John Reid (saxophones, flute, clarinet, percussion, vocals, composer) has been
leading his own jazz groups since 1974, when (at the encouragement of teachers
Phil Nimmons and Oscar Peterson) he formed a quartet at the first annual Banff
Centre Jazz Workshop to make a Jazz Radio Canada broadcast. He has recorded two
commercially available compact discs: Island Shuffle (1993) and Caravan (2003).
The John Reid Quartet performed at the Havana (Cuba) International Jazz Festival
in December of 2002.
John Reid is the full time Prairie Regional Director of the Canadian Music
Centre in Calgary, and Artistic Director of the Jazz Is Society of Alberta. He
has done a radio show weekly for twenty-two years; from 1981 to 1991 he hosted
the weekly Jazz Space and Jazz Spectrum programs on CJAY 92 FM in Calgary and
since 1988 he has done the weekly program The Canadian Music Centre Presents on
CJSW 90.9 FM in Calgary. Reid has taught Jazz History on an annual basis as
Sessional Instructor at the University of Calgary since 1984. He teaches a new
course at U of C that he founded that is called "The African Effect in Music."
Reid is a Master of Arts degree candidate at Rutgers, the State University of
New Jersey, and his thesis topic is Dexter Gordon.
Reid released his own CD of original compositions and jazz standards in 1993
called Island Shuffle. It was reviewed in Cadence Magazine, and as a result, an
entry on John Reid is contained in the Music Index. The CD is available for sale
in Calgary at: Hot Wax Records (Kensington), Indigo (Signal Hill), and Chapters
(West Hills). An entry on John Reid is contained in Mark Miller's book Boogie,
Pete and the Senator - Canadian Musicians in Jazz: The Eighties (Nightwood
Editions, 1987). His groups have made broadcast recordings for the national
networks of CBC Radio and Television, CKUA Radio, CBC local radio, CKRA-FM
(Edmonton), and CHQR-AM (Calgary).
After playing with local rock bands in Calgary, he turned professional in 1970
with the 25-piece show group Stratus Faction that toured North America and did
TV shows for CTV and CBC networks. He also toured with territory funk bands in
the 70s before completing his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of
Calgary in 1979.
A stint with Alberta Culture took Reid to Edmonton music in 1980-81 where he
played with Tommy Banks, George Blondheim, Bob Stroup, and others before he
returned to Calgary. Gigs with Calgary's jazz orchestra Saturday Pro Band gave
the opportunity for Reid to play with Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Horn, and Bob
Brookmeyer.
John Reid has accompanied the following artists in his career (among others):
Diana Krall, Tom Jones, Bob Hope, Della Reese, Red Skelton, Joan Rivers, Lou
Rawls, Harry Connick Jr., Rosemary Clooney, Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave), Connie
Stevens, Mitch Miller, Ben Vereen, Crystal Gayle, Helen Reddy, Fifth Dimension,
Guy Lombardo Orchestra, Rich Little, P.J. Perry, Lesley Gore, and Hans Graf and
the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra among others. When Gino Vanelli played
Calgary in the fall of 1990, Reid was invited to be the local guest saxophone
player to play the saxophone solo on Vanelli's hit For Your Love. In May of
1991, the John Reid Quartet played the warm-up set for Mel Torme at the Jack
Singer Concert Hall of the Calgary Centre for Performing Arts. Reid premiered
his new work for solo tenor saxophone (Improvisation No. 1) for the New Works
Calgary society in September of 1991.
Reid is also the founder and past chairman of the Calgary International Jazz
Festival and founding secretary and past president of the Jazz Calgary society.
He was a member of the orchestra that recorded the music for the 1988 Winter
Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies music under the direction of Tommy
Banks.
In November 1991, the John Reid Quartet recorded in the studio for CBC network
radio broadcast, which aired in April of 1992 on the Jazz Beat program from
coast-to-coast on both CBC Radio and Stereo networks. The John Reid Quartet has
performed for the jazz societies in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, and Medicine
Hat, and jazz festivals in Calgary, Edmonton, and Kaslo, B.C. In September 1991,
Reid played in Vancouver with renowned jazz pianist Bob Murphy at Carnegie¹s on
Broadway, and with singer June Katz, pianist Michael Creber, and bassist Torben
Oxbol at Alma Street Café. In May 1992, Reid performed in Winnipeg with pianist
Ron Paley¹s group including guest New York trombonist Brad Shigeta. In October
of 1992, Reid played with the CPO with guest pianist Jamie Parker. As Founder,
Artistic Director, and member of the resident ensemble of the Jazz Is Society of
Alberta Reid has worked with Ron Paley (January 2000), Vancouver's Juno
award-winner Brad Turner (November 2000 and April 2003; trumpet), Del Dako
(February 2001; baritone saxophone); Juno award-winner Don Thompson from Toronto
(May 2001; piano); International Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame
member, Juno award winner, and order of Canada recipient, Phil Nimmons (February
2002); Edmonton pianist Charlie Austin (March 2002); Japanese/New York pianist
Misako Kano (May 2002); Toronto pianist Bernie Senensky (October 2002). In
November 2000 Reid's group played the Rex Hotel in Toronto with Don Thompson at
the piano and did return engagements in November 2001 and January 2003. John
Reid has been an adjudicator for the Juno Awards, the Alcan Jazz Competition,
the Prairie Music Awards, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. Reid has
performed for Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, Lieutenant-Governor Lois Hole,
and Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau and John Diefenbaker.
John Reid has had the opportunity to play a number of Broadway-style musical
theatre productions, often from the original Broadway score. This has usually
involved "doubling," that is playing up to five instruments among the
saxophones, flutes, and clarinets. They have included: Three Penny Opera,
Fiddler on the Roof, Camelot, Nunsense, West Side Story, Crazy for You, Pal
Joey, Hey Marilyn, Beatlemania, and Tomfoolery (music of Tom Lehrer).
Reid has two current favourite projects. The first is the
Afro-Cuban-Latin-Jazz-Salsa-Funk band Caravan from Calgary, which debuted at the
Calgary International Jazz Festival in 1997, has recorded for CBC Radio, played
regularly at Charlie's Wine Bar and Grille in Calgary, plays regularly for the
convocation at the Alberta College of Art and Design, has played regularly for
the Chancellor's events at the University of Calgary, and for the past two years
has played as part of the concert series of the Instrumental Society of Calgary.
Reid has developed a particular interest in the music of Cuba following trips
there in February and July of 2002. The second is the Gospel-Jazz project with
pianist/singer Guy Plecash and singer Marie Bridge-Digney of Central United
Church in Calgary, which premiered on June 9, 2001 and recently performed as
part of the Organ a la Carte series in the Calgary International Organ Festival
in August 2002.
In Calgary, Reid has played at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, Jubilee Auditorium,
Max Bell Theatre, Martha Cohen Theatre, Cover to Cover Café, Kaos Jazz and Blues
Bistro, the Wine Gallery, Blue Rock Wine and Cigar Bar, Beat Niq Jazz and Social
Club, Indigo, Chapters, Karma Local Arts House, Charlie's Wine Bar and Grille,
Double Mo Café, and Pancho's in Calgary among many others.
Volunteer experience includes: founder of Calgary International Jazz Festival,
Past President of Jazz Calgary, Past President of University of Calgary Alumni
Association and member of the U of C Senate, current Treasurer of New Works
Calgary society, and a current Director of Instrumental Society of Calgary,
current Secretary of Calgary Professional Arts Alliance, board member of Alberta
Cultural Action Network
John Reid has two wonderful children: Stuart, 19; and Lauren, 16 and is married
to Dr. Nancy Brager. He is an avid skier and snowboarder, and since 1994 has
been a Ski Friend at Lake Louise ski area. John is a member of the congregation
at Central United Church in Calgary with whom he travelled to Nicaragua in
October 2002 for a church mission.
