Bio
Saxophone Legacy is a new ensemble formed in 2019. It is a collaborative project, with compositional contributions coming from saxophonists Jack Wilkins, Jeremy Brown and pianist Per Danielsson. The concept for this collaborative project was created by Professors Wilkins and Brown (University of Calgary) during Professor Wilkins’ 2017 Fulbright appointment to the University of Calgary as Research Chair in Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary Performance.
This series of original compositions celebrates the legacy of the saxophone. These new works are composed and arranged especially for this group. The majority of the compositions on this recording are based on improvised solos from landmark recordings by American Jazz saxophonists John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley and Coleman Hawkins, along with Swedish saxophonists Arne Domnerus and Lars Guilin, all masters of the saxophone whose innovations as improvisers and saxophonists provided important contributions to jazz music.
This recording also features the contributions of bassist Kodi Hutchinson and drummer Tyler Hornby, two of Canada’s finest jazz musicians. The recording took place at OCL Studios in Calgary in 2019.
Jeremy Brown
University of Calgary Professor Dr. Jeremy Brown is a renowned Canadian saxophonist, woodwind doubler, teacher, expert on the music of Henry Cowell and conductor. He is Professor of Music and the former Head of the Music Department at the University of Calgary. (1990-present.) He has been an Artist-In-Residence and a visiting lecturer at the Banff
Centre. In 2014 he was awarded the inaugural University of Calgary Faculty of Arts Teaching Award. In 2010, his solo recording of Canadian saxophone music, “Rubbing Stone” was nominated outstanding classical recording of the year. In 2009 he was conferred the title “Canadian Music Ambassador” by the Canadian Music Centre for his work promulgating music by Canadian composers, with more than forty works commissioned. In 2008, he was named an “Innovator of the University of Calgary” for his community outreach, and in 2007 was awarded the David Peterkin Award for his contribution to music education in Alberta by the Alberta Band Association. In 1999 he was awarded the University of Calgary Student’s Union Teaching Award for the Faculty of Fine Arts.
He has recorded numerous records, including Scaramouche with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, (2003, CBC records) In the Company of My Soul (2003, Arktos
Label), Ornamentology (lightblue records) Rubbing Stone (2010, Centredisc Label), The Lethbridge Sessions (2014, Centredisc Label) and The Verismo Jazz Quintet (2005). His inaugural recording of the wind band works of Henry Cowell with the winds of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra was released in 2014 together with his book, “The Windband Works of Henry Dixon Cowell” for Sourcebooks in American Music, College Music Society, published in 2017.
As a saxophone soloist he has appeared with many bands and orchestras including the Washington-Idaho Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Red Deer Symphony, Festival Orchestra of the 2003 World Saxophone Congress (Minneapolis) the Okanogan Symphony Orchestra, Kensington Sinfonia and the Ottawa Symphony. Dr. Brown a was featured as a soloist at 2012 World Saxophone Congress, in St Andrews Scotland, where he performed commissioned works by Kelly-Marie Murphy and John Butcher. He is also lead tenor saxophonist with the Calgary Jazz Orchestra.
He is the founding artistic director of the Rubbing Stone Ensemble, a new music ensemble based in Calgary and former conductor and founding artistic director of the National Concert Band of Canada (2002-2010). He is has been Artistic Director of the Calgary Wind
Symphony since 1997, a 60 member wind band founded in 1955 with many of the finest musicians in Calgary. In 2003, he co-founded Verismo, a Calgary jazz quintet whose inaugural recording garnered great critical acclaim and subsequently performed at the 2007 Montreal Jazz Festival.
His numerous articles are published in the Instrumentalist, Journal of Band Research, Journal of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Saxophone Symposium, Canadian Band Journal, International Society for the Investigation of Wind Music and Canadian
Winds. He is a currently a contributing editor to Canadian Winds.
Jack Wilkins
Saxophonist and composer Jack Wilkins is Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of South Florida School of Music where he is Director of the Jazz Studies program. Professor Wilkins was appointed as a 2017-18 Fulbright Scholar to the University of Calgary, as Research Chair in the College of Creative and Performing Arts. As a composer, Jack Wilkins has written music for his own CD projects, as well as for others. He has received attention for his original compositions, especially his CD projects: The Banff Project, and The Blue and Green Project. His unique combination of Jazz, Classical, American roots music and other musical styles in the creation new pieces has garnered positive reviews and audience reaction.
Jack Wilkins has six CD’s out as a leader, including Jack’s newest CD, The Rundle Sessions which is being released in April 2019 on Chronograph Records. Jack Wilkins is the featured soloist on the critically-acclaimed recordings by Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge, including “Whispers on the Wind” for which he was a Grammy award finalist as a performer on the 2017 CD release (This CD received 4 Grammy nominations overall) and “River Runs: A Concerto for Jazz Guitar, Saxophone and Orchestra”, released in 2013. This CD was also Grammy Award Finalist for that year. Jack’s artistic improvisations and saxophone performance have received very positive reviews and international exposure on a wide range of jazz, classical and eclectic online and traditional radio stations.
Per Danielsson
Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, writer and educator, Per Danielsson is a native of Stockholm, Sweden. Growing up with a jazz guitar-playing father, Per was exposed to the sounds of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans at an early age. After formal piano studies in Sweden, which included lessons with Robert Malmberg and world-renowned jazz pianist Bengt Hallberg, his love of jazz brought him across the ocean to attend the internationally acclaimed North Texas State University.
Per is an active performer, appearing often as a guest artist, soloist, clinician, and sideman. His career has included performances with many leading jazz artists and entertainers such as Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Marvin Stamm, Maureen McGovern, Benny Golson and Adrian Cunningham to mention a few. As the pianist for Chuck Owen’s innovative and Grammy Nominated big band, The Jazz Surge, Per has performed and/or recorded with Slide Hampton, Gerald Wilson, Neena Freelon, Karrin Allyson, Bob Brookmeyer, Ingrid Jensen, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker and Danny Gottlieb. He has also performed with Swedish jazz legends Arne Domnerus, Jan Allan and Georg Reidel.
Per Danielsson has served on the Presidential advisory board of the Jazz Education Network and is currently Artistic Director of the American Jazz Pianist Competition. Per is a Yamaha/Bosendorfer Artist.
Kodi Hutchinson
One of the most active musicians in Western Canada, double bassist Kodi Hutchinson is a man who wears many hats. As well as running his own musical group the Hutchinson Andrew Trio,CKUA radio show “A Time For Jazz”, and record label Chronograph Records, Kodi is a sought after sideman on both double bass and electric bass
Described by those who know him as creative, introspective and just a happy-go-lucky guy, Kodi started his career in jazz while attending the University of Calgary. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce in 1995, but followed his true passion and jumped into play music full-time shortly thereafter. since those early beginnings, Kodi has established himself as on of the top call bassists in Alberta. He has worked with artists such as P.J. Perry, Lee Konitz, Oliver Jones, Julian Priester, Walt Weiskopf, Karl Schwonik, Dave Restivo, Owen Howard, Hugh Fraser, Paul Tobey, Ingrid Jensen, Denny Christianson, Ross Taggert, Mike Murley, Marc Antoine, Nick Colionne, Beat Kaestli, Bill Anschell, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Theatre Calgary and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
Kodi’s wide range of musical tastes have allowed him to tour throughout North America and Europe with such groups such as Karl Schwonik, Clanterra, Destino, Johanna Silanpaa as well as Sillian & Young. The Hutchinson Andrew Trio won the prestigious 2013 TD Grand Jazz Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and all four of their albums, ‘Hollow Trees’ (2017), ‘Prairie Modern’ (2013), ‘Music Box’ (2008) and ‘Lost but not Forgotten’ (2006) were nominated for the Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Recording. His boutique jazz record label, Chronograph Records, was nominated for independent Record Label of the Year in 2009, 2011 & 2013 and one of their artists won a JUNO in 2019 – a testament to his hard work and passion for promoting Western Canadian artists.
Kodi is a true artist that finds musical inspiration in the simple things – and he channels this inspiration into his work with the Hutchinson Andrew Trio and all his musical endeavours.
Tyler Hornby
He started drumming at age 10, honed his artistry in high school big bands and experimental jazz combos, and has blossomed into one of the country’s most innovative and sought-after drummers.
After completing his B.Mus in Jazz Studies 98’ Tyler continued to enhance his drumming skills attending the North Texas Drumset Camp, studying with legendary instructor Ed Soph. After that Tyler went on scholarship to the University of Colorado (Boulder) and completed his Masters Degree in Jazz Performance/Pedagogy 2006’. Since then Hornby has become a gifted composer by expanding his musical tastes, studying the craft with Grammy Award winning pianist Chip Stephens, and immersing himself in the work of other great players from all over the planet. His list of collaborators is wide and wealthy, including Bob Mintzer, Ingrid Jensen, Walter Smith III, Wycliffe Gordon, Frank Mantooth, Alain Caron, Randy Brecker, Eric Marienthal, Tom Harrell, Jiggs Whigham, Irvin Mayfield, James Carter, Brad Goode, Chip Stephens, Hugh Fraser, Tommy Banks, PJ Perry, Shelly Berg, Ralph Bowen, Maciek Grzywacz (with a 2007 Polish Music Award nomination for their collaboration), Maciej Sikala, Piotr Lemanczyk, Pat Bianchi, John Gunther, Ken Walker, Phil Dwyer, Mike Murley, David Braid, Joel Miller, Campbell Ryga, Jeff Johnston, Brad Turner, Victor Goines, Kirk MacDonald, Jens Lindemann, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
Hornby has performed at festivals, clubs and concerts in North America, South America and Europe, and has appeared on more than 50 recordings. His first solo album, a critically acclaimed exploration of post bop released in 2005 called Shadows of a Brighter Day, was selected for a National Jazz Compilation called Dig Your Roots. In 2009, Tyler was nominated for the Galaxie Rising Star Award of Radio Canada & General Motors Grand Jazz Award at Festival International de Jazz de Montreal and in 2011 released A Road to Remember which was nominated for a WCMA for Best Jazz Recording of the Year and received a Downbeat Magazine review: “…Tyler Hornby is a fluid player with a light touch and a penchant for writing wistful mid-tempo songs” (Nov 2010). In 2013, Tyler formed a new group the Tyler Hornby B3 Trio, releasing Locus which received a WCMA nomination for Best Jazz Recording of the Year (2014). In 2015 the Tyler Hornby Quartet released Launch which features Ingrid Jensen & David Braid and hit #1 on the Canadian National Jazz charts and remained in the top ten for 10 weeks. Launch was nominated for a 2015 WCMA & 2016 YYC Music Awards nomination for Best Jazz Recording of the Year. Tyler also received a nomination at the 2016 YYC Music Awards for Best Male Artist (all genres) & a Juno nomination for his drumming on Al Muirhead’s It’s About Time.
In addition to working with his own groups Hornby has collaborated with the Poland/Canada Jazz Trio Sikala/Lemanczyk/Hornby which received a 4 star review in Jazz Forum Magazine for their latest release Able to Fly. He has served as composer and musical director on a handful of live productions including; More Rocky Mountain Fairy Tales, University of Calgary Dance Department: Senses and Why Dance to the Power of One, and Sex Over 40.
Tyler is the jazz coordinator and instructor at Ambrose University teaching drum set, jazz history, and jazz combo. He has developed clinics and workshops in Canada, Germany, Italy, Poland, the United States, and Venezuela, and is the founder and director of the Drumset Educational Camp (Ambrose University) held annually in August as well as the director of the Ambrose University Jazz Camp.
