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Vancouver based arranger/composer Jill
Townsend leads the Jill Townsend Big Band, a seventeen piece jazz
ensemble featuring Vancouver's finest jazz musicians.
As a trombonist, Jill has performed with many notable artists including
Kenny Wheeler, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles and Chuck Israels.
Originally from Nova Scotia, Jill came to Vancouver in 1995 with stops
in Toronto and Montreal. The Jill Townsend Big Band was established in
2000 as a vehicle to have her compositions and arrangements performed.
Since then, the band has released their premiere CD,
"Tales from the Sea", which has
received favourable attention in Canada, the US and Europe. The band was
nominated in 2006 for best "Large Jazz Ensemble" by the National Jazz
Awards.
The focus of the band is to present Canadian composers and arrangers,
and while the material is primarily provided by Jill Townsend and Bill
Coon, the music of Kenny Wheeler, Bill Mahar, Ross Taggart and Rick
Wilkins is also featured in the band’s repertoire.
Featured soloists include Campbell Ryga (alto,) Brad Turner (trpt), Ross
Taggart (tenor) and Dave Robbins (drums).
In addition, Jill has extensive experience as an adjudicator and
clinician. She will be the featured guest with The Seattle Women’s Jazz
Orchestra, who will be performing an evening of her music in the fall of
2006.
Jill has appeared with Hugh Fraser's Vegi Band, the Fred
Stride Jazz Orchestra, and while in Montreal, the Vic Vogel Big Band,
Streetnix and the Altsys Jazz Orchestra. She toured throughout eastern
Canada, France and Mexico with Streetnix, under the direction of
Jennifer Bell and Bill Mahar.
Jill studied arranging and composition with Kenny Wheeler,
Ian McDougall and Rob McConnell.
She studied trombone with Slide Hampton and as well, Jiggs Whigham in
Berlin, through the assistance of the Canada Council.
Photo credit
Brian Nation
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