All Members – Past and Present
In Alphabetical Order:
Michael Craden (percussionist, painter, graphic artist) was born in 1941, passed away in 1982. He was best known for his work with Paul Horn & Nexus. In 1976, Paul Horn album “Altitude of the Sun”, 1976 Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass “Jazz Album”. He also played percussion on Moe Koffman’s, “Master Session” in 1973. Craden was especially creative when it came to improvisations on drums and “toys”. However, Craden’s real passion was graphic art, which brought him to the...
read moreJimmy Dale (Piano, organ, arranger, composer, conductor) born on October 23, 1935, London, England. He immigrated to Canada with his family in 1947 at the age of 11. He attended The Royal Conservatory of Music for two years where he was a pupil of pianist Alma Allen. He also studied music theory and music composition privately in Toronto with Gordon Delamont. Dale began his career playing in dance bands and pit orchestras in Toronto during the 1950s. In 1957 he joined Peter Appleyard’s newly formed jazz ensemble with whom he played and...
read moreBob Day (trumpeter, flugelhorn, composer) was born in Toronto on 27 Aug 1946, and passed away in Calgary 9 Sep 2007. The son of flutist Gordon Day, Bob Day studied trumpet 1961-8 with Don Johnson, attended the Berklee School of Music in 1966, and studied arranging and composition 1967-73 with Gordon Delamont in Toronto. He was a member of the National Youth Orchestra 1964-5. In New York, he studied trumpet 1968-72 with Carmine Caruso and in 1986 with Bob Brookmeyer. Bob also performed with Brookmeyer as a soloist at the 1984 Edmonton Jazz...
read moreAlex Dean (saxophones, clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe) was born in 1954. Renowned as one of Canada’s foremost jazz saxophonists, reedman Alex Dean has played and recorded with a who’s who of legendary musicians, bands, and ensembles during a stellar career as an award-winning musician, clinician, artistic director, and jazz educator. His playing credentials include work with Gil Evans, Kenny Wheeler, Mel Torme, Aretha Franklin Natalie Cole, Harry Connick Jr., Ray Charles, Pat Labarbera, Phil Nimmons and the Toronto Symphony. He...
read moreDave Dunlop (trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, piccolo) was born in 1955, London, Ontario, Canada. In 1975, he moved to Toronto to attend Humber College. Studying with Rainer Schmidt and don Johnson had a major impact onhis playing and helped prepare him for the long and varied career he established. His trumpet and flugelhorn have been heart around the world in many styles of music from Cuban to Gospel. Big bands have always been a big part of his career. He considers playing lead trumpet with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass a highlight of his...
read moreJerry Fuller (drummer) was born on April 5, 1939 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He passed away July 13, 2002 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He came from a musical family, his father Jerry was a saxophonist who led a big band at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary from 1937 through 1944. The family then moved to Vancouver and his dad became the leader at the Cave from 1944 into 1947. There Jerry, who had begun to take drum lessons in Calgary from Bruce Bristowe, his dad’s drummer, continued his studies with the noted drum teacher, Jim Blackley. It was...
read moreRon Hughes (trombone and bass trombone) has recorded nine albums (CD’s) with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass starting from 1976 through to 1998. Albums Recorded with The Boss Brass The Jazz Album ◄ (3 versions) Attic 1976 Big Band Jazz ◄ (2 versions) Umbrella (2) 1977 Present Perfect ◄ (2 versions) MPS Records 1980 Singers Unlimited, The With Rob McConnell And The Boss Brass* – The Singers Unlimited With Rob McConnell And The Boss Brass (LP, Album) Pausa Records 1980 Tribute (LP) Pausa Records, Pausa Records 1981 Live In...
read moreJohn Johnson (saxophone, flute, clarinet, piccolo and harmonica) a Toronto native, John studied music at Humber College and began his professional career in 1979. Within four years he established himself as a force on the Toronto music scene. John is a rare combination of musical sensitivity and technical ability. Able to play just about anything, he is highly respected Juno Award-winning artist. An adept recording session player in high demand, he is also a regular member of many popular bands. Johnson is equally at home playing the...
read moreJerry Johnson (trombonist, educator) was an exceptional Toronto musican and jazz educator who passed away in Stratford, Ontario, Canada on March 7, 2005. He was on the faculty of Humber College in Toronto for a number of years, played with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass for many years, recording 9 albums (CD’s) with the band. He was a member of the famed Phil Nimmons ‘n’ Nine Plus Six ensemble from the time it was formed until his passing. He was mainstay in pit-bands playing in Stratford Festival productions for many...
read moreAlastair Kay (trombonist) is widely recognized as one of Canada’s finest trombonists. Over the past three decades, he has performed with some fo the world’s best orchestras, entertainer, and jazz artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr., Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Phil Woods, Mel Torme, Renee Rosnes, diana Krall, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Bill Watrous and many others. He played lead trombone with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass for 15 years and guested with the Rob McConnell Tentet...
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