Lorne Lofsky :: guitarist

Born in Toronto, Lorne Lofsky is unquestionably one of Canada's finest jazz guitarists. Beginning in the mid 1970's, when he was a student in the Music Department at York University (where he now instructs jazz workshops), his career has been carefully followed by the local Toronto media. In 1981,a critics poll conducted by the world's premier jazz magazine, Downbeat, rated Lofsky among the top ten jazz musicians in the world who deserved wider recognition. In 1980, after hearing Lofsky in a Toronto Jazz Club, Oscar Peterson telephoned him and offered to produce his first album on the prestigious Pablo label. The resulting effort, entitled "It Could Happen to You" brought four star acclaim from such respected jazz critics as Leonard Feather. The good taste and harmonic beauty Lofsky expresses through his music has seduced audiences in numerous club and concert dates across North America. Lofsky's distinctive guitar stylings have been heard with such major artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Tal Farlow, Oscar Peterson and Rosemary Clooney. He has appeared with Oscar Peterson at major concert venues such as the Vienna State Opera House, North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague and the Philarmonie Hall in Munich. He has also appeared in concert with the Lorne Lofsky Trio at Ontario Place and Harbourfront in Toronto. In addition, Lofsky has been a featured guest on numerous television and radio shows including a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation production entitled "Oscar Peterson and Friends" and a live broadcast on WEBR radio in Buffalo with Chet Baker. The beauty and depth of his musical expressions have made Lofsky no stranger to critical acclaim.

Neil Swainson :: Bassist

Neil Swainson was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on November 15, 1955. He gained his first professional experience in the Victoria area, working with local bands. He began working with Paul Horn in 1975, and played in his band for two years. As well, he backed up such musicians as Barney Kessell, Herb Ellis, and Sonny Stitt. Neil moved to Vancouver in 1976, and in 1977 to Toronto, which has become his home. Since then he has been very active in the local jazz scene, playing with such artists as Moe Koffman, Ed Bickert, and Rob McConnell. He has also played with many visiting jazz artists, to name a few: James Moody, George Coleman, Jay McShann, Tommy Flanagan, Lee Konitz, Joe Farrell, Slide Hampton, and Woody Shaw. His playing with Woody Shaw extended beyond Canada; Neil worked numerous times in New York, and did several tours of Europe with Woody. Neil has also appeared on two Woody Shaw records: "Solid" (Muse 5329) and "In My Own Sweet Way" (In & Out 7003). In 1986 Neil began working with George Shearing from time to time, until 1988 when they began working together full time, a relationship that continues today. Since then he has traveled virtually worldwide, playing in Japan, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, and all across North America. Neil has made numerous recordings with George Shearing, including: "Dexterity", "A Perfect Match" (with Ernestine Anderson) (on Concord Jazz label), "I Hear a Rhapsody", "Walkin'", "How Beautiful is Night", "That Shearing Sound", and "Paper Moon" (on Telarc). In 1989 Neil's own recording "49th Parallel" was released (Concord Jazz 4396), featuring Woody Shaw on trumpet, and Joe Henderson on saxophone. Neil continues to compose and record his original music with JMOG, a cooperative band, also featuring Don Thompson, Pat LaBarbera, and Joe LaBarbera. Several of Neil's compositions appear on recordings by other artists, including George Shearing. Neil has also worked with a number of other artists such as Jay McShann, Doc Cheatham, Geoff Keezer, Lorne Lofsky, and Kirk MacDonald. Three recordings on which he plays have won Canada's Juno Award: Jon Ballantyne's "Skydance" (Justin Time 302), P.J. Perry's "My Ideal" (Unity 128), and "Free Trade", a cooperative band featuring Rene Rosnes (Justin Time 64-2). Neil continues to freelance extensively in the Toronto area. He is also a member of the Rob McConnell Trio, and the Kirk MacDonald - Lorne Lofsky Quartet.

Jerry Fuller :: Drummer

Jerry Fuller was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1939. He studied drums privately with Jim Blackley, and studied harmony & arranging at Westlake College in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Jerry worked all across Canada and settled in Toronto in 1963. Besides doing a great deal of studio work, Jerry has been very active on the Toronto Jazz scene for over 35 years. Jerry has been a first call drummer for many years working with over 150 visiting jazz musicians in Toronto including: Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, George Coleman, Hank Jones, "Slam" Stewart, James Moody, Milt Jackson, Kay Winding, Pepper Adams, "Blue" Mitchell, Lee Konitz, Paul Desmond Art Pepper, Tom Harrell, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, etc. Jerry's recording credits include sessions with Duke Ellington, Mel Torme/Boss Brass, George Shearing, Oscar Peterson, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Kirk MacDonald Quartet, Lorne Lofsky Trio, Moe Koffman, Peter Appleyard, Brian Dickinson Trio and many others.

André White (mixer and editor)

André White has lived in Montreal almost all of his life. Exposed to music throughout his childhood, he completed his formal music studies at Vanier College, as well as earning a B.A. in English Literature from Concordia University and a M. Mus. in Sound Recording from McGill University. Montreal continues to be his homebase, although he works frequently outside of the province of Quebec. He is presently employed full-time as an Associate Professor in Jazz Studies at McGill University, where he teaches Jazz History, Jazz Piano, and Jazz Improvisation, and has also served as Jazz Area Chair.

André plays both piano and drums, and has appeared with many Canadian and American musicians, both in Montreal and elsewhere. Some of the performers he has accompanied include Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, Dave Liebman, Don Thompson, Steve Grossman, Sonny Greenwich, Pepper Adams, Cecil Payne, Junior Cook, Bob Berg, Rob McConnell, Gary Bartz, Craig Handy, Ben Monder and Kevin Dean.

In addition, André works as a free-lance recording engineer and producer. Since 1990, Andre has been involved in the production and recording of over fifty independent jazz releases, including recordings by Densil Pinnock, Kirk MacDonald, Kevin Dean, Geoff Lapp, and Jean Beaudet.

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