The Phoenix Jazz Group
The Phoenix Jazz Group performs original acoustic mainstream jazz in a contemporary vein, acknowledging the great traditions in jazz that have gone before it. The spirit of improvisation, so inherent in the great jazz tradition, is alive and well within the PJG as it spreads its jazz message through club and festival appearances as well as music clinics and jazz workshop performances in schools and for community organizations.
- John McLelland, Keyboards, has performed with many of Canada's jazz notables including singers Trish Colter, Carol Wellsman, Heather Bambrick and instrumentalists Phil Nimmons, Rick Wilkins, Peter Appleyard, Dave McMurdo, Ted Warren, Duncan Hopkins and Mike Malone as well as American "jazzers" Louis Smith and Mike Grace. He was an instrumental music teacher at the secondary level for 30 years, many of them at Bluevale Collegiate in Waterloo, Ontario where his jazz ensembles garnered many gold awards at both the regional and national levels. He received the Stewart Award for teaching excellence in Waterloo Region in 2007. John has run successful jazz workshops for community organizations, teacher professional development days, and adjudicated at several music festivals. He has been on the jazz faculty of the Southhampton Art School Summer Jazz Workshop for the past 10 years. He holds Bachelor of Music (Honors) and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Western Ontario. Back
- Art Lang, Double Bass, is a visitor to both the classical and jazz music worlds. He is currently a member of Symphony Hamilton, the Wellington Winds, the Can-Am orchestra and numerous jazz groups performing a range of styles from swing music to "free" jazz. He leads his own group, The Artetrio, and is a founding member of the Phoenix Jazz Group. Past experiences include many years as Music Administrator at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival as well as teaching instrumental music to students and organizing and performing in-school 1-hour music workshops for students of all ages. Back
- Nick Macerollo, Drums, has been a member of the Toronto Musicians Association since 1980. He has 30 years performing experience as a drummer for numerous pop-rock, blues and R&B groups as well as countless jobbing dates in Southern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Nick has performed with such musical notables as Ron Allen, Joe Sealy, Ralph Bowen, Mike Grace, Mike Malone, Steve Kennedy, Bo Diddley and James Cotton. Literally hundreds of students have studied the percussive arts with Nick over his 30 years as a private drum instructor. Back
- Andy Klaehn, Saxophone, is a dynamic multi-talented, professional musician, bandleader, and master teacher. He is a highly sought after soprano, alto and tenor sax player as well as a flute and clarinet player performing with various artists in a wide array of collaborations from duos to sextets. Andy is an active member of the Faculty of Music at the University of Guelph as well as a woodwind teacher in local private studios. In addition to teaching Andy also maintains a busy performance schedule in the live music scene. Back
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