Jazz bassist, composer, arranger and 2010 Juno nominee Al Henderson leads an ensemble of colleagues and friends聽brought together聽especially for a signature performance at 91亚色.
The show, part of the Department of Music鈥檚 Faculty Concert Series, will take place Tuesday, Nov. 2 聽at 7:30pm in the Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, Keele campus.
Joining onstage are 91亚色's Richard Whiteman (piano) and Barry Romberg (percussion) and guest artists Alex Dean (alto and tenor sax, flute, bass clarinet) and Pat LaBarbera (tenor and soprano sax). 91亚色 Professor and baritone saxophonist David Mott will appear with the quintet as a special guest.
Right: Al Henderson
The concert will feature a selection of Henderson鈥檚 original compositions and arrangements with several world premieres. Debut works include 鈥淭aiga鈥, 鈥淐roaking Raven鈥 and 鈥淪trange Doings鈥 (in honour of the late writer R.A. Lafferty), plus several titles from a new series Henderson is composing on a Newfoundland theme, including聽鈥淭willingate Harbour鈥 and 鈥淗appy Adventure鈥, named after a small community celebrating its 300th anniversary this year.
Henderson has been a seminal force on the Canadian jazz scene for more than 30 years. He has earned critical acclaim and legions of fans as leader of his own bands 鈥 the Al Henderson Septet, Quintet and Quartet 鈥 and co-founder and co-leader of the groundbreaking group Time Warp. He has also performed as sideman with many leading jazz artists including Diana Krall, Jane Bunnett, Arnett Cobb, Hank Crawford, Slim Gaillard, Jimmy Knepper and Flip Phillips.
As a composer, Henderson has created a large and distinctive repertoire of original works. More than 60 of his compositions have been recorded by his own bands and other eminent artists such as Don Pullen, Jane Bunnett, Shox Johnson & the Jive Bombers, Alex Dean and Richard Whiteman. His accolades include the Jazz Report Magazine鈥檚 Composer of the Year designation and the prestigious SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) Award for Original Jazz Composition.
鈥淎l Henderson is the real thing, a composer in the tradition of Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, whose works have distinctive energy and melodic and harmonic character,鈥 said jazz writer Stuart Broomer (Toronto Life).
The Nov. 2 concert by the Al Henderson Quintet is the second of five performances in the 2010-11 Faculty Concert Series, spotlighting faculty artists in 91亚色鈥檚 Music Department.
Upcoming concerts in the series feature the Sundar Viswanathan Ensemble on Jan. 18, 2011, a classical trio comprising of cellist Mark Chambers聽with violinist Jacques Israelievitch and pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico on Feb. 8, 2011,聽and the Ron Westray Ensemble on March 1, 2011.
Tickets聽are $15 or $5 for students and seniors. Series tickets, for a three-concert package, cost $30. For tickets, contact the at 416-736-5888.