Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Neil James Sinclair Swainson was born November 15, 1955 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He started his career in his hometown when he supported visiting American musicians Herb Ellis, Barney Kessell, and Sonny Stitt, among others. In 1976 he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia and after playing with the Paul Horn Quintet, he led a band for two years. He moved to Toronto, Quebec in 1977
In the 1980s he played with local and visiting acts including Tommy Flanagan, Rob McConnell, Ed Bickert, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Jay McShann, Moe Koffman, Lee Konitz, Joe Farrell, George Coleman, and Woody Shaw. He went on to collaborate with Woody Shaw appearing on two of his recordings: In My Own Sweet Way and Solid. He toured with Shaw often in New York City and on many European tours.
A collaboration between Swainson and pianist George Shearing would form in 1986, after he replaced Don Thompson in 1988. Their relationship continued until Shearing’s passing in 201 and during their time together they toured across North America, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, and Japan. They played with musicians including Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Diana Krall, Robert Farnon and Mel Tormé.
Together the two recorded eight recordings and he recorded his own album; 49th Parallel on Concord Jazz in 1987. His recordings feature Woody Shaw on trumpet, and Joe Henderson on saxophone along with numerous other musicians such as Jay McShann, Geoff Keezer, Doc Cheatham, Sam Noto, Don Thompson, Peter Leitch, Pat LaBarbera, Joe LaBarbera, Rob McConnell, Ed Bickert, Lorne Lofsky, Kirk MacDonald and JMOG, a cooperative band featuring, Kevin Dean and Pat LaBarbera.
Swainson has also recently toured worldwide with the singer Roberta Gambarini and as well with pianist Gene DiNovi in Japan. As an educator he works at Humber College as a professor in the Bass department after receiving a music degree. Bassist Neil Swainson continues to compose music and freelance in Toronto.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Joseph Rupert Benjamin was born on November 4, 1919 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He played with many jazz musicians in a variety of idioms. Early in his career he played in the big bands of Artie Shaw, Fletcher Henderson, Sy Oliver, and Duke Ellington.
He went on to work with Hank Garland, Marian McPartland, Louis Armstrong, Jo Jones, Gary Burton, Roy Haynes, Art Taylor, and Brother Jack McDuff.
Never leading a recording session, Joe recorded three dozen albums as a sideman with Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Burrell, Dave Brubeck, Harry Edison, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Barry Harris, Roy Haynes, Johnny Hodges, Budd Johnson, Roland Kirk, Gary McFarland, Carmen McRae, Gerry Mulligan, Jerome Richardson, Al Sears, Joya Sherrill, Rex Stewart, Sonny Stitt, Buddy Tate, Clark Terry, The Three Playmates, Sarah Vaughan, Mal Waldron and Kai Winding.
Double bassist Joe Benjamin transitioned on January 26, 1974.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ernest Dawkins was born November 2, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. As a child he was a neighbor of Anthony Braxton as a child. He played bass and drums early in life before switching to saxophone in 1973.
During that decade he began studying with Joseph Jarman and Chico Freeman, members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. He also studied at Vandercook College of Music.
He worked with Ed Wilkerson and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble and Douglas Ewart before founding his own New Horizons Ensemble. The ensemble played regularly in Chicago into the new century, as well as at jazz festivals and on tour in Europe.
As a leader he recorded sixteen albums, three as an unofficial leader/co-leader of The (AACM) Great Black Music Ensemble and as a guest with the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble.
Saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, who is principally active in free jazz and post-bop, continues to perform, record and tour.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Saul Rubin was born in New York, New York on October 30, 1950. He studied at Hartt College in Hartford, Connecticut and was taught by jazz masters. He graduated with a Undergraduate Degree in Composition in 1980.
An accomplished guitarist Saul’s career has taken him around the world as well as occupying a place in the New York jazz scene as a musician, producer, impresario and personality. He is a regular member of Roy Hargrove’s Big Band sitting in the guitar seat as well as writing charts for the band.
He has shared the stage and studio with Sonny Rollins, Kirk Lightsey, Victor Lewis, Jonathan Batiste, Bob Cranshaw, Gregory Porter, Renee Fleming, John Hicks, Johnny O’Neal, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Candido, Winard Harper, Larry Willis, Eric Revis, Sherman Irby, Thomas Chapin, Lew Soloff, and countless others.
Rubin has produced countless recordings and live shows, has run his infamous long- running weekly Jazz Vocalist Series at his ZEB’S performance space and studio, and has played host to many of the world’s greatest jazz artists. This intimate “loft Jazz” style venue became a go-to place for musicians in New York from 2009 to 2016.
His last album as a bandleader aptly entitled, Zeb’s House, is a tribute to the community of great artists, showcasing both his irrepressible sense of humor as well as his signature gritty, purposeful, urbane sensibility, throughout a mix of both originals and standards.
Guitarist, composer and producer Saul Rubin continues to perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Glen Moore born October 28, 1941 in Portland, Oregon. His performing career began at age 14 with the Young Oregonians in Portland, where he met and played with Native American saxophonist Jim Pepper.
He graduated with a degree in History and Literature from the University of Oregon. His formal bass instruction started after college with Jerome Magil in Portland, James Harnett in Seattle, Washington and Gary Karr in New York, Plough Christenson in Copenhagen, Ludwig Streicher in Vienna, Austria and Francois Rabbath in Hawaii.
His main instrument is an upright bass which was made by Klotz in Tyrol, Austria around 1715. Moore is a founding member of Oregon, but also worked regularly with Rabih Abou-Khalil, Vasant Rai, Nancy King and Larry Karush.
Double bassist Glen Moore, who occasionally performs on piano, flute and violin, continues to perform and record.
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