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Ed Bickert

Ed Bickert was born in Hochfeld, Manitoba on November 29th, 1932, and raised in Vernon, British Columbia. His early interest in guitar was in part influenced by his musical household (his mother and father played piano and guitar in country bands). He was self-taught, developing an interest in jazz harmony by studying and analyzing Stan Kenton records. Via radio broadcasts from the American West Coast, he heard and was influenced by Nat "King" Cole Trio guitarist Oscar Moore, Barney Kessel and Les Paul. In his early teens he gained experience by playing onstage with his parents.

In 1952 Ed moved to Toronto, working as a radio station engineer and playing after-hours jazz clubs on the side. Shy and retiring, he was slow to work himself into the Toronto jazz circuit, but by 1955 he was a regular club performer — and in 1957, he made his first studio recording date, appearing on Moe Koffman's fluke hit single Swinging Shepherd Blues.

In the 60s, Ed worked regularly with Koffman and other major figures of Canadian jazz. He was invited to be a founding member of Rob McConnell's Boss Brass in 1968 and has played with that unit ever since, as well as becoming increasingly in demand as a session guitarist.

In 1974, on the recommendation of the legendary Jim Hall, the equally legendary Paul Desmond sought out Ed to form a performing quartet, marking Desmond's return to the musical stage after an absence of seven years. Desmond, a jazz star who had seen the world and played with the best, was utterly blown away by Ed's playing, and determined to record with him; this marked Ed's first session for an American label, with consequent wider exposure. During the next three years [Desmond's last], the Desmond-Bickert quartet performed frequently, and many of these gigs were recorded. (Lucky for us! Paul and Ed brought out the best in each other, and their records together constitute a high-water mark in jazz.) In 1979, Ed recorded a duo album with his fellow Desmond Quartet alumnus Don Thompson — the album won the 1980 Juno Award for Best Jazz Recording of the Year.

In the 80s, Ed continued to work regularly with Koffman and McConnell. Furthermore, he signed with Concord Jazz Records, which meant even greater exposure in the States. For Concord, he frequently backed up Rosemary Clooney, toured with the Concord Jazz All-Stars, and [finally] began to record as a session leader on a regular basis. In 1983, Ed also became co-leader of a dual-guitar quartet with Lorne Lofsky, an arrangement that lasted a full ten years.

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6
Album Review

The Rob McConnell Sextet: Old Friends / New Music

Read "Old Friends / New Music" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Rob McConnell was a valve trombonist, arranger, composer and leader of the big band called the Boss Brass, which set a new standard for jazz writing through the use of complex passages and close section harmony, and in 1983 won a Grammy. In this digital-only release by Cornerstone Records, McConnell leads a sextet comprised of Guido Basso on trumpet/flugelhorn, Rick Wilkins on tenor sax, Ed Bickert on guitar, Steve Wallace on bass and Terry Clarke on drums in a session ...

15
Album Review

Paul Desmond: The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings

Read "The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Even if he had never played another note following the break-up of the Dave Brubeck group in 1967, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond would have entered the history books as one of music's most brilliant improvisers. During his 17 years with Brubeck, Desmond proved himself to be an indispensable part of that quartet with a wistful and witty sound that he himself described as akin to a “dry martini." Fortunately, Desmond continued to add to his legacy starting in ...

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Video / DVD

More From The Late Ed Bickert With Paul Desmond

More From  The Late Ed Bickert With Paul Desmond

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Following yesterday’s announcement about the loss of the brilliant Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert, here is a piece from the 1975 Paul Desmond Quartet album Live, recorded at Bourbon Street in Toronto in 1975. We hear Bickert and Desmond with bassist Don Thompson and drummer Jerry Fuller. They play Desmond’s composition “Wendy." Desmond based “Wendy” on the chord structure of one of his favorite ballads, “For All We Know.” He named the piece for a woman who was a romantic interest. ...

Obituary

Ed Bickert (1932-2019)

Ed Bickert (1932-2019)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Ed Bickert, a Canadian jazz guitarist whose highly tasteful chord voicings and juicy sense of harmony made him a first-choice gig and recording sideman and leader in Toronto, and who today is considered one of jazz's finest guitar accompanists, died on February 28. He was 86. Bickert was a favorite of guitarist Jim Hall and was most likely introduced to him by Canadian bassist Don Thompson, who worked with Jim since 1974. In the 1980s, when Jane Hall, Jim's wife, ...

Obituary

Ed Bickert, 1932-2019

Ed Bickert, 1932-2019

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

One of Canada’s finest musicians, guitarist Ed Bickert, died on Thursday. He was 86. He was quiet and reserved, but the rich harmonies in Bickert’s playing captivated listeners and fellow musicians alike. Alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, with whom Bickert performed and recorded in the 1970s, wrote in the notes for one of his albums that he sometimes turned around on the bandstand to ”count the strings on Ed’s guitar … how does he get to play chorus after chorus of ...

1

Music Industry

Ed Bickert: Canada's Secret

Ed Bickert: Canada's Secret

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Canadian jazz artists don't get enough respect. American fans swoon over Belgians (Bobby Jaspar), French (Martial Solal), British (Tubby Hayes) and even Argentines (Gato Barbieri). But when it comes to Canada, many jazz fans yawn, viewing them as doppelgängers at best, or pale comparisons to U.S. jazz musicians. The problem has always been that Canadian jazz never really developed champions in the States. Unlike the others mentioned above, there's nothing exotic about a Canadian artist. No funny accents, little in the ...

Event

Ed Bickert At 80: A Jazz Celebration

Ed Bickert At 80:  A Jazz Celebration

Source: LMC Media

Jennifer “Red" Thorpe Presents “Ed Bickert at 80 - A Jazz Celebration" Hosted by Noted Jazz Broadcaster Katie Malloch Featuring: Terry Clarke, Barry Elmes, Oliver Gannon, Jake Langley, Lorne Lofsky, Mike Murley, Chris Norley, David Occhipinti, Michael Occhipinti, Reg Schwager, Neil Swainson, Don Thompson, Kevin Turcotte, Steve Wallace and Ted Quinlan TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6th at 7:00 PM The GLENN GOULD STUDIO CBC Building 250 Front Street Toronto, Ontario - Canada ...

Ben Bishop
guitar, electric
Christian Doering
guitar, electric
LJ Folk
guitar and vocals
Andy Brown
guitar
Jay Reed
guitar
Ken Krueger
guitar
Kerilie McDowall
guitar, electric

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Old Friends / New...

Cornerstone Records Inc.
2023

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The Complete 1975...

Mosaic Records
2020

buy

Out of the Past

Unknown label
2006

buy

Different Voices

Cornerstone Records Inc.
1997

buy

East West

Cornerstone Records Inc.
1993

buy

Live At The 1990...

CMP Records
1991

buy

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