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Article: Album Review

The Rob McConnell Sextet: Old Friends / New Music

Read "Old Friends / New Music" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
July 2, 2023

Rob McConnell was a valve trombonist, arranger, composer and leader of the big band called the Boss Brass, which set a new standard for jazz writing through the use of complex passages and close section harmony, and in 1983 won a Grammy. In this digital-only release by Cornerstone Records, McConnell leads a sextet comprised of Guido ...

Article: Play This!

Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass: Easy To Love

by Brian Eaton
March 3, 2023

Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass was perhaps one of the most underrated jazz big bands. This world-class band from Toronto, Canada was led by trombonist, composer, and arranger Rob McConnell and featured top-notch players including altoist Moe Koffman, guitarist Ed Bickert, flugelhornist Guido Basso, and Eugene Amaro on tenor. Released back in 1985 on their ...

News: Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rob McConnell

February 14, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Rob McConnell's birthday today! Rob McConnell (valve trombonist, arranger, composer, big band leader) was born on February 14, 1935 in London, Ontario, and passed away on May 1, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario at the age of 75 McConnell took up the valve trombone in high school and began his performing career ...

Album

Eric Ineke 75: Swinging, Boppin' and Burnin'

By Eric Ineke

Label: Daybreak
Released: 2022
Track listing: Hershey Bar; I Thought About You; Ornithology; Easy Living; Thou Swell; Tangerine; Eric's Blues; The Theme; Jotosco.

Article: Year in Review

2022: The Year in Jazz

by Ken Franckling
December 29, 2022

Current events impacted the jazz world in significant ways throughout 2022. In its third year, the coronavirus pandemic continued to lurk in some settings, while others recovered in robust fashion. Russia's war on Ukraine was felt by musicians and triggered an outpouring of support for its victims. Initiatives to ensure greater equity in jazz advanced. The ...

Article: Album Review

PJ Perry: No Hugs

by Jack Bowers
December 25, 2022

The title of Canadian alto saxophone maestro PJ Perry's album does not mean that Perry wants No Hugs, rather that the Covid pandemic that arrived in 2020 meant there would be “no hugs" between Perry and his beloved grandson, Atticus, in the “big brown chair" that served as their hangout until the quarantine was over. On ...

Article: Album Review

PJ Perry: No Hugs

Read "No Hugs" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
December 21, 2022

PJ Perry is a survivor. Now, in 2022, eighty-one years old, he has been playing saxophone since he was fourteen, when he joined his father's dance band as a baritone saxophonist. During the course of his lengthy career, he has lived in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and a couple of European cities, before settling in Edmonton, Alberta. ...

News: Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rob McConnell

February 14, 2022

News: Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rob McConnell

February 14, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Rob McConnell's birthday today! Robert Murray Gordon (Rob) McConnell was a Canadian jazz valve trombonist, composer, arranger, music educator and recording artist. Rob McConnell took up the valve trombone in high school, and began his performing career in the early 1950s, performing and studying with Don Thompson, Bobby Gimby, and later, ...

Article: Album Review

Paul Desmond: The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings

Read "The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan

by C. Andrew Hovan
January 4, 2021

Even if he had never played another note following the break-up of the Dave Brubeck group in 1967, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond would have entered the history books as one of music's most brilliant improvisers. During his 17 years with Brubeck, Desmond proved himself to be an indispensable part of that quartet with a wistful and ...