Trumpet virtuoso JOHN MacLEOD’s impeccable credentials in nearly every aspect of the music industry have been firmly established in a distinguished career spanning over 40 years on the Canadian music scene as a player (trumpet, flugelhorn), composer, arranger, and conductor. His first major national and international exposure was as a soloist with Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, beginning in 1983. His playing can be heard on many Spitfire Band and Boss Brass albums including 2 Grammy Award winners.
John’s other playing experience to date includes all forms of jazz performance, live theatre, and studio recording for film, television. and radio. As a composer and arranger he has scored music for everything from string quartets to full symphonic orchestra. His big band arrangements can be found in the repertoires of professional and student groups all over Canada, the U.S.A., Europe, and Asia.
He has also completed several orchestral programs including ‘Coronation of a King’ for Bob DeAngelis which he has conducted at Roy Thomson Hall and the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. Since 2003 he has led his own 20-piece jazz big band, The Rex Hotel Orchestra, which performs monthly at the Rex Jazz Club in Toronto. Their first CD, Our First Set, received a JUNO award in 2011, and their third CD, The Toronto Sound, was released at a live broadcast performance for JAZZ.FM91 at the Old Mill in 2017. John MacLeod is also active as an educator, teaching at both the University of Toronto and Humber College.
Tonight’s performance of JOHN MacLEOD and FRIENDS features ADREAN FARRUGIA (piano), COLLEEN ALLEN (saxophones, flute), and TED WARREN(drums), entertaining in the up-close-and-personal ambience of the Home Smith Bar.