Warren Chiasson

Warren Chiasson is a highly regarded musician in the jazz world who has been called “one of the six top vibraphonists of the last half century” by the New York Times.

Originally a member of the George Shearing George Shearing
1919 - 2011
piano Quintet, he has emerged as his own man with a distinctive four-mallet technique that he weaves into a percussive, melodic style.

Prior to forming his own group, Chiasson was for many years best known for his creative contributions to the Chet Baker Chet Baker
1929 - 1988
trumpet Quartet, the Tal Farlow Tal Farlow
1921 - 1998
guitar Trio, and jazz/pop diva Roberta Flack. In addition to recording his own albums, he has played on over 100 recordings with such artists as Eric Dolphy, Bill Dixon Bill Dixon
1925 - 2010
trumpet , Hank Crawford Hank Crawford
1934 - 2009
sax, alto and was featured on a Grammy Award winning album with B.B. King B.B. King
b.1925
guitar, electric .

His own albums include Quartessence, Good Vibes for Kurt Weill (which was selected as a Billboard Pick of the Week), and Point Counterpoint with guitarist Chuck Wayne Chuck Wayne
b.1923
guitar, electric .

Chiasson, a self-taught musician, was born in the tiny French Acadian fishing village of Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, and grew up in the rich, joyous culture of Cape Breton folk music. His family moved to the larger town of Sydney and his formal musical training began at age nine with classical violin lessons. By thirteen he was playing sessions with noted Scottish fiddlers of the day, performing at dances, stage shows and radio shows. Later, he played the trombone in high school.

When Chiasson was fifteen, he was profoundly inspired by a George Shearing recording of “I'll Remember April” which led him to study modern jazz. He listened to the records of Shearing, Charlie Parker Charlie Parker
1920 - 1955
sax, alto , Lennie Tristano Lennie Tristano
1919 - 1978
piano , and Duke Ellington, practicing late into the night and memorizing their solos on the piano and guitar.

But the seeds of his career were not sown until he entered St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and bought a small xylophone after seeing Lionel Hampton Lionel Hampton
1908 - 2002
vibraphone perform in his home town. Once he started practicing this instrument he decided immediately to make music his career somehow. He left college and enlisted as a trombone player in the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, all the while practicing the vibes over eight hours a day.

Finally, his jazz studies paid off during a trip to New York, when a chance meeting with a promoter led to a vibraphone audition with The George Shearing Quintet. A week later he was part of the quintet, touring the world and playing opposite the likes of Dave Brubeck Dave Brubeck
1920 - 2012
piano and The Modern Jazz Quartet.

Since then Chiasson has collaborated with some of the finest musicians in jazz including Paul Bley Paul Bley
b.1932
piano , Ron Carter Ron Carter
b.1937
bass , Sir Roland Hanna Sir Roland Hanna
1932 - 2002
piano and the late Jimmy Garrison Jimmy Garrison
1934 - 1976
bass, acoustic from the original John Coltrane John Coltrane
1926 - 1967
saxophone Quintet. In the late ’60s and early ’70s, the Warren Chiasson/Jimmy Garrison Duo played regularly at Gregory's in New York City, while Chiasson also hosted a weekly jam session at the Signs of the Zodiac in Harlem. Regulars guests included Charlie Haden Charlie Haden
b.1937
bass, acoustic , Lee Konitz, Joe Farrell Joe Farrell
1937 - 1986
saxophone , Wilbur Ware Wilbur Ware
1923 - 1979
bass, acoustic and Joe Chambers Joe Chambers
b.1942
drums .

Today, Chiasson is actively involved in jazz education and continues to travel extensively, performing at concerts and festivals. Recently, at the 20th anniversaryof the Atlantic Jazz Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chiasson was honored for his creative contributions to jazz and for being the first musician from eastern Canada to forge an international jazz career, thereby paving the way for others to follow. The concert was recorded by CBC RADIO for national air play.