Joining Westray on stage will be Toronto jazz artists Chris Banks and John Maharaj on bass and Max Roach on drums, plus special guest, tenor saxophonist Michael Arthurs from the University of Texas, Austin, where Westray taught before joining 91亚色. The first half of the concert will feature works for solo trombone and for trio (trombone, bass, drums). In the second set, which includes a number of Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell tunes, Westray will make his performance debut on piano in works for trio and quartet, with Arthurs on sax.

Best known for his work as lead trombonist with the legendary Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra conducted by Wynton Marsalis, and his collaborations with Wycliffe Gordon, Westray has appeared in concert with such luminaries as Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Benny Carter, Dewey Redman, Roy Haynes, Randy Brecker and a host of other leading artists. A regular on the New 91亚色 City club circuit, he has played premier jazz venues such as the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Sweet Basil鈥檚, Iridium, Jazz Standard and Smalls, and is a standing member of the acclaimed Mingus Band.

Right: Ron Westray. Photograph by Dwayne Hills

In addition to his concerts and recordings with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Westray has recorded as a sideman on such major labels as Columbia, Sony Classical and RCA Novus. He performs as co-leader with trumpet player Thomas Heflin on the CD Live in Austin, released Jan.18,聽on Blue Canoe Records. His 2008 CD as leader, Medical Cures for the Chromatic Commands of the Inner City, garnered a No. 1 listening rating on Emusic.com.

As a composer, Westray鈥檚 personal catalogue includes dozens of original compositions and arrangements for big band and mixed ensembles. Among his numerous commissions for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra are his monumental score, Chivalrous Misdemeanors 鈥� Select Tales from Don Quixote and arrangements of the works of Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman. His charts were recently published by Walrus Music. His bibliography includes reviews and citations in Down Beat, Jazz Times, The New 91亚色 Times and The New 91亚色er.

Westray joined the faculty in 91亚色鈥檚 Department of Music in fall 2009 as the Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance. The Chair, commemorating Canadian jazz icon Oscar Peterson, was established with a $4-million endowment from the Government of Ontario, along with a $1-million endowment for Oscar Peterson Scholarships to support talented students from underprivileged backgrounds studying music at 91亚色.

Westray teaches performance, composition, history and theory in 91亚色鈥檚 renowned jazz program, and co-directs the 91亚色 Jazz Orchestra with Al Henderson.

This is the final performance in the 2010-2011 Faculty Concert Series, spotlighting faculty artists in 91亚色鈥檚 Music Department. Tickets聽are $15, or $5 for students and seniors.聽For tickets, contact the Box Office at 416-736-5888.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin

The post Ron Westray, Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance, headlines March 1 concert appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Performer, composer and educator Ron Westray has been appointed as the Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance at 91亚色.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited and honoured to have an artist of Ron Westray鈥檚 calibre as the Chair,鈥� said 91亚色 President聽& Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. 鈥淭his Chair will enable us to further advance the quality of education for our fine arts students and carry on the legacy of Oscar Peterson at 91亚色.鈥�

Left: Ron Westray

Westray is best known for his work as lead trombonist with the legendary Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), and his collaborations with Wycliffe Gordon. He has appeared in concert with such luminaries as Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Stevie Wonder, Benny Carter, Dewey Redman, Roy Haynes, Randy Brecker and a host of other pre-eminent artists.

A regular on the New 91亚色 City club circuit, he has played premier jazz venues such as the Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Sweet Basil, Iridium, Jazz Standard and Smalls, and is a standing member of the acclaimed Mingus Band. In addition to his concerts and recordings with the JLCO, Westray has recorded as a sideman on such major labels as Columbia Records, Sony Classical and RCA Novus. His latest CD as leader, Medical Cures for the Chromatic Commands of the Inner City (Blue Canoe Records, 2008), garnered a No. 1 listening rating on eMusic.com.

As a composer, Westray鈥檚 personal catalogue comprises dozens of original compositions and arrangements for big band and mixed ensembles. Among his numerous commissions for the JLCO聽is his monumental score, Chivalrous Misdemeanors 鈥� Select Tales from Don Quixote (2005), as well as聽arrangements of the works of Charles Mingus and Ornette Coleman. His charts were recently published by Walrus Music. His bibliography includes reviews and citations in DownBeat, JazzTimes, The New 91亚色 Times and The New 91亚色er.

The Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance was made possible by a $4-million endowment announced by the Ontario government in January 2008, along with $1 million to establish music scholarships for talented students from underprivileged backgrounds.

鈥淚 want to congratulate Ron Westray on this new appointment. He brings a wealth of talent and experience to the jazz performance program at 91亚色 and its students. Our government is happy to do its part to honour the memory of Oscar Peterson by helping gifted music students pursue their own dreams,鈥� said Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Barbara Sellers-Young, dean of 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Fine Arts, said the Chair, under Westray, will expand and strengthen the program Peterson championed throughout his tenure at 91亚色.

鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to launch this important new academic initiative with Professor Westray,鈥� said Sellers-Young. 鈥淎s the Oscar Peterson Chair, he will be working with the jazz faculty in our music department to develop a special student outreach and support program named for Peterson, to encourage talented aspiring jazz artists who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue university studies.鈥�

An adjunct professor in 91亚色's Department of Music from 1984 to the late 1990s, Peterson was among Canada's most celebrated jazz artists. He was committed to teaching young people and established several student awards in the jazz program. Recipient of an honorary doctor of letters from 91亚色 in 1982, Peterson was installed as 91亚色's eighth chancellor in September 1991 and served the University with distinction until February 1994. He was made an honorary governor of 91亚色 in 1995 and was a Fellow of McLaughlin College. He died in Mississauga on Dec. 23, 2007.

鈥淭he appointment of Ron Westray as the Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance will give students and faculty in 91亚色鈥檚 outstanding jazz program the opportunity to learn from an extremely talented and prolific artist. It will also help to ensure that Oscar Peterson鈥檚 tremendous legacy lives on through the development of a new generation of jazz artists,鈥� said John Milloy, minister of training, colleges & universities and minister of research & innovation.

91亚色 offers jazz at all levels of undergraduate and graduate study, including a master and PhD in the field. The curriculum includes instrumental and vocal performance, history, theory, composition and arranging. Performance studies centre on small ensembles, plus jazz choirs and the 91亚色 Jazz Orchestra. Repertoire spans jazz standards, big band, improvisation and contemporary jazz, enriched by world music traditions including Brazilian samba, Cuban jazz, gospel, West African drums, steel-pan and Afro-American music.

Westray joins colleagues at 91亚色 who are among Canada鈥檚 pre-eminent jazz artists. Almost 40 full- and part-time faculty teach in the jazz program, including percussionist and music department chair Barry Elmes; bassist Al Henderson; saxophonists David Mott, Mike Murley and Kelly Jefferson; pianist Mark Eisenman; guitarist Lorne Lofsky; trumpeter Kevin Turcotte; multi-instrumentalist Sundar Viswanathan; and vocalists Bonnie Brett and Sacha Williamson.

Westray holds a BA in music from South Carolina State University and an MA from Eastern Illinois University. He comes to 91亚色 from the University of Texas at Austin's Butler School of Music, where he was assistant professor in the Jazz Studies Program.

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