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Jesse Capon

Who is Jesse Capon?

Jesse Capon is a musician based in Toronto, Ontario, in Canada. But that’s not all. Read on…

In the beginning

Born into a very musical household, Jesse had the good fortune to grow up surrounded by some of Canada’s most prominent and talented musicians, many of whom came to his home to play music with his father, notable trombonist and conductor John Capon. While still swinging on his swing set, Jesse got to listen to such legends as Reg Schwager, Laren Lofsky, Dave Field, Gary Williamson and Terry Lewquiski. The swing factor rubbed off: he now finds himself in the enviable position of working alongside many of these outstanding members of the Canadian music scene.

Early influences

Many of Jesse’s early memories are of his father’s HiFi system and substantial LP record collection. “We had childhood games that were more like blindfold tests, and he’d give us sing-along quizzes and ear-training exams,” says Jesse. “To this day, I will sometimes recall a curtain background vocal on a Stevie Wonder album, or a solo from a Mahler symphony that would have been part of what we listened to in those days.”

Jesse’s father also got his six-year-old son an audition with the St. Simons boys and men’s choir, led at that time by Dr. Derek Holman. “I think I was the youngest member of the choir ever. To this day, that chorus is one of Canada’s finest. That experience had a profound effect on me. The sound of the group and the camaraderie were wonderful! I loved contributing and being around the older boys. I was able to be apart of some fairly serious performances with that group. I was still just learning to read English, let alone music notation, so I became a good little memorizer. That was a fun year.”

Those childhood experiences were both grounding and liberating as a way to approach playing music, with the freshness and thirst for discovery of a child. “I learned in that fearless and natural way kids can. That’s how I connected to the magical world of music my father is a part of, and how I still approach my music as an adult professional.”

Getting serious about music

Jesse’s formal musical education began at the age of seven, after his family relocated to Gabriola Island, on the west coast of Canada. There he began piano lessons with his paternal grandmother. “They were intense lessons. I could sense what my grandmother wanted and really wanted to do well and meet her expectations,” says Jesse.

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Tags

Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Toronto

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

See Website www.jessecapon.ca

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

First Days

Unknown label
2009

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