Paul Read

Toronto has been home for most of my life. I spent a brief time living in Boston while going to school at Berklee College in the early 1970s. My career has been a mix of teaching, composing, arranging and performance (piano and saxophone). Now retired from academic life, I was Director of Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto and prior to that Director of Music at Humber College.

Influences are so varied a list is nearly pointless. I listen to and love music of a broad range of styles and genres. Mentors have been Gordon Delamont, Joe Viola, Clifford Poole, Pat LaBarbera, Jim McNeely and I have been strongly influenced by the piano playing of Herbie Hancock. And so many others (Chick, Keith). On saxophone I was obsessed with Trane for a long period of time (still am- who isn’t) and a long list of others. Early to mid French composers have much of my attention these days, Ravel, Debussy, Faure, Durufle, Dutilleux, Poulenc, Debussy, Jolivet. So, I said the list was pointless and it is. So I’ll stop realizing that I have mentioned 3% of whom I wish to.

I had my own 18 piece Jazz Orchestra (Paul Read Orchestra) in Toronto for a number of years and recorded one CD. Also I had a septet with Trish Colter (vocalist) for 20 years or so. I played piano and was her main arranger. That group included Pat LaBarbera, Chase Sanborn, Pat Collins, Kevin Dempsey along with Trish and me.

More info (if you need it)...www.paulread.ca

Paul Read’s tracks

• Suite No. 3 - Mvt 4 - Children's Song by Paul Read
• Out There by Paul Read
• Part 2 Celebration by Paul Read
• Part One - Prayer by Paul Read
• Adagio for Piano by Paul Read
• Too Pretty for Words by Paul Read
• Flute Sonata _ Movement 1 by Paul Read
• The Dance Never Ends by Paul Read
• Adagio For Piano by Paul Read
• Ballad For Mr G (Mockup) by Paul Read