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John Alcorn

Named Male Vocalist of the Year at the 1999 Jazz Report Awards ceremony, John Alcorn released Quiet Night, his first CD of jazz standards, in 2003.

The 2004 National Jazz Awards selection committee acknowledged this work by nominating John for Best Jazz Vocals.

This highly personal project has received virtually unanimous praise from critics and fans -- and introduced John to an international audience for the first time, receiving radio airplay in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, India, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Republic of Belarus, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Wales, as well as Canada and the USA.

Inspired by the discovery of the title song, a tender, reflective piece created by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart in 1936, "Quiet Night" is a collection of some of the greatest love songs written by that legendary team. The CD includes classic Rodgers and Hart ballads, such as "My Romance" and "You Are Too Beautiful", as well as swingers like "Thou Swell" and "Falling in Love with Love". One of the highlights of the album is "This Can’t Be Love", a duet with Molly Johnson.

The musicians -- distinguished artists in their own right -- are among the first rank of Canada’s most outstanding jazz players, including Richard Whiteman (piano), Steve Wallace (bass), Daniel Barnes (drums) and guest artists Ted Quinlan (guitar) and Michael Stuart (sax). On the closing track, a medley of "Nobody’s Heart" and "My Funny Valentine", John plays piano himself, accompanied by a string quartet arranged and conducted by John MacLeod.

John has been tearing up the Toronto music scene since the mid-1990s with his stylish renditions of jazz standards performed at hundreds of clubs and events around the city. Working in a wide range of formats, ranging from small group settings to the larger string and big band ensembles, John's performances are always soulful and swinging.

Born in Toronto but raised in Trinidad, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and New Hampshire, John first began performing while in high school. After moving back to Toronto, John established himself as a versatile and dynamic performer and he was soon working regularly at some of the city’s best-known clubs and receiving exposure on both local and national media. Among his live performance high points are a series of sold-out appearances at the Royal Ontario Museum and a decade of sensational New Year’s Eve performances at the legendary jazz hot spot Top o’ the Senator. John also has the distinction of being the artist chosen to inaugurate the popular Jazz Vocal Series at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

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Album Review

John Alcorn: Quiet Night

Read "Quiet Night" reviewed by Jim Santella


Crooning a romantic program of memorable songs by Rodgers and Hart, Toronto singer John Alcorn puts you at ease. His smooth-as-silk vocal delivery brings a positive message to the forum. You can 'hear' his smiles as Alcorn interprets each of these chestnuts with clarity and genuine passion. Not one to hold back, he urges you to take notice of each song's enchanting tale.

'Grand to be alive,' sings Alcorn with a gritty tinge in his voice that belies ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Quiet Night

Unknown label
2004

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Quiet Night (The...

Unknown label
2004

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