As winter comes to a close, Inside the Music has been busy with spring cleaning. We're embracing the thaw by re-releasing old shows unavailable until now. Each week we'll release a batch of classic Inside the Music broadcasts, from popular music movements across the world, to bizarre experiments in sound. We'll even bring back some classics from our regular series My Playlist, and we'll recap the historic RPM series, which discussed 5 crucial albums in Canadian music. Join us every Tuesday for more and more episodes from the archives.
Tuesday April 2nd 2013
On this edition of Inside the Archives, we're taking you into the Jazz Portraits. These documentaries look at the life and music of some of this country's finest jazz musicians. You might call them our elder statesmen: all internationally recognized musicians who have been instrumental in laying the foundations of today's jazz scene in Canada. Hosting these portraits is pianist Renee Rosnes, as she interviews greats like Kenny Wheeler, Michel Donato, and PJ Perry, among many. Here are their stories, sorted the only fair way: alphabetically.
Don Thompson
Thompson is an outstanding multi-instrumentalist widely known internationally for his touring with the John Handy Quintet, the Jim Hall Trio and George Shearing. However, he is also revered in Canada as a composer and teacher.
1Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: Don Thompson
Guido Basso
Guido Basso is one of Canada's most charismatic and influential jazz musicians. This great trumpeter and flugelhornist has been thrilling audiences worldwide for over four decades. From Vic Damone and Louis Bellson to the Boss Brass, he has played with the aristocracy of the jazz world and has been called one of the world's great brass artists.
2Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: Guido Basso
Kenny Wheeler
The legendary comoser, trumpeter, and flugelhorn player Kenny Wheeler has influenced a generation of Canadian jazz musicians. He has even delved into the worlds of free improvisation and rock n' roll.
3Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: Kenny Wheeler
Michel Donato
Montreal's reigning king of jazz bassists, Michel Donato, is internationally known for his technique and virtuosity. At home, he taught at McGill University, wrote film scores, and built a long-standing association with the Montreal Jazz Festival. This is a portrait of one of Canada's most versatile and prolific jazz musicians.
4Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: Michel Donato
Oliver Jones
Born in Montreal three blocks away from the great jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, Oliver Jones is one of Canada’s finest musicians. Jones was instructed in part by Peterson's sister, Daisy Peterson Sweeney, before becoming the Juno-winning jazz player he's known as today.
5Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: Oliver Jones
Paul Bley
One of the founding fathers of free jazz, Montreal-born Paul Bley is one of jazz piano's true innovators. Bley, a member of the Order of Canada, conducted and played piano with the Charles Mingus Group in his 20s. His influence on trio playing continues to be felt today.
6Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: Paul Bley
PJ Perry
The internationally renowned alto saxophonist and composer is a two-time Juno-award-winner, and played with Dizzy Gillespie, among other legends.
7Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: PJ Perry
Terry Clarke
One of the most respected drummers in jazz, Clarke has recorded over 300 albums and toured with the Jim Hall Trio, Toshiko Akiyoshi Orchestra, Helen Merrill, Toots Theilemans, John Handy, Oscar Peterson and many others.
8Click to Listen to Jazz Portraits: Terry Clarke
Related
Inside the Archives: My Playlists featuring Robbie Robertson, Sarah Harmer and more
Inside the Archives: World Music, from Columbia to China, from Pagans to Popstars
Inside the Archives: Experimental Music from John Cage to Pat Metheny