Kirk MacDonald (musician)
Kirk MacDonald (born 1959) is a Canadian jazz musician and composer. He has been nominated for four Juno Awards, with his album The Atlantic Sessions winning the 1999 Juno Award for Best Mainstream Jazz Album.
He has performed on over forty albums as leader and sideman and has participated in national broadcast recordings for CBC Radio. In addition to performing extensively throughout Canada, he has performed in the U.S., France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Monaco, Australia, Korea, Bermuda, and the Bahamas.
He has worked with Walter Bishop Jr., John Clayton, Rosemary Clooney, Brian Dickinson, Glenn Ferris, Sonny Greenwich, Eddie Henderson, Pat LaBarbera, Lorne Lofsky, Harold Mabern, Ron McClure, Jim McNeely, Vince Mendoza, James Moody, Bob Mover, Phil Nimmons, Sam Noto, Chris Potter, Bernie Senensky, Mike Stern, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, André White, and the Humber College Faculty Ensemble.
As a composer, he has recorded over fifty of his own compositions. His compositions have been arranged for large ensembles by Canadian and American arrangers. He has been active as an educator for almost 25 years at the college and university levels.
Kirk MacDonald | |
|---|---|
Kirk MacDonald | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 2, 1959 New Waterford, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Composer, Educator |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone |
| Website | https://kirkmacdonald.com |
Awards and nominations
As leader or soloist
- 2015 – Hagood Hardy Award SOCAN – Outstanding Jazz Artist of the Year[1]
- 2015 – Juno Award for Jazz Album of the Year – Solo (Vista Obscura)[2]
- 2015 – East Coast Music Award – Best Jazz Recording (Symmetry)[3]
- 2015 – Toronto Musicians’ Association – Lifetime Achievement Award[4]
- 2012 – Juno Award Nominee – Best Traditional Jazz Album (Deep Shadows)[5]
- 2011 – Juno Award Nominee – Best Traditional Jazz Album (Songbook Vol. II)
- 2010 – Juno Award Nominee – Best Contemporary Jazz Album (Songbook Vol. 1)[6]
- 2009 – the Canada Council’s “Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award”
- 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 – 4th Concours International de Soliste de Jazz – Monaco
- 2001 – Juno Award Nominee – Best Mainstream Jazz Album (New Beginnings)
- 2001 – Canadian Indie Music Award Nomination – Best Jazz Recording (New Beginnings)
- 1999 – Juno Award – Best Mainstream 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)
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 Mainstream Jazz Album (New Horizons) (Bernie Senensky) Timeless
- 1999 – Juno Award Nominee – Best Mainstream Jazz Album (Siren’s Song) (Maritime Jazz Orchestra) Justin Time
- 1999 – Montreal Jazz Festival Prix de Jazz (Chris Mitchell Quintet)
Educational Awards
- 2011 Humber College – Distinguished Faculty Award
- 2009 Humber College – College Innovation of the Year Award (Music Department)
- 2008 Humber College – Teaching Excellence Certificate
- 2004/05 Humber College – Award of Excellence for Outstanding Academic Contribution
Discography
As leader
- Trane of Thought Live at the Rex (Cellar Live) - Recorded at The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar in Toronto on September 20 and 21, 2018[7]
- Generations (HGBS Blue Records Canada) - Recorded at Revolution Recording Studio, Toronto, ON, Canada on March 11 & 12, 2018
- Silent Voices (Jazz Compass) - released February 24, 2017
- Common Ground (Independent) - Recorded at Humber College Studio June 14, 15 2015
- Vista Obscura (ADDO) – Recorded July 27 and 28, 2014 in Toronto, Ontario
- Symmetry (ADDO) – Recorded June 8 and 9, 2013 in Toronto, Ontario
- Family Suite for Large Ensemble (ADDO) – Recorded January 7 and 8, 2012 at Humber Recording Studios in Toronto, Ontario
- Deep Shadows (ADDO) – Recorded May 2, 2010 in Toronto Released April 2011
- Songbook Vol 2 (ADDO) – Recorded June 18 – 21, 2009 at Humber Recording Studios in Toronto, Ontario
- Songbook Vol 1 (ADDO) – Recorded June 18 – 21, 2009 at Humber Recording Studios in Toronto, Ontario
- Family Suite (Romhog) – Recorded at Humber Recording Studios, Toronto, Ontario, August 11 – 13, 2008
- Pure and Simple (Justin Time) – Recorded April 2 & 3, 2001 at AKW Studios, Montreal
- New Beginnings (Radioland) – Recorded at: Reaction Studio, Toronto, Ontario
- The Atlantic Sessions (Koch) – Recorded July 19 & 20,1997 at Atlantimix Studios Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Reminiscence (Cornerstone) – Recorded at: Glenn Gould Studio,Toronto, July 15–17, 1994
- The Revellers (Unity) – Recorded: March 18 & 19, 1990 at Jazz Partners Studios, Toronto
As sideman
| Album | Artist | Label | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Creativity | Barry Romberg's Random Access | Romhog | 2011 |
| Code White | Andre White and Joe Sullivan | Chance | 2011 |
| Diversity | Michelle Gregoire | 2010 | |
| Was, Shall, Why, Because | Barry Romberg's Random Access | Romhog | 2009 |
| Existential Detective | Barry Romberg's Random Access | Romhog | 2008 |
| More Today Than Yesterday | Kingsley Ettienne Quartet | Ettienne Music | 2008 |
| Big Giant Head | Barry Romberg's Random Access Quartet | Romhog | 2007 |
| 2 Am | Brian Chahley Quartet | 2005 | |
| When She Dreams | Nancy Walker Quartet | Justin Time | 2004 |
| Reaching | Michelle Gregoire | Boathouse Records | 2004 |
| Group of Seven Suite | Tony Quarrington | CBC Records | 2003 |
| Levitation | Nancy Walker Quartet | Unity/Paige Records | 2003 |
| Signal | Andre White Quartet | Cornerstone Records | 2001 |
| Shapeshift | Kieran Overs | Unity/Paige Records | 1999 |
| Sterling Silver | Ken Skinner | Village Jazz | 1995 |
| Steppin' Out | Kingsley Ettienne | S-J Records | 1989 |
| No Attachments | Gene Smith Quartet | ||
| Past Present Future | Charlie Gray | Saluki Music | |
| Spectrum | Chris Mitchell Quintet | Justin Time | |
| New Horizons | Bernie Senesky Quintet | Timeless Records | |
| This Is How Men Cry | Marc Jordan | ||
| Now Hear This | Sam Noto Quintet | Supermono | |
| The Witches of Red Beard | Chris Mitchell | KOCH | |
| Now and Now Again | Maritime Jazz Orchestra | Justin Time | |
| Siren's Song | Maritime Jazz Orchestra | Justin Time | |
| Moment's Notice | Bill King and the Jazz Report All Stars | Radioland | |
| Live In Session | Liberty Silver | Radioland | |
| One Bright Morning | Tony Quarrington | ||
| Out on a Limb | Dave Hutchinson | Davrio Productions | |
| La Zona Blanca | Pat Beliveau | PABCO Music | |
| Manteca | Manteca | Ready Records | |
| Second Debut | Joe Coughlin | Innovation Records | |
| Sunflowers Light the Room | Howard Gladstone | ||
Compositions
As leader
SONGBOOK VOL. I (ADDO Jazz Recordings) New Piece Manhattan Getaway Moulage Calendula By Invitation Only Fleeting Goodbye Glenn
FAMILY SUITE (Romhog Records) Movement I Movement II Movement III Movement IV Movement V Movement VI Movement VII Movement VIII Movement IX Movement X Movement XI
PURE AND SIMPLE (Justin Time) New Piece Alicante Opal Essence Five By Five
NEW BEGINNINGS (Radioland) On The Sierra Nevada Starlight Lament For A Better Tomorrow Sideways Kirk's Blues Calendula New Beginnings
THE ATLANTIC SESSIONS (KOCH Jazz) The Mill Dam Kirk's Blues Monkie's Uncle 1000 West Two Night Stand
REMINISCENCE (Counterpoint) Reminiscence Advance Notice Moulage Deep Shadows Manhattan Getaway For Melvin Moon In Pisces Portrait Of Lucie
THE REVELLERS (Unity-Page) 224 Blues Forward Motion The Revellers Carnival
THE POWER OF BEAUTY (A Tribute To Stan Getz) (Various Artists) (Radioland) 517
Original compositions recorded by other artists
SIGNAL Andre White (Cornerstone) By Invitation Only Goodbye Glen
SHAPESHIFT Keiran Overs (Unity-Page) Moon In Pisces
THE WITCHES OF RED BEARD Chris Mitchell (KOCH-Jazz) The Buddy System You See But You Don't Hear
SPECTRUM Chris Mitchell (Justin Time) Vanda Justina Fleeting The Torch Bearers
LA DOLCE VITA New Berlin Chamber Ensemble (NBCE) Moulage
SECOND DEBUT Joe Coughlin (Innovation) Spring Lyric Waltz For A Libra Lady Seascape
UNDER A TREE Toronto Jazz Orchestra (TJO Records) Alicante (arranged by Mike Smith)
AWAKENING University of Toronto 10 O'Clock Jazz Orchestra (UTJ) Calendula (arranged by Terry Promane)
References
- "SOCAN Music Awards". International Musician. June 30, 2015.
- Rayner, Ben (March 15, 2015). "Juno Awards 2015: List of Saturday's winners". Toronto Star.
- "Archive 2015". East Coast Music Awards.
- "Kirk MacDonald – 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award". Toronto Musicians' Association. 3 July 2015.
- "LIST | 2012 Juno Award nominees". CBC News Entertainment. February 7, 2012.
- "JUNO Category of Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, 2010". Wreck House Jazz & Blues. March 5, 2010.
- Bowers, Jack (December 6, 2019). "Pat LaBarbera Kirk MacDonald Quintet: Trane Of Thought, Live At The Rex". All About Jazz.