TORONTO, October 21, 2010 − Jazz bassist, composer, arranger and 2010 Juno nominee Al Henderson leads an ensemble of colleagues and friends assembled especially for the occasion in a signature performance Tuesday, Nov. 2 at York University. The show is part of the Department of Music’s Faculty Concert Series, taking place in the Tribute Communities Recital Hall at York’s Keele campus.
Joining Henderson onstage are York instructors 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). York professor, baritone saxophonist David Mott appears with the quintet as a special guest.
The concert will feature a selection of Henderson’s original compositions and arrangements, including several world premieres. Debut works include Taiga, Croaking Raven and Strange Doings (in honour of the late writer R.A. Lafferty) plus several titles from a new series Henderson is composing on a Newfoundland theme: Twillingate Harbour and Happy Adventure (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 – the Al Henderson Septet, Quintet and Quartet – 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 bands as well as 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’s Composer of the Year designation and the prestigious SOCAN Award for Original Jazz Composition.
“... Al 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,” 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 York University’s Music Department. Upcoming concerts in the series feature the Sundar Viswanathan Ensemble (Jan. 18, 2011), a classical trio comprising cellist Mark Chambers with violinist Jacques Israelievitch and pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico (Feb. 8, 2011) and the Ron Westray Ensemble (Mar. 1, 2011).
York University Faculty Concert Series:
Al Henderson Quintet
When: Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, 7:30pm
Where: Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University, 4700 Keele St. [Map]
Admission: Single tickets $15 | students & seniors $5 | Series tickets: three-concert package $30
Box Office: 416.736.5888 | www.yorku.ca/perform/boxoffice
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Media Contact:
Amy Stewart, Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University
416.650.8469 | amy.stewart@yorku.ca
