Rob McConnell Born in London, Ontario, McConnell took up the valve trombone in high school and began his performing career in the early 50’s performing with saxophonist Don Thompson Edmonton, Bobby Gimby and fellow Canadian Maynard Ferguson. He also studied arranging and composition with Gordon Delamont. In 1968, Rob formed The Boss Brass, a big band that would become his primary performing and recording unit through the 1970’s and...
Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass - Canada's Own!
Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass - A Legendary, World-Class Big Band from Toronto, Canada
Al Stanwyck ( trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, piccolo trumpet) was born in 1939, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He went to school in Barrie, Ontario where he was taught by W.A. Fisher continuing his studies later in Toronto. Stanwyck was just 18 when he went on the road with the great Lionel Hampton. He followed that with stints with The Glenn Miller Band (led by Ray...
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George Stimpson (french horn) was born in Mobile, Alabama October 4, 1948; I grew up in rural Alabama developing a feel for nature. Having 2 sisters and a brother close in age, we could always play ball or build a fort in the woods by the house. We swam in Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to escape the oppressive Southern heat. “Even after hearing my sister play...
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Reg Schwager (guitarist) was born in 1962, Leiden, The Netherlands. He is today, and has been for many years, one of Canada’s leading jazz guitarists. When he was three years old, his family moved from Holland to New Zealand where he studied Suzuki violin. when he was six, his family moved again, this time to Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. There he took music lessons in...
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Don Thompson (bass, piano, vibraphone, composer, arranger, producer, educator) was born in 1940, in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. After taking piano lessons as a young child, he took up the string bass and vibraphone in his teens, all instruments on which he is basically self-taught. He moved to Vancouver in 1960 and began his career as a professional musician,...
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