Kirk MacDonald – Saxophonist / Composer / Educator ith an established reputation as one of Canada's leading saxophonists, Kirk MacDonald cut his first record at the Wage of thirteen. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, and has worked with many leading musicians in a variety of musical genres. He has performed on over 45 CDs as both leader and sideman, and has participated in numerous national broadcast recordings for CBC Radio. In addition to performing extensively throughout Canada, he has also performed in the USA, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Monaco, Australia, Korea, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. For over 25 years Kirk has worked and recorded with many leading Canadian, U.S. and International jazz musicians including Claude Ranger, Dave Young, Sam Noto, Sonny Greenwich, Kenny Wheeler, Eddie Henderson, Harold Mabern, Walter Bishop Jr., Lorne Lofsky, Bob Mover, Pat LaBarbera, John Taylor, Ron McClure, Mike Stern, Jim McNeely, Bob Mintzer, Vince Mendoza, John Clayton, Chris Potter, Glenn Ferris, Maria Schneider, Dave Grusin, Danilo Perez, Adam Rogers, Dennis Mackrel, Nancy Walker, Barry Romberg, Andre White, Rob Smith, Brian Dickinson, Denny Christianson, Bernie Senensky, Phil Nimmons, James Moody, Rosemary Clooney, Humber College Faculty Ensemble. Over 90 performances of his compositions appear on 22 CDs, both as leader on his own recordings as well as on recordings by other artists. Kirk's most recent activities include the release of Family Suite (2008), an 11 part suite for jazz quartet on Romhog Records, and Songbook Vol. I (2009) – a collection of his compositions for jazz quartet, on ADDO Jazz Records, with Songbook Vol. II (2010). Kirk also leads the Kirk MacDonald Jazz Orchestra (KMJO), a 19- piece all-star ensemble dedicated to performing his original compositions and featuring arrangements by leading Canadian and U.S. Writers. The KMJO released its debut recording Deep Shadows in March 2011. Kirk has just finished his tenth recording as leader with the KMJO – a re-working of “Family Suite” for jazz orchestra. Kirk has been active as an educator for 27 years at leading jazz studies programs such as at the University of Toronto and McGill University. Kirk is presently a full time professor at Humber College in Toronto, where he holds a cross appointment in the Music Degree Program and the Community Music School. Kirk also acts as the Artistic Director for the “Youth Jazz in the City” project and directs the “Greater Toronto Area Honour Combos” and the “National Youth Honour Combo”. This project also hosts a 2 week workshop in the summer for high school students ages 14 to 18 in Toronto. AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS - As Leader or Soloist: 2012 Juno Award Nominee – Best Traditional Jazz Album (Deep Shadows) 2011 Juno Award Nominee – Best Traditional Jazz Album (Songbook Vol. II) 2010 Juno Award Nominee – Best Contemporary Jazz Album (Songbook Vol. 1) 2009 Canada Council's Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award in music 2007 Now Magazine – Saxophonist of the Year 2005 National Jazz Awards Nomination - Saxophonist of the Year 2004 National Jazz Awards Nomination - Saxophonist of the Year 2003 National Jazz Awards Nomination - Saxophonist of the Year 2002 Winner - 4ème Concours International de Soliste de Jazz - Monaco 2001 Juno Award Nomination - Best Traditional Jazz Album (New Beginnings) 2001 Canadian Indie Music Award Nomination - Best Jazz Recording (New Beginnings) 1999 Juno Award - Best Traditional Jazz Album (The Atlantic Sessions) 1999 Jazz Report Awards - Album of the Year (The Atlantic Sessions) 1999 Jazz Report Awards - Tenor Saxophonist of the Year 1996 Nomination for East Coast Music Award - Jazz Artist of the Year (Reminiscence) [email protected] | www.kirkmacdonald.com AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS - With Other Artists: 2009 Juno Award Nominee - Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year (Existential Detective) (Random Access Large Ensemble) 2003 Montreal Jazz Festival Prix de Jazz (Nancy Walker Quartet) 2001 Juno Award Nominee - Best Vocal Jazz (This Is How Men Cry) (Marc Jordan) Blue Note Records 2000 Juno Award Nominee - Best Traditional Jazz Album (New Horizons) (Bernie Senensky) Timeless 1999 Juno Award Nominee - Best Traditional Jazz Album (Siren's Song) (Maritime Jazz Orchestra) Justin Time 1999 Montreal Jazz Festival Prix de Jazz (Chris Mitchell Quintet) PRESS Kirk MacDonald has maintained his integrity as one of Canada's leading saxophonists for over 25 years. As a composer and performer, Kirk has managed to turn out exceptional musical projects every few years that reflect his musical growth and direction. Pat LaBarbera – 2009 Over the past decade, Toronto tenor saxophonist Kirk MacDonald has established a national identity. His throaty, fullbodied sound graces numerous recordings, and his performances across the country have made him a must see attraction. Coupled with superb compositional abilities, MacDonald's complete musicianship gives him a creative edge. Greg Sutherland - THE JAZZ REPORT Finally MacDonald whose tone is the essence of tenor sax, packed to the gunwhales with harmonics and overtones, began to do that thing that he does - an endless stream of bop - like lines which he pours out, without repeating himself, as though he wasn't simply playing licks, but tapping into a subterranean jet-stream of melodic invention. Steve Pederson - CHRONICLE HERALD RECORD REVIEWS SONGBOOK VOL. I: Saxophone star Kirk MacDonald opens Addo’s account with Songbook Vol.1 (Addo Jazz Recordings AJR001) with seven of his own tunes and quality sidemen in pianist David Virelles, bass Neil Swainson and volatile drummer Barry Romberg. This adventurous music offers tuneful momentum, rhythmic flair and opportunities for bold contributions from bandsmen backing the leader’s warm, expressive and appealing sound – Virelles and Romberg are never still while Swainson’s lush-toned bass anchors proceedings. The opening, expansive New Piece features flowing ideas, and you understand how Kirk has embraced composition as well as stellar performance. There’s winsome balladry on Calendula, passion lamenting late saxist Glenn McDonald, plus fiercely restless work on By Invitation Only (no prizes for knowing the inspiration). WHOLENOTE MAGAZINE Two reasons to congratulate Kirk MacDonald (including a CD review) 1)Yesterday, the Canada Council for the Arts announced that the Toronto saxophonist has received a 2009 Victor Martin Lynch-Staunton Award. MacDonald, who turns 50 this year, and six other Canadian artists each received the annual award, which is worth $15,000, to recognize their achievements at mid-career. MacDonald was the recipient in the category of music. More details are here. 2)MacDonald recently released a fine new quartet CD, Songbook Vol.1, on the new Toronto-based Addo label, which highlights his considerable skills as a composer. Of course, he's been recognized as a robust, substantial player with a flair for long lines filled with harmonic implications for the longest time. I think of Songbook Vol. 1 as containing two kinds of pieces. Three of the tunes are more jazzy than they are lyrical. One is Manhattan Getaway (which alternates harmonically tricky 7/4 and 4/4 sections in its form, not that MacDonald and his bandmates are perturbed). Moulage is a hearty composition with much to latch on to, which ultimately is So What when it's solo time. On this track, pianist [email protected] | www.kirkmacdonald.com David Virelles uncorks a distinctive solo and when the tune vamps out, he and MacDonald happily bounce ideas off each other. Similarly, By Invitation Only is a winning composition that reveals its inspiration -- the jazz standard Invitation -- when the improvised solos begin. Before the tune concludes, there's some creative thrashing from drummer Barry Romberg. The four other tunes accentuate MacDonald's lyrical side. The opener, New Piece, is an eminently singable song set to a bossa groove. Its extended coda, featuring MacDonald coursing through a new and appealing set of chords is a nice exercise in delayed gratification. Over its seven minutes, Calendula, transforms from a pretty waltz brought in by Virelles into a torrid joust for him and MacDonald. Fleeting features a surging groove and MacDonald playing both tenor and soprano saxophones. Goodbye Glenn, which closes the disc, is a swirling rubato tribute to the late Toronto saxophonist Glenn McDonald. Throughout, Virelles, Romberg and bassist Neil Swainson support and interact with MacDonald with all the energy, sophistication and immediacy that he deserves -- which is really saying something.Peter Hum - OTTAWA CITIZEN I can't seem to pull anything out of my mailbox these days thats anything less than brilliant! Kudos first to Steve Bellamy and his new label Addo Jazz Recordings! They have three new releases out; Kirk MacDonald: Songbook Vol. 1, Fieldtrip: No Destination and Ted Quinlan: Streetscape. All of them are wonderful. The best thing about Kirk's new CD other than the great playing is the fact that its called Volume 1. This would indicate that there are going to be further volumes which would be welcomed by this jazz fan! Pat Labarbera stages it perfectly in his liner notes; “MacDonald needs to be heard on the world stage, I hope this CD will find its way to those who book festivals & tours & will give Canadian musicians of this stature a chance to perform and share their music in places other than their homeland.” This quartet of musicians burns from the get go! Cory Weeds - IN THE EARS FAMILY SUITE: Known for his fiery tone and flair for burning tempi, Juno award winner Kirk MacDonald is one of Canada’s pre- eminent jazz saxophonists. Since the release of his first album nearly twenty years ago, MacDonald has gradually gravitated towards the strength of his own original compositions. Family Suite (Romhog Records 116), MacDonald’s sixth album as leader, is a personal affair. The poignant opening and closing theme, Dark Autumn, refers to the fall of 2002, an arduous time in which MacDonald lost his mother while still mourning the deaths of long-time collaborators Jerry Fuller and Joe Bendzsa.