The Best Damn Band in the Land!
by Andy Sparling
by Andy Sparling
No Canadian band had ever done it.
In 1984, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass won both a Grammy AND a JUNO award for "Best Big Jazz Band." It proved that Canadian jazz musicians were as good as any in New York, Los Angeles or anywhere else.
In 1984, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass won both a Grammy AND a JUNO award for "Best Big Jazz Band." It proved that Canadian jazz musicians were as good as any in New York, Los Angeles or anywhere else.
McConnell and the Boss Brass earned two other Grammys, and an incredible total of 17 nominations - not too mention three JUNOS north of the border in 1978, 1981, and 1984. Established in 1968, the band would present Canada's finest jazz musicians to the world for the next thirty years. McConnell was routinely described by his musicians as a funny, demanding and difficult-to-work-with perfectionist. But they all agree his strong leadership produced a band that was the best in the world, and one they felt truly privileged to be part of.
In 2012, the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival staged a tribute concert at Picton's Regent Theatre. All of the musicians had performed with the Boss Brass at one time or another. In the months before the concert, I conducted interviews with them that I edited together on a CD and distributed to the members of the band. They are being published here for the first time.
In 2012, the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival staged a tribute concert at Picton's Regent Theatre. All of the musicians had performed with the Boss Brass at one time or another. In the months before the concert, I conducted interviews with them that I edited together on a CD and distributed to the members of the band. They are being published here for the first time.
Guido Basso
"...Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, and Woody Herman were lined up waiting to see us..."
photo courtesy Brian O'Kane
"...Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, and Woody Herman were lined up waiting to see us..."
photo courtesy Brian O'Kane
Rick Wilkins
"Demanding, challenging, thrilling, and fun. "
John Macleod
"We were all hoping Rob wouldn't blow up!"
December 1983
photo courtesy
Barb McDougall
Back row (l to r) Ed Bickert, Steve Wallace, James Dale, Dave Woods, Erich Traugott, Arnie Chycoski, Guido Basso, John Macleod, Terry Clarke, Brian Barlow (Leonard) Saxes: (bottom to top) Eugene Amaro, Jerry Toth, Moe Koffman, Rick Wilkins, Bob Leonard Trombones: (bottom to top) Dave McMurdo, Ian McDougall, Bob Livingston, Ron "Grump" Hughes French horns: George Stimpson, James MacDonald. Middle: Rob McConnell
Brian Barlow
"To be in that band was the realization of a dream."
"To be in that band was the realization of a dream."
Ed Bickert (deceased 2019)
"It was thrilling when the band was taking care of business. But it was not easy under Rob."
James MacDonald
"As a French horn player...playing in the Boss Brass was an extraordinary boost and enrichment to my career."
Last club gig for the Boss Brass at the Old Mill in Toronto, 2008
courtesy
Don Vickery
Russ Little
"You could play anywhere if you played in the Boss Brass."
"You could play anywhere if you played in the Boss Brass."
Vern Dorge
"I looked away for a minute, and there he was, on the ground."
Rob McConnell
1935 - 2010
Old Mill 2008
photo courtesy Brian O'Kane
Blair Yarranton
As an impressionable teenaged trumpeter, Blair made a trip to Toronto see the BB. It didn't exactly turn out the way he wanted.