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It's
about time, not his superlative sense of rhythm, but
the fact that he has formed a new group and finally
has a recording that features some exemplary talented
musicians. Archie Alleyne is a Canadian jazz legend
who can move in different circles of music and create
a sound that works for that particular group, regardless
of its style or genre.
Archie
began his association with the big names in jazz during
the mid 1950's as house band drummer at the Town Tavern
in Toronto, a very popular venue where he became the
requested drummer for visiting artists such as Lester
Young, Stan Getz, Bud Freeman, Sonny Stitt, Billie Holiday
and a host of others too numerous to mention here. Later
in his exciting and busy career, after taking some time
away from music, he produced "The Evolution of
Jazz", an educational revue (1990) that toured
many schools in the Toronto area during the decade.
During
those halcyon years, the 1950's, he also found time
to work with tenor saxophonist Dougie Richardson, a
fellow jazz spirit, who in the late 1950's moved to
Los Angeles and then Chicago to pursue his career. They
reconnected in late 1998, when this group Kollage began
to take shape.
Kollage: Archie prefers the spelling with a "K",
he feels it gives the name more prominence, more 'grit'.
Co-leader
Dougie Richardson studied at the Oscar Peterson School
of Music in Toronto, the Dick Grove School of Music
in Los Angeles, and also with Sonny Rollins, James Moody
and Roland Kirk.
A multi-talented veteran of jazz, live theatre, movies
and TV, Dougie's talents and experience include arranging,
composing and scoring for live theatrical productions,
films and commercial jingles. He has recorded with David
Benoit ("Night Talk") on the AVI label, and
also with Bill Cosby.
Michael Shand - pianist/arranger, began his musical
journey at age 14. He studied classical music at the
Royal Conservatory, and found an interest in jazz, the
music that influenced his life. He received an Oscar
Peterson scholarship award while attending York University
in Toronto, and has been a featured artist in various
festivals and clubs.
Joel Joseph - tenor and soprano saxophones, is a trained
musician with a will and strong desire to excel. He
began playing the piano at age 7 and the saxophone at
16. He has studied with Dave Stilwell, Eddie Sossin
and Pat LaBarbera, and received an award for the most
improved player in his first year at Humber College.
Ron Johnston - bass, is a classically trained musician,
leading to a Conservatory Grade 8 (First Class Honours)
certificate in Double Bass in 1971. He has played in
the Toronto Youth Orchestra from 1968 to 1970 and has
travelled extensively as a professional musician.
2.
In all the years that Archie Alleyne has been playing,
he feels that this group is bringing him a type of satisfaction
never before achieved, and revels in the music and the
magical performances by each member.
The
music you are about to hear speaks for itself, it is
exciting, soulful, pretty and has a feeling of warmth
created by a group of musicians who are like a very
tight family, each member complimenting the other and
urging them on to greater heights. I leave you to decide
which composition or solo you like best, I know that
I have chosen mine and will repeatedly listen and discover
something new each time.
Hal
A Hill
Artistic Director/Associate Producer
Markham Jazz Festival
Owner of Jazz Canadiana Web Site
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