Barry Elmes

International performer, drummer, composer, record producer, educator and multi-award winning Barry Elmes is a mainstay of the Canadian jazz scene. His work has been documented on over 90 jazz CDs and he has performed and/or recorded with many renowned jazz artists including: Tommy Flanagan, Hank Crawford, Diana Krall, Joe Henderson, John Abercrombie, Oliver Jones, Cedar Walton, Phil Nimmons, Dizzy Gillespie and the Moe Koffman Quintet.

In 1991 he formed the Barry Elmes Quintet, featuring a “who’s who” of the best in Canadian jazz. A success from the beginning, this group has released five notable recordings, the first of which, the critically acclaimed “Climbing”, featured Barry’s own compositions and received a Juno nomination for Best Jazz Recording. His CD “The Five Minute Warning” received an Indie Award nomination for Best Jazz Recording 2001. The Barry Elmes Quintet won Acoustic Jazz Group of the Year at the 2002 National Jazz Awards.

Barry’s long-awaited CD “Redshift”, released in March 2011, showcases new compositions performed by regular quintet members Mike Murley (saxophone), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Reg Schwager (guitar), Steve Wallace (bass), plus special guests Kelly Jefferson (saxophone, flute) and Vanessa Rodrigues (Hammond organ).

Barry has performed all over the world. He represented Canada at the 1992 Venezuela International Jazz Festival with the quartet Time Warp. In 1994 he was featured with the Oliver Jones Trio on the Governor-General’s Tour of China, Japan and Korea. In 1996 he performed in Brazil and toured South Africa with the Canadian Jazz Giants. In April 2000, Barry’s quintet completed a groundbreaking tour of Chile and in 2012 the quintet celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a Canadian tour.

In addition, Barry continues to produce recordings for a variety of artists and presides over Cornerstone Records Inc., a successful artist-owned jazz label and publishing company. Barry is an associate professor of music at York University where he teaches both undergraduate and graduate jazz courses and currently serves as the Area Coordinator for Jazz.

Awards

2012: Juno Award - Best Mainstream Jazz Recording: Murley, Bickert, Wallace "Test of Time" (Cornerstone CD113). Producer. 2006: Nominated for two National Jazz Awards: 1. Drummer of the Year 2. Record Label of the Year (Cornerstone Records Inc.). 2005: National Jazz Award - Album of the Year: Mike Murley "Extra Time" (Cornerstone CD123). Producer. 2003: CMW Indie Award - Best Jazz Recording 2002: Time Warp "Warp IX" (Cornerstone CD119). Performer. Composer. Producer. 2002: Nominated for Indie Award - Best Jazz Recording: Barry Elmes Quintet "The Five Minute Warning" (Cornerstone CD115). Performer. Composer. Producer. Engineer. 2001: Juno Award - Best Mainstream Jazz Recording: Murley, Bickert, Wallace Live at the Senator" (Cornerstone CD113). Producer. 2001: National Jazz Award - Acoustic Jazz Group of the Year - Barry Elmes Quintet. 1999: Nominated for Juno Award - Best Jazz Recording 1999: "Time Warp, Plays the Music of Duke Ellington" (Cornerstone CD110). Producer. Performer. 1995: Jazz Report Award - Jazz Acoustic Group of the Year: Time Warp. Co-leader. 1995: Jazz Report Award - Jazz Drummer of the Year. 1994: Jazz Report Award - Jazz Musician of the Year. 1994: Jazz Report Award - Jazz Drummer of the Year. 1994: Jazz Report Award - Jazz Acoustic Group of the Year: Time Warp. Co-leader. 1993: Jazz Report Award - Jazz Musician of the Year. 1993: Jazz Report Award - Jazz Acoustic Group of the Year: Time Warp. Co-leader. 1992: Nominated for Juno Award - Best Jazz Recording: Barry Elmes "Climbing" (Unity UTY 122CD). Producer. Composer. Performer. 1991: Nominated for Casby Award - Best Jazz Recording: Time Warp, "Live at George’s Jazz Room (Unity UTY 118CD). Co-leader. Producer. Composer. Performer. 1991: Nominated for Juno Award - Best Jazz Recording 1990: Time Warp "Live at George's Jazz Room (Unity UTY 118CD). Co-leader. Producer. Composer. Performer.

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