Ken is a hard hitting bassist and an evocative composer. Born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Ken’s musical career came to life when he moved to Toronto and started studying at York University, where he completed his BFA in 2007 and his MA in 2010. During that time Ken studied privately with Artie Roth, Roy Patterson, David Mott, Larry Grenadier and Andrew Downing. In 2008 released his debut album, “The Master Plan” which was followed by an Eastern Canada tour in 2009. In February of 2011 Ken released release his second CD as a leader, entitled “Pay What You Can” which has reached critical acclaim and lead to an Ontario tour. Ken also is a busy sideman, playing frequently with Half Beat Mishap, Swamp Groove, Dave Clark’s Woodshed Orchestra, Shelly O’Brien, Courtney Quebec, Rocger Chong, Andy De Campos, Camden Blues, The Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra and Lilly Mason. Ken has also performed at several festivals including the Toronto International Jazz Festival, Markham Jazz Festival, Thornhill Summer Festival, St. Catherine’s In The Soil Festival and the Nuit Blanche festivals in both Toronto and Montreal.
From WholeNote Magazine (July/August 2011)
by Geoff Chapman
The next shows bassist Ken McDonald making big strides with his second album as leader Ken McDonald Quartet – Pay What
You Can (www.kenmcdonaldjazz.com) that features saxist Paul Metcalfe, guitarist Demetri Petslakis and drummer Lowell
Whitty. He’s composed six thoughtful originals that are performed with energy and confident flair, for starters Detroit which
especially shows off his strings agility and bright-toned Metcalfe’s rich vein of ideas. Beyond it are smart and subtle creations
that let bandsmen expand their horizons and conjure up novel, sometimes striking, jazz – it’s a pity there’s just 39 minutes of
it.
Primary Instrument
Bass, acoustic
Location
Toronto
Credentials/Background
Ken is a very busy and active music instructor. He works out of the Long and McQuade Music Education Center in North York (Toronto, Ontario) where he teaches private guitar, double bass and electric bass lessons, along with leading group classes such as Rock Skool, Heavy Metal Workshop and Jazz School. Alongside that he has also taught the folk guitar course at York University. Ken also teaches out of his home and is willing to travel to students homes in the North York/Scarborough/Downtown areas of Toronto.
He is comfortable working with all age groups and is willing to take on various levels of skill on all three instruments, from absolute beginner to longtime hobbyists and up-and-coming professionals
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Primary Instrument
Bass, acoustic
Location
Toronto
Credentials/Background
Ken is a very busy and active music instructor. He works out of the Long and McQuade Music Education Center in North York (Toronto, Ontario) where he teaches private guitar, double bass and electric bass lessons, along with leading group classes such as Rock Skool, Heavy Metal Workshop and Jazz School. Alongside that he has also taught the folk guitar course at York University. Ken also teaches out of his home and is willing to travel to students homes in the North York/Scarborough/Downtown areas of Toronto.
He is comfortable working with all age groups and is willing to take on various levels of skill on all three instruments, from absolute beginner to longtime hobbyists and up-and-coming professionals. For more information contact Ken a kenmcdmusic(at)gmail(dot)com
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