$20; Students, Seniors, Art Workers $15

A celebration of over forty years of contemporary music creation, this concert features performances by two ensembles lead by Mr. Stevenson. The Bob Stevenson Quartet (with Jonnie Bakan, alto saxophone, Mike Milligan, contrabass and Jeff Halischuk, drums) and Big Idea (an eleven piece ensemble featuring some of Toronto’s best improvisers and classical musicians) will perform new and recent work by Bob. These compositions combine, jazz, free improvisation and through composed music in fresh, innovative ways, creating composed, extemporized music that speaks in the time.

Bob Stevenson

Bob has been an active force in the music community as a player, conductor, composer and educator since the early 70s. Bob’s background is wide ranging and diverse, encompassing many forms including jazz, classical, new music, klezmer and free improvisation. He has performed regularly with a wide variety of ensembles including Arraymusic, New Music Concerts, Tapestry New Opera Works and the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band among many others. He also leads three groups. The Bob Standard, with guitarist Justin Haynes and bassist Victor Bateman, takes a fresh and experimental approach to the American songbook.

Big Idea is an eleven piece ensemble consisting of some of Toronto’s best classical and jazz players performing Bob’s original compositions. Safety In Numbers, with guitarist Chris Bezant and bassist Chris Kettlewell begins with the inspiration of Django Reinhardt to explore jazz music from the 20s to the present. He is also a member of Red Rhythm and has appeared on the recordings of many artists including Holly Cole, Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Arraymusic, New Music Concerts, Red Rhythm and Anthony Genge. Mr. Stevenson has also performed on many film and television soundtracks. As a composer Bob has been commissioned by choreographers Bill James, Maxine Heppner and Holly Small; performers Arraymusic, The Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan, Innovations En Concert, Stephen Clarke, the Modern Quartet and the Madawaska Quartet; and documentary film producers Laurent Productions and fission media.

Mr. Stevenson’s compositions are performed frequently both in Canada and internationally. He served as Artistic Director of the contemporary chamber music ensemble Arraymusic from 2005 – 2010 and was Artistic Director of the improvising new music big band Hemispheres from 1995-1998 as well as serving as its conductor from 1992. He served as guest lecturer in clarinet and composition at York University in Toronto and at the University of Edinborough, Scotland.