch, Ingrid Jenson, Christine Jensen, the Doxas Brothers, Denzel Sinclair, Sienna Dahien, Cambell Riga, Gordon Gordina, Mary Chapin Carpenter, the Canadian Tenors, Laila Biali, Hilario Duran, Jens Lindemann, Alfie Zappacosta, the Legendary Platters, Jackie Richardson, Inti Illimani, and Oscar Valdez of Irakere.

​Rubim is also known as a founding member of Albertan Latin groups Montuno West, Bomba, and Maracujah. He has been a frequent musical director for Calgary’s Decidedly Jazz Danceworks since 2006 and is the head of the bass department at MacEwan University in Edmonton.

“Rubim de Toledo, now one of my favourite jazz artists in this country.” - Stephan Bonfield, Calgary Herald (2022)

“Edmonton’s Rubim de Toledo has shown himself to be one of the most consistently inspired musical tailors in Alberta jazz, an excellent, in-demand bassist, a gifted composer-arranger and a smart bandleader, too.” - Edmonton Journal, 2017 by Roger Levesque

“The Dig is the most recent studio album by bassist/composer Rubim de Toledo. This release features seven songs, with each track highlighting a different aspect of Toledo's incredibly diverse creativity and high-level musicianship. The album kicks off with a song titled “Saddleback,” which tips the hat off to some of the best fusion-jazz out there. The bass tone is warm and dynamic, perfectly highlighting Toledo's articulation and his ability to drive the mix, without ever overpowering it...” - Jazz Corner, 2020

“Coming from a Brazilian background, Toledo taps on the rich history of jazz in Brazil as well as the Caribbean to bring a worldly dimension to his music.” - World Wide Waves, 2020 by Faiz Haque

“And then, from this super special soiree with dear friends, I got a Rubim de Toledo (The Gap) gift CD. What is the language? - Jazz. I confess that when I heard the answer I thought, ‘Come on, listen to another handful of standards!’ ... I was surprised. The CD is imaginative. Original pieces, AND most importantly, it has ‘IDENTITY’. Does not replicate anyone. … The Gap is really the gap; the best. Wonderful. A trip. I recommend.” (Translated from Portuguese) – CD Review, Gumbe Music, Sao Paulo, Brasil, 2019 by Carlos Gomes

“Rubim de Toledo: a Canadian from Alberta, of Brazilian origin and a well-established musician … The first thing to grab me was his big rounded tone, gifting the tunes with a richness and beauty that captivated from start to finish. While most bass sits deep within the mix, de Toledo’s voice spoke clearly; not by overcrowding his band-mates nor by punching through the others as an electric bassist might, but because every musical utterance sounded right. His melodicism and clarity of ideas were enhanced by devices which I found appealing; his occasional and appropriate use of vibrato at the end of a line, sometimes, rarely, he combined this with a slight bending of the note. He is definitely a successor to the Evans trio model; a bassist who communicates as an equal.” - Concert Review - John Fenton, Auckland, New Zealand

“The band, led by Rubim de Toledo, conjures up one rich layer of funkified jazz after another throughout the night, and you’re liable to spontaneously shout out “Mojitos for all my friends! … de Toledo’s band shines infusing C-Legs — and the rest of the show — with as much of a jazz club feel as a funkified one … After the break, de Toledo’s tunes blend beautifully with Begins’ projected images on Beat Driven Post Wonderment.” - Decidedly Jazz Danceworks takes to the streets for inspiration, Calgary Herald, April 2013 by Stephen Hunt

“Bassist and composer Rubim de Toledo must be one of Alberta’s busiest and most accomplished musicians ... De Toledo fuses the rhythmic styles of Latin American music and post-war American jazz evoking, Heitor Villa-Lobos, contemporary salsa, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane – while achieving something entirely fresh ... (jazz scene) abounds in performers with virtuosic technique. The eternal challenge is to innovative material that is thoughtful, challenging, accessible, listenable and enjoyable. Rubim de Toledo’s The River is all of that.” - CD Review from Legacy Magazine, Winter 2009 by Ron Chalmers

“... by simply listening to Toledo’s most recent album, the River, you start to understand the importance of that dynamic (teamwork, flexibility and creativity). It’s not about showing off, but creating a seamless dance from idea to idea, measure to measure, note to note.” On Dance, Creativity and Corporate Teamwork, See magazine, Feb 2010 by Kathleen Bell

“... all of that made The River one of the finest Jazz albums of the year ...” - Inspiration Flowed from Flood, Edmonton Journal, April 2009 by Roger Levesque

“Rubim de Toledo is one of the most sought-after studio and performing artists on Alberta’s jazz scene. The versatile bassist is also considered a Brazilian / Cuban master, and is active on the Rock, R&B and Folk scenes ... The release (The River) is one of three great jazz projects to hit the market in 2009 that Rubim has helped to create all three.” - 2009 a busy year for jazz Musician, Jazz Elements website, Feb 2009 by Cindy McLeod

“Bassist Rubim de Toledo, of Brazilian descent, is the backbone of the band. His soulful style is as passionate as it is eloquent.” - Challenging Empire, Citizenship, Sovereignties and Self-Determination, Nov 2003 by Gordon Laxer

Awards

Individual or as bandleader/group

Instrumental Artist of the Year (Rubim de Toledo) - Winner (2021) Western Canadian Music Awards

Global Artist of the Year (Rubim de Toledo) - Nominated (2021) Western Canadian Music Awards

World Recording of the Year (Montuno West) - Winner (2019) Calgary Music Award

Jazz Recording of the Year (Montuno West) - Nominated (2019) Edmonton Music Awards

Latin Recording of the Year (Montuno West) - Nominated (2019) Edmonton Music Awards

Instrumental Recording of the Year (Montuno West) - Nominated (2019) Edmonton Music Awards

World Artist of the Year (Montuno West) - Nominated (2019) Western Canadian Music Awards Jazz Artist of the Year (Rubim de Toledo) - Winner (2018) Western Canadian Music Awards

Jazz Recording of the Year (Rubim de Toledo) - Nominated (2018) Edmonton Music Awards

Jazz Recording of the Year (Rubim de Toledo) - Nominated (2010) Western Canadian Music Awards

Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (Bomba) - Winner (2007) World Artist of the Year (Bomba) - Nominated (2006) - Western Canadian Music Awards ​ Outstanding Latin Music (Bomba) - Winner (2005) - Canadian Indie Music Award CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award (Bomba) - Winner (2004)

ARIA Group of the Year award (Maracujah) - Winner (1998)

As a sideperson

2019 winner - Kate Blechinger, Night in the City – bassist - Edmonton Music Award

2019 nominated - Jim Brenan, 50/50 – bassist – Calgary Music Award

2019 nominated - Penny Sanborn, Mirror Suite – bassist/mixing/mastering – Calgary Music

2018 nominated - Allison Lynch, Skin and Flame - bassist/producer - Calgary Music Award

2018 winner – Jim Brenan, January – bassist/mixing/mastering - WCMA

2013 winner – McIntyre/Whelan, From Blue to Red - Alberta Book Publishing Award

2010 nominated – Brenan Brothers, Throwdown - bassist - WCMA

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because... I was first exposed to jazz... I met [musician name]... The best show I ever attended was... The first jazz record I bought was... My advice to new listeners Or whatever else you have in mind.