Back
 Links BleyAt the age of five, Paul Bley gave his first violin recital and two years later, he began studying the piano. Since then Paul Bley has become one of the greatest contributors to modern jazz. Bley might have been considered a child prodigy. He went through numerous classical teachers - including one that had him play, balancing filled water glasses on his wrists. At age 11 he graduated from the McGill Conservatory - having taken on their musical curriculum in addition to his public school education. Jazz was the allure however, and Bley formed a band and played clubs and summer stints in the Laurentian Mountains at age 13.Four years later he had formed the Montreal Jazz Workshop, brought Charlie Parker, Lester Young and Ben Webster to Montreal and had taken over Oscar Peterson's spot at the Alberta Lounge. He then left for New York City and haunted the clubs while he took the complete course at Julliards School of Music. He sat in with everyone he could and ended up playing for Charles Mingus, who recorded Bley for the first time on his Debut label. BunnettAcknowledged throughout Canada as one of the country's most important musicians, Jane Bunnett is rapidly gaining worldwide acclaim and currently shares company with the likes of Wayne Shorter and Steve Lacy as one of the few musicians alive who excel on soprano saxophone. Beginning her musical career as a classical pianist, Bunnett credits a performance by Charles Mingus as the inspiration for her transformation to jazz flutist and saxophonist. After giving up piano, Bunnett picked up the flute. Then, upon hearing Steve Lacy, she decided to explore the potential of soprano saxophone. She has since received a fellowship to study with Lacy, and soprano saxophone remains her primary instrument. In 1992 Jane recorded her famed Spirits of Havana, it earned her a Juno award and has been hailed as the most innovative Western jazz / Afro-Cuban venture since those masterminded by the late Dizzy Gillespie. In addition to releasing her groundbreaking recording, April '92 found Jane collaborating with Don Pullen once again, this time touring Australia, performing at the Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Armidale Jazz festivals.The summer of 1992 provided the opportunity to perform with pianist Alfredo Rodriquez at various concerts and festivals. Jane took enough time to return home to a hallmark performance in Toronto at the W.O.M.A.D. festival featuring 18 Cuban artists who had performed on Spirits of Havana. For all her musical triumphs, Downbeat magazine named Jane #1 in the New Talent category for soprano saxophone. | Paul Bley - Jane Bunnett | Discography CD / 1994 Media Files |
© 1996 - 2006 Justin Time Records
