Rob McConnell

Rob McConnell
Rob McConnell
Background information
Birth name	Robert Murray Gordon McConnell
Born	February 14, 1935; London, Ontario, Canada
Died	May 1, 2010 (aged 75); Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Jazz, big band
Occupation(s)	Musician, arranger, composer
Instrument	Trombone
Years active	1960s–2000s
Labels	Concord, Pausa, MPS, Dark Orchid, Innovation, Canadian Talent Library, United Artists Records, Attic Records
Formerly of	Boss Brass

Robert Murray Gordon McConnell OC (14 February 1935 – 1 May 2010)^[1] was a Canadian jazz trombonist, composer, and arranger.^[2] McConnell is best known for establishing and leading the big band The Boss Brass, which he directed from 1967 to 1999.

Biography

McConnell was born in London, Ontario, Canada,^[3] and took up the valve trombone in high school. He began his performing career in the early 1950s, performing and studying with Clifford Brown,^[4] Don Thompson, Bobby Gimby, and later with Canadian trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He studied music theory with Gordon Delamont. In 1968 he formed The Boss Brass, a big band that became his primary performing and recording unit through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.^[5]

McConnell assembled the original Boss Brass from Toronto studio musicians. The instrumentation of the band was originally sixteen pieces, consisting of trumpets, trombones, French horns, and a rhythm section but no saxophones. He introduced a saxophone section in 1970 and expanded the trumpet section to include the fifth trumpet in 1976, bringing the total to twenty-two members.

In 1977, McConnell recorded a double LP called Big Band Jazz.^[3] This was a 'direct cut' LP using Direct-to-disc recording. A small number of albums that recorded direct-to-disc began to appear on the market in the late 1970s and were marketed as "audiophile" editions, promising superior sound quality compared with recordings made using the more common multi-track tape recording methods. On McConnell's direct cut double LP, an entire side (15 minutes and 2 seconds) was devoted to a version of Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess". The double album won the Juno Award for Best Jazz Album in 1978. His 1983 All in Good Time album won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble recording.

In 1988, McConnell took a teaching position at the Dick Grove School of Music in California, but gave up his position and returned to Canada a year later. In 1992 he was presented with a SOCAN jazz award.^[6] In 1997, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 1998 was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He remained active throughout the 2000s, touring internationally as both a performer and educator, running music clinics around the world and performing as a leader and guest artist. The Rob McConnell Tentet, a scaled-down version of the Boss Brass featuring many Boss Brass alumni, recorded three albums, The Rob McConnell Tentet (2000), Thank You, Ted (2002), and Music of the Twenties (2003).

McConnell died of liver cancer on May 1, 2010, in Toronto at the age of 75.^[7]^[1]

Discography

The Boss Brass

The Boss Brass - Rob McConnell (1968), Canadian Talent Library
Rob McConnell's Boss Brass 2 (1969), Canadian Talent Library
The Sound Of The Boss Brass (1970), CBC Radio Canada
On a Cool Day (1971), Canadian Talent Library
Rob McConnell's Boss Brass 4 (1972), Canadian Talent Library
The Best Damn Band in the Land (1974), United Artists Records
The Jazz Album (1976), Attic Records
Nobody Does It Better (1977), Canadian Talent Library, Phonodisc
Big Band Jazz (1978), Umbrella Records
Again! (1979), Umbrella Records
Are Ya Dancin' Disco? (1979), New Ventures
The Singers Unlimited with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass (1980), MPS Records
Present Perfect (1980), MPS Records
Tribute (1981), Pausa Records
Live in Digital (1982), Sea Breeze, Palo Alto Records
Big Band Jazz Volume 1 (1983), Pausa Records
Again! Volume 1 (1983), Pausa Records
Big Band Jazz Volume 2 (1983), Pausa Records
All in Good Time (1983), Sea Breeze, Palo Alto Records
Again! Volume 2 (1983), Pausa Records
Atras Da Porta (1985), Innovation Records
Boss Brass and Woods (1985), Innovation Records
Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass (1986), Concord Jazz
The Brass Is Back (1991), Concord Jazz
Brassy and Sassy (1992), Concord Jazz
Our 25th Year (1993), Concord Jazz
Overtime (1994), Concord Jazz
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (1995), Concord Jazz
Velvet and Brass (1995), Concord Jazz
Even Canadians Get the Blues (1996), Concord Jazz
Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass Play the Jazz Classics (1997), Concord Jazz
Big Band Christmas (1998), Concord Jazz
The Concord Jazz Heritage Series (1998, compilation), Concord Jazz
Two Originals (Brass My Soul & Tribute)(1998, compilation), MPS Records
...One More Time! Live At The Old Mill Inn (2008), JAZZ.FM91

The Rob McConnell Tentet

Rob McConnell Tentet (2000), Justin Time Records
Thank You, Ted (2002), Justin Time Records
Music of the Twenties (2003), Justin Time Records
Justin Time For Christmas Four (2004), Justin Time Records

Other

A Canadian Christmas - Noël Canadien (1980, with Bob Hamper), CBC Radio Canada
Trombone Rob (1982), Canadian Talent Library
Mutual Street (1984, with Ed Bickert), Innovation Records
Old Friends, New Music (1985, with Rick Wilkins, Guido Basso, Ed Bickert, Steve Wallace and Terry Clarke), Unisson Records
The Boss of the Boss Brass (1988, orchestra with strings and woodwinds), Duke Street Records
Live At The 1990 Concord Jazz Festival, First Set (1991, with Ed Bickert, Alan Dawson, Harry Edison, Al Grey, Gene Harris, Benny Powell and Neil Swainson), Concord Jazz
The Rob McConnell Jive 5 (1990, with Ed Bickert, Jerry Fuller, Neil Swainson and Rick Wilkins), Concord Jazz
Manny Albam, Rob McConnell And The SDR Big Band Featuring Herb Geller (1993), Intercord
Trio Sketches (1994, with Ed Bickert and Neil Swainson), Concord Jazz
Three for the Road (1997, with Ed Bickert and Don Thompson), Concord Jazz
Riffs I Have Known (2000), Recall/Snapper Music
Live with the Boss - Rob McConnell & Big Band Brass (2001), Black & Blue Records
So Very Rob, Boss Brass Revisited (2003, with The SWR Big Band, recorded in Germany), Hanssler

Guest and backing appearances, arrangements, compilation inclusions

Cool and Hot Sax - Moe Koffman Septette (1957), Jubilee Records
Color Him Wild - Maynard Ferguson (1964), Mainstream Records
Love Talk - Guido Basso (1971), Kanata Records, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Songs for the New Industrial State - Doug Randle (2009), Kanata Records, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Jazz Canadiana: All Star Jazz In Concert (1973, compilation), CBC Radio Canada
My Heart Belongs To Me - Rick Wilkins Orchestra (1977), Phonodisc
And All That Latin Jazz! - Guido Basso (1978), Canadian Talent Library
Back Again - The Hi-Lo's (1979), MPS Records
Out of the Shadows - Chris Vadala (1979), Art of Life Records
Swing Fever - All Star Swing Band (1982), CBS Direct
Play The Compositions And Arrangements Of Bill Holman - Vic Lewis West Coast All Stars (1989), Mole Jazz
Let's Eat Home - Dave Frishberg (1990), Concord Jazz
Plays Bill Holman - Vic Lewis West Coast All Stars (1993), Candid Records
From Lush To Lively - Oliver Jones, Justin Time Records
Lookin' Good - Dave Frishberg (2001), Concord Jazz
Justin Time Records 20th Anniversary Compilation (2003), Justin Time Records
Jazz Moods: Sounds Of Autumn (2004, compilation), Concord Special Products
Jazz Moods: Jazz At The North Pole (2004, compilation), Concord Special Products
Instant Party - Mel Tormé (2004, compilation), Concord Jazz
I'm New Here - MHCC Jazz Band (2004), Sea Breeze
From the Top - Music! Its Role and Importance In Our Lives (2005), Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Education
Jazz After Dark II (2005), Playboy Jazz
Swingchronicity - Phil Woods, DePaul University Jazz Ensemble (2007), Jazzed Media
Just Friends - The Texas Christian University Jazz Ensemble (2009), Sea Breeze Vista Records
The Complete Quebec Jam Session July 28, 1955 - Clifford Brown (2009), Rare Live Recordings
The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings - Paul Desmond Quartet (2020), Mosaic Records

Awards and nominations

Juno Awards

Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass The Jazz Album, Juno Awards of 1977
Winner, Best Jazz Album, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Big Band Jazz, Juno Awards of 1978
Winner, Recording Engineer of the Year - David Green, Big Band Jazz, Juno Awards of 1978
Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Again!, Juno Awards of 1980
Winner, Best Jazz Album, Present Perfect, Juno Awards of 1981
Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Live In Digital, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1982
Winner, Best Jazz Album, All In Good Time, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1984
Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Atras De Porta, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1986
Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Old Friends, New Music, The Rob McConnell Sextet, Juno Awards of 1986
Nominee, Recording Engineer of the Year - Phil Sheridan, "Ellington", Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1987
Winner, Best Jazz Album, The Brass Is Back, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1992
Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Brassy and Sassy, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1993
Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, Our 25th Year, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1994
Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, Overtime, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1995
Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, Even Canadians Get the Blues, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1997
Winner, Best Traditional Jazz Album, Rob McConnell Tentet, Rob McConnell Tentet, Juno Awards of 2001
Nominee, Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, Thank You, Ted, Rob McConnell Tentet, Juno Awards of 2003

Grammy Awards

Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, Big Band Jazz, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, 1979
Nominee, Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), "Tangerine", The Singers Unlimited with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1980
Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, Present Perfect, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1981
Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, "Tribute", Tribute, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1982
Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, Live In Digital, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1983
Winner, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, All In Good Time, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 26th Annual Grammy Awards, 1984
Nominee, Best Arrangement On An Instrumental, "I Got Rhythm", All In Good Time, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1984
Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, The Brass Is Back, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1992
Winner, Best Arrangement on an Instrumental, "Strike Up The Band", Brassy And Sassy, Rob McConnell, 35th Annual Grammy Awards, 1993
Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, Brassy And Sassy, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1993
Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, Our 25th Year, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1994
Winner, Best Instrumental Arrangement With Accompanying Vocal(s), "I Get A Kick Out Of You", Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Rob McConnell, 38th Annual Grammy Awards, 1996
Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, Even Canadians Get The Blues, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1997
Nominee, Best Instrumental Arrangement, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", Big Band Christmas, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Rob McConnell, 1999
Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Rob McConnell Tentet, Rob McConnell Tentet, 2002
Nominee, Best Instrumental Arrangement, "Autumn In New York", So Very Rob, Boss Brass Revisited, Rob McConnell And The SWR Big Band, Rob McConnell, 2004

Canadian National Jazz Awards

Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2002
Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2002
Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2003
Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2003
Acoustic Group of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2003
Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2003
Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2004
Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2004
Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2004
Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2005
Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2006
Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2006

Honours

Awarded, Honorary Doctor of Letters, St. Francis Xavier University, 1986
Awarded, SOCAN Jazz Award, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 1992
Awarded, Prix Oscar Peterson, Montreal International Jazz Festival, 1997
Inducted, Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Juno Awards of 1997
Named, Officer of the Order of Canada, 1998
Awarded, SOCAN National Achievement Award, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 1999

References

^ ^a ^b Keepnews, Peter (12 May 2010). "Rob McConnell, Musician and Big Band Leader, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
^ Jeff Sultanof. Experiencing Big Band Jazz: A Listener's Companion. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; 8 November 2017. ISBN 978-1-4422-4243-2. p. 150.
^ ^a ^b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1553. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
^ Clifford Brown and a 20 year-old Rob McConnell played a jam session in Quebec City on June 28th, 1955. Six cuts can be found on Clifford Brown, "Complete Quebec City Jam Session," released on audio CD in 2009. Around the same time, Brown apparently made a home recording of "Strike up the Band" with McConnell of but this recording, while shared on the internet, has not been released commercially.
^ "Boss Brass founder Rob McConnell dies at 75". CBC Arts, May 03, 2010
^ Larry LeBlanc (14 November 1992). "'Do it for you' does it at the SOCAN Awards". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 48–. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ Mergner, Lee (3 May 2010). "Rob McConnell, Jazz Trombonist and Big Band Leader, Dies at 75". Jazztimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2016.

External links

[Keepnews-1] Keepnews, Peter (12 May 2010). "Rob McConnell, Musician and Big Band Leader, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2016.

[Sultanof2017-2] Jeff Sultanof. Experiencing Big Band Jazz: A Listener's Companion. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; 8 November 2017. ISBN 978-1-4422-4243-2. p. 150.

[LarkinGE-3] Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1553. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.

[4] Clifford Brown and a 20 year-old Rob McConnell played a jam session in Quebec City on June 28th, 1955. Six cuts can be found on Clifford Brown, "Complete Quebec City Jam Session," released on audio CD in 2009. Around the same time, Brown apparently made a home recording of "Strike up the Band" with McConnell of but this recording, while shared on the internet, has not been released commercially.

[5] "Boss Brass founder Rob McConnell dies at 75". CBC Arts, May 03, 2010

[Inc.1992-6] Larry LeBlanc (14 November 1992). "'Do it for you' does it at the SOCAN Awards". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 48–. ISSN 0006-2510.

[Dies-7] Mergner, Lee (3 May 2010). "Rob McConnell, Jazz Trombonist and Big Band Leader, Dies at 75". Jazztimes.com. Retrieved 23 December 2016.

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