Monday, May 3 - 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15 (at the NAC box office, or via Ticketmaster)
- Hugh O'Connor - sax
- Mark Ferguson - piano
- John Geggie - double bass
- Don Johnson - drums
and maybe some surprise guests...
After decades underpinning the Ottawa jazz scene, Hugh O'Connor releases his first CD, For the First Time.
Born in 1928, Hugh O’Connor remembers being knocked out by Coleman Hawkins’ famous version of Body and Soul, recorded in 1939. He began playing tenor in high school and was greatly influenced by Don Byas. O’Connor’s high school years coincided with the birth of bebop, the language of which issues fluently from his horn. Did he listen to Charlie Parker? You bet and from there began a 25-year stint with the Central Band of the Canadian Forces, during which he frequently travelled abroad. O’Connor remembers playing baritone sax in the band. There was little jazz to be had, but lots of time to develop his technique and reading ability. One member of that band was O’Connor’s long-time friend, Don Johnson, who plays drums on this CD.
Always there have been the jazz gigs, in a succession of Ottawa clubs, some more jazz-oriented than others. In the ’80s he was a frequent sideman with visiting American stars at the Chateau Laurier’s much-missed Cock and Lion club. Those in attendance noticed O’Connor more than holding his own beside such giants as Art Farmer, Jimmy Knepper and Ernestine Anderson.
For this CD, O’Connor chose his sidemen from among Ottawa's A-list. The fact that they were also old friends didn't hurt. "It helps to make better music together when you’re friends," he says. Those players are pianist Mark Ferguson, bassist John Geggie and drummer Don Johnson, who appears on five tracks
To say that the band went into the studio with no rehearsal is only technically correct. "I feel that we’ve been rehearsing for this recording for about 20 years," says Mark Ferguson. Besides that, adds Ferguson, "John and Don are such experienced professionals that they fit in beautifully with no need for rehearsal." "You don't hear Hugh play a lot of licks or extraneous notes. As you’ve probably noticed, Hugh has no interest in self-promotion and I’ve always felt that he’s been under-appreciated. I don’t think Hugh particularly cares about that. It’s all about the music for him."
More information on the CD: http://truenorthrecords.com/Albums.php?album_id=649
More information on the concert: http://nac-cna.ca/en/whatson/results.cfm?EventID=6319
National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage
53 Elgin Street
Ottawa