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Shirantha Beddage

About Me

Baritone saxophonist, composer and educator whose original music combines hard bop and modern jazz to create a sound that is both accessible and sophisticated.

Shirantha Beddage is a baritone saxophonist, composer and educator from Toronto, Canada. His original music combines hard bop and modern jazz to create a sound that is both accessible and sophisticated. He has released three critically-acclaimed albums as a leader: Roots and Branches, Identity (2013 JUNO nominee) and Momentum (2017 JUNO nominee). As a side musician, he is featured on recordings with the Order of Canada Band, Laila Biali, Nancy Walker, Mike Downes and many others. His compositions and arrangements have been featured at Carnegie Hall, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and on the soundtrack of the Emmy-winning TV series “Fargo”. He currently performs as the leader of his own quartet, and as a side musician with ensembles such as the Carn-Davidson 9 and John McLeod’s Rex Hotel Jazz Orchestra. His newest album “Departures”, featuring arrangements of Sri Lankan melodies and original compositions, will be released on Rhea Records on October 16, 2026. Dr. Beddage is Assistant Professor of Jazz at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music. He previously held faculty appointments as Professor of Music at Humber College (Toronto, Canada) and Director of Jazz Studies at the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music (Columbus, Georgia, USA). He also adjudicates regularly at festivals throughout the country including MusicFest Canada, where he serves as Vice-Chairman of Instrumental Jazz. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music, a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College. Shirantha Beddage is a Yamaha saxophone artist and performs on the YBS-62. For more information, please visit http://shiranthabeddage.com

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Shirantha Beddage

My Jazz Story

I was first exposed to jazz through my high school jazz band in ninth grade, playing stock big band arrangements and figuring out how to solo using only my ear. One of my teachers was familiar with jazz, and we eventually formed a trio where I played piano and saxophone at social functions around northern Ontario. The first jazz record I bought was Wynton Marsalis's "Hot House Flowers". This was also my first exposure to many standards such as Stardust and For All We Know, and the sounds of Branford Marsalis and Ron Carter.

My House Concert Story

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Favorite Places to See Jazz

Detroit Jazz Festival

Festival International De Jazz De Montreal

Rochester International Jazz

Sasktel Saskatchewan International Jazz Festival

TD Toronto Jazz Festival

Favorite Genres

Modern Jazz

Straight-ahead (Bop, Hard bop, Cool)

Favorite Columns

Album Review

Book Review

Catching Up With

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