The Remarkable History of a Local Jazz Institution.
On Saturday, May 2, 2009, the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band, along with a hand-picked all-star alumni orchestra celebrated 25 years of great music making at Hamilton Place in a concert titled ’25 LIVE!’
Spin your mind back over 25 years. As the door was closing to one senior educational institution, a window of opportunity was opening. It would provide a chance for upcoming, talented young musicians from all over Hamilton to join together to play great music in a ‘big band’ setting reminiscent of the popular bands of the 40s.
In the spring of 1984, the idea for the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band (HASJB) was conceived by local music teacher and director, Russ Weil. Weil was teaching at Hamilton Collegiate Institute, an all-grade-13 school. With that school set to close down in June of 1984, Weil wanted to ensure that this high level artistic experience would carry on for the students in this part of Southern Ontario.
With humble beginnings, the experiment officially began in September of that same year.
Was this band any good? In order to prove themselves, HASJB began by achieving a gold standing at every competition they entered for the next 10 years, on a local and national level, despite a constant rotation of players in their ranks. In the spring of 1986, they were featured performers at EXPO 86 in Vancouver, playing 14 concerts at the Canada Pavilion before they won a national gold and several scholarships to the Berklee School of Music in Boston. With Russ Weil’s mentorship, the band performed like a professional ensemble every time. In the early 90s, HASJB received accolades and awards at jazz festivals in Ohio and New Hampshire, while working with some of the greatest musicians of the time including Clark Terry and James Moody.
But it seemed that North America wasn’t big enough for this gang. In 1994 they released their first CD, Cloud 9, and on its strength, they were invited to perform at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Since that time, they have released 7 more CDs with guest appearances by some of the world’s greatest jazz artists and toured Europe three more times, with encore performances at Montreux and additional concerts at major jazz festivals in Germany, Italy and France. In their travels they havedelivered Canadian culture to the hearts of European jazz fans by proudly presenting the best in Canadian jazz . In 2003, they were part of the opening of the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France where they offered a program of hits from the war years.
By 1995, the maestro had a new vision. How about another band for younger players to strut their stuff and grow into potential members of the existing All Star Band? The Hamilton Junior Jazz Band (for 12 to 15 year olds) was born. Then the trio was completed when the Hamilton Rising Stars Jazz Band (for 15 to 19 year olds) was added in 1997. The HASJB family, now unique in Canada, had become a seamless organization with its own farm system developing the talents of youth (from age 12 to 25).
So, all this growth created some issues with respect to space. What do you do with 60 musicians and all the instruments and sound equipment that goes with them? By 2001, they had to find their own home. Hamilton Councillor Murray Ferguson and the Ontario Trillium Foundation both believed strongly in the mission of the HASJB, and its well established record of success. Along with a new found partner, Theatre Ancaster, they created what is now the Old Fire Hall Arts Centre in the heart of Ancaster. The venue has become the home and main rehearsal facility for both groups, with several concerts held there each year, including an HASJB alumni jazz series.
Over the years, the band has performed for the Prime Minister, the Governor General and many visiting dignitaries. They were even featured at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the World Cycling Championships at Copps Coliseum.
Now, 25 years later, with over 600 young musicians having passed though the ranks of the HASJB family of bands, they boast of their success. Several JUNO award nominees and winners have come from Hamilton’s own HASJB. Worldwide, there are doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and many working professional musicians who celebrate a time of joy and music excellence that was once part of their lives.
