Education
2009
Ph.D., Ethnomusicology, York University
Dissertation Title: “Fields of Production and Streams of Consciousness: Negotiating the Musical and Social Practices of Improvised Music”
Supervisor: Dr. Robert Simms
2006-2007
Associate Graduate, Goldsmiths College, University of London
2005
M.A., Music Composition, York University
Thesis Title: “Travelling Without Maps: Contemporary Issues and Approaches Related To Composing For Improvising Musicians”
Supervisor: Dr. David Mott
2000
B.Mus., Concentration in Composition, Dalhousie University. Supervisor: Dr Dennis Farrell
Double bass: Max Kasper
Jazz and Improvisation: Don Palmer
Summer Programs
2008
The Summer Institute For Critical Studies in Improvisation, University of Guelph
2000
The Banff Centre International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music
Scholarships and Awards
2010
Ontario Arts Council: Chalmers Professional Development Grant, awarded to study with American bassists Barre Phillips and Gary Peacock
2006
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada: Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Scholarship
London Goodenough Association Of Canada Scholarship
2005
York University Entrance Scholarship (Ph.D.)
2004
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada: Canada Graduate Scholarship Program Master’s Scholarship
2003
York University Entrance Scholarship (M.A.)
2000
Dalhousie University Medal, awarded for highest grade point average in a graduating class
1999
Juno Award for “Best New Group” as a member of the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra
1998
East Coast Music Award for “Best Jazz Album” as a member of the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra
Teaching Experience
2010-2012
Conductor of the Toronto All-Star Big Band, which is a large community jazz ensemble composed of high school and university students who must audition for admittance (www.torontoallstarbigband.com)
Bass, guitar, and music theory instructor at Kitchen Music Studio, Greenwood College School, and Canada Music Academy
Private lessons in bass, guitar, theory, and musicianship conducted in my home studio
Freelance editor and writing tutor
2009
Teaching Assistant, York University
FA/MUSI 1200: Music and Cultures I
Average student evaluation for teaching: 3.57/4
Music Tutor, York University
FA/MUSI X032: Contemporary Musicianship and Improvisation
2008
Teaching Assistant, York University
FA/MUSI 2200: Music and Cultures II: A History of Western Music
2005
Teaching Assistant, York University
FA/MUSI 1000: Workshop in Musicianship
2002-2005
Marc Enkin Music, Toronto, ON
Private and ensemble lessons, working with beginning and intermediate guitar, bass, and drum students
2000-2001
Canadian Conservatory Summer Rock Camp, Halifax NS
Private and Ensemble lessons in popular music performance
1999-2008
Acadia University Summer Music Institute, Wolfville, NS
Private and ensemble lessons, teaching jazz improvisation and general musicianship to high school students
Conference Presentations, Invited Lectures, and Performances
2011
“Labour, Creativity, and the Politics of Profit in the Improvised Music Field,” paper delivered at the Improvisation, Community, and Social Practice conference “Making the Changes: Ethics and the Improvising Business,” University of Guelph
“Sounding the System: Improvisation, Creativity, and Contemporary Music Pedagogy,” paper delivered at the Canadian University Music Society annual Conference, Mount Allison University
“Such Sweet Thunder: The Art and Craft of Duke Ellington,” lecture-recital delivered at the University of Toronto Scarborough as part of the World Rhythms Performance Lecture Series
Improvisation Workshop: Lakeshore Arts
“The London School of Improvised Economics,” lecture delivered at Ryerson University in the undergraduate class MUS 211: Music Cultures of the City
2010
“After the Avant-garde: Free Improvisation in London, England and the Emergence of a Modernist Work Ethic,” presentation at the Ryerson University Music Series: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
2009
“Fields of Production and Streams of Consciousness: Explorations into the
Concept of Free Improvisation,” paper delivered at the York University Graduate Music Student Colloquium
“Calling All Outlaws: Improvising Musicians and the Problems with Social Justice,” paper delivered at the Improvisation, Community, And Social Practice Conference, McGill University
“From Mainstream to Downstream: Jimmy Giuffre and the Deconstruction of the Jazz Art World,” paper delivered at the International Association for the Study of Popular Music Canada Conference, Dalhousie University
“Music in Canada,” lecture delivered at York University in the undergraduate class FA/MUSI 2200: Music and Cultures II—A History of Western Music
2008
“Getting The Music Off The Page: Practice-based Research and the Construction of the Practitioner-Theorist,” paper delivered at the Guelph Jazz Festival And Colloquium, University of Guelph
“From The Inside Looking Out: Practice-based Research and the Study of Improvisation,” paper delivered at the Improvisation, Community, And Social Practice Conference, McGill University
“Producing the Process: Issues In Composing For Free Improvisers,” lecture-recital delivered at the Canadian University Music Society Annual Conference, University of British Columbia
2007
“Searching For Uncommon Ground: Eddie Prévost’s Improvisation Workshop and the Construction of Collective Identity,” paper delivered at the Guelph Jazz Festival And Colloquium, University of Guelph
“Dancing About Architecture: An Investigation Into the Practice of Writing About Improvisation,” paper delivered at the Leeds International Jazz Conference, Leeds College of Music
2006
“What’s Left Is Faking It: Collective Improvisation and the Creative Process of the Jimmy Giuffre 3,” paper delivered at the Guelph Jazz Festival And Colloquium, University of Guelph
“Eleven Pieces for Improvising Trio,” mini concert at the Canadian University Music Society Annual Conference, York University
“The Life Of A Trio: Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Bley, and Steve Swallow,” paper delivered at the York University Graduate Student Annual Colloquium
“Selections From Eleven Pieces for Improvising Trio,” lecture-recital delivered at the University of Toronto Music Graduate Students Association Conference
2004
“Jimmy Giuffre: Unsung Avant-garde Jazz Composer and Improviser,” paper delivered at the Association For Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Annual Conference in Austin, Texas
Unpublished Manuscript
2006
“Contemporary Compositions for Beginning Jazz Ensemble: A Progressive Method To Teaching Jazz Improvisation and Ensemble Performance Practices”
This text, written primarily for junior high and high school students, has been used at the Acadia University Summer Music Institute, and is currently in use in several Nova Scotia high schools, including: Kings-Edgehill School, Avonview High School, Hants West Middle School, and Dorian Hall Academy of Music in Windsor, Nova Scotia. In addition, several of the compositions in this book were performed at Musicfest Canada 2008 by the community ensemble Easily Distracted (based in Windsor Nova Scotia), who won a gold standard for their performance.
Professional Experience
2010
Artistic Director of Music(in)Galleries, an annual event that features musicians performing in a series of art galleries in downtown Toronto
2003-2005
Graduate Research Assistant, York University
Archiving audio files for the York University Pop Music Archives and Music Gallery Collection
2002-2003
Assistant Musical Director and bassist, Ship’s Company Theatre, Parrsboro, NS
1996-1999
Musical Director and bassist, Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra
Performed in many of the major cities in North America
1995-Present
Self employed bassist, composer, and bandleader
Recordings
As a leader
2009
See Through Trio – Lines and Spaces, Woods And Waters
Listen to See Through Trio at: www.seethroughtrio.info
2007
See Through Trio – Our Own Devices, independent
2000
Quatrain - Adamant Shoals, independent
1997
The Art Ensemble Of Halifax - Exile On The Wayside and Subfield Emissions, independent
As a side person
2011
Muskox – Invocation/Transformations, independent.
Recording funded by Ontario Arts Council.
Listen to Muskox at: www.muskoxhq.net
AIMToronto Orchestra – Year of the Boar, Barnyard Records
Recording funded by Canada Council for the Arts
Listen at: www.barnyardrecords.com
2009
Muskox – Five Pieces, Standard Form
2008
Muskox – Gallantries, Woods and Waters
2006
George Grosman – Mango, independent
2005
Danny Bakan - “…and truth is spectacular”, independent, Golden Quill Porcupine Award
Paradise Public Radio – It Seems Like Only Yesterday… independent
2004
John Wesley Chisholm – Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts, Arcadia Entertainment Inc. East Coast Music Award nominee
1999
Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra – Holiday Romance, Universal Music. Juno Award winner
Joel Plaskett - In Need of Medical Attention, No Alternative
1997
Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra - Life Desire, Lucky Life Recordings. East Coast Music Award winner
Compositions and Performances
2011
AIM Toronto Orchestra CD release with special guest saxophonist Evan Parker
Performed with Muskox at the JazzEast “Out Like A Lion” festival in Halifax
2010
Performed with SISTER at the Pop Montreal Festival
2009
Performed with Muskox at The Music Gallery, supporting Charles Spearin’s The Happiness Project
2008
Live recording for CBC Radio’s The Signal, with Muskox
Summer tour of British Columbia with See Through Trio
2007
Summer tour of Nova Scotia with See Through Trio, culminating with a performance at The Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax
2006
Performed for Queen Elizabeth II in London, England as part of the Royal Visit to Goodenough College
2005
Performance of Eleven Pieces For Improvising Trio at The Distillery Jazz Festival, the ArrayMusic Studio Leftover Daylight concert series, and at the Tranzac Club
Large jazz ensemble compositions Black River and Flat Earth Suite premiered by the Toronto Jazz Orchestra at the ArrayMusic Studio
2004
Premier of Spiral Glider, for chamber ensemble. Performed by the Continuum Ensemble in the Dacary Concert Hall, York University
2001
Music for the film A Fresh Start by Halifax filmmaker Jason Buxton, which played at the Toronto Film Festival and the Atlantic Film Festival
2000
Premier of String Quartet, Sextet For Strings, and Three Canadian Poems. Performed by members of Symphony Nova Scotia in the James Dunn Theatre, Dalhousie University
Music For Jazz Quartet performed by Quatrain at the Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Music for Being Here, a modern dance work by Toronto choreographer Sally Morgan
Performed at the Banff Centre for the Arts as part of the Summer Jazz Workshop
1999
Performed as a member of the Upstream Orchestra for a series of concerts with Symphony Nova Scotia and Peter Weigold, as part of the Open Waters Music Festival
1995-Present
Frequent performances in clubs, restaurants, concerts and private affairs in jazz, folk, and rock ensembles, often performing my own compositions
Professional Affiliations
Canadian University Music Society
International Association for the Study of Popular Music Canada
International Society for Improvised Music
Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)