WELCOME TO FOUR ON THE FOUR: A BLOG ABOUT JAZZ DRUMMING AND ALL THINGS UNRELATED, BROUGHT TO YOU BY JON McCASLIN
Monday, October 20, 2014
Eddie Gladden with Dexter Gordon
Thanks to Bill Steiger for passing along these wonderful and BURNING clips of the underrated Eddie Gladden from a 1979 North Sea Jazz Festival featuring Dexter Gordon, Kirk Lightsey and Rufus Reid:
He was Great!! Eddie Gladden Personaly Introduced Me To one of my favorite Jazz Greats Mr James Moody on a Saturday afternoon at The San Francisco Pub in East Orange. I Worked There on weekends. As The Owner Dave a Great friend of mine Had Jazz at the Pub. Eddie was Part of The Jack Onque Trio who were the featured Regular Trio there Featuring Jack Onque, John Lightfoot, Eddie Gladden and Carmen McCrae's Nephew Great percussionist Lawrence Killian. They knew Phroah Saunders was my Favorite Jazz Artist and Dave and The Trio had Him There as a surprise for me. They were the Greatest Guys. Lawrence Killian set it up for me to meet Pharoah Saunders. It was one of the best days of my life. Pharoah played with Jack, Eddie, John, and Lawrence. Also There I met Mr Imaru Baraka, and Nathan Heard Arthur of the book " Howard Street" Mr Pharoah Saunders is a Wonderful Artis and Human Being. He personally Talked to my Brother, Sister and Sister In Law and I during session break. The Creator Has A Plan was regularly done by Eddie Gladden, Jack Onque, Lawrence Killian and John Lightfoot. I Miss Them. RIP Eddie Gladden a Great Musician and Great Humanitarian. Thanks Dave and Brenda for Having The Jack Onque Trio at The East Orange San Francisco Pub. Thank You Lawrence Killian. You Guys were the Best!!!
This is a blog about jazz, jazz drumming and all things unrelated. Thanks for stopping by!
A Bit About Me...
Jonathan McCaslin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. Jonathan began playing the drums at the age of nine. He progressed through the Regina Lions Junior Band and the music program at his high school, Campbell Collegiate, soon developing a passion for playing the drums and jazz. Ultimately, Jon's interest in music led him to enroll in the Jazz Studies program at McGill University, graduating with distinction in 1999.
While at McGill Jon had the opportunity to study with some of the finest jazz educators in the country including Gordon Foote, Kevin Dean, Jan Jarcyzk, Chris McCann, Andre White, Michel Lambert and Dave Laing. He also attended the prestigious summer jazz workshop presented by the Banff Centre for the Arts in 1997, where he performed with Canadian jazz greats Hugh Fraser, Don Thompson and Kenny Wheeler.
Jon has also been fortunate to have performed with many of Canada's jazz elite including Charlie Biddle, Brian Hurley, Louise Rose, Alaister Kay, Mart Kinny, Gary Guthman, Mike Rud, Hadley Caliman, Greg Clayton, Chase Sanborn, Andre White, Tilden Webb, John LaBelle, Kevin Dean, Dave Turner, Ralph Bowen, Don Thompson, Dionne Taylor, Jim Vivian, Kelly Jefferson, Ian McDougall, Brad Turner, Jim Brenan, The McGill Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Johnston, Lorraine Desmerais, Steve Amirault, Hugh Fraser, Chucho Valdes, Kieran Overs, The Altsys Jazz Orchestra, Pat LaBarbera, The Regina Symphony Orchestra and The Montreal Jazz Big Band.
In the spring of 2002 McCaslin completed his Master's in Jazz Studies at McGill University where he studied jazz drumming, improvisation and composition.
In January 2003 Jon released his debut CD, “McCallum’s Island”. Featuring his quintet, the CD contains an exciting collection of McCaslin’s original compositions, featuring himself and his band. The release of this CD was followed by a twenty-day tour of Western Canada, performing to enthusiastic, capacity audiences. During March of 2003 Jonathan was the recipient of a fellowship from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and attended the “Betty Carter Jazz Ahead” residency in Washington, D.C. Along with twenty other distinguished young jazz artists, McCaslin was featured with such jazz icons as Terence Blanchard, Carmen Lundy, Winard Harper, Curtis Fuller and John Clayton.
McCaslin’s quintet performed at the 2003 edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and was nominated for the General Motors Grand Prix du Festival (awarded to the most outstanding Canadian group). From 2004 until 2006, Jon toured North America, Asia and Europe with the high-energy, critically acclaimed music production troupe “Barrage”. Featuring a cast of seven world-class fiddlers and a four-piece band, this dynamic show featured high-energy music and fiddle traditions from around the world set to upbeat choreography and movement.
In 2015, Dr. McCaslin received his Doctorate through the University of Toronto and completed his dissertation on the conceptualization of contemporary melodic jazz drumming. He is currently based in Calgary, Alberta where he maintains a busy performing and teaching schedule across Canada.
Looks like Eddie passed away in '03 at 66. A shame, too young.
ReplyDeleteHe was Great!! Eddie Gladden Personaly Introduced Me To one of my favorite Jazz Greats Mr James Moody on a Saturday afternoon at The San Francisco Pub in East Orange. I Worked There on weekends. As The Owner Dave a Great friend of mine Had Jazz at the Pub. Eddie was Part of The Jack Onque Trio who were the featured Regular Trio there Featuring Jack Onque, John Lightfoot, Eddie Gladden and Carmen McCrae's Nephew Great percussionist Lawrence Killian. They knew Phroah Saunders was my Favorite Jazz Artist and Dave and The Trio had Him There as a surprise for me. They were the Greatest Guys. Lawrence Killian set it up for me to meet Pharoah Saunders. It was one of the best days of my life.
ReplyDeletePharoah played with Jack, Eddie, John, and Lawrence. Also There I met Mr Imaru Baraka, and Nathan Heard Arthur of the book " Howard Street" Mr Pharoah Saunders is a Wonderful Artis and Human Being. He personally Talked to my Brother, Sister and Sister In Law and I during session break. The Creator Has A Plan was regularly done by Eddie Gladden, Jack Onque, Lawrence Killian and John Lightfoot. I Miss Them. RIP Eddie Gladden a Great Musician and Great Humanitarian. Thanks Dave and Brenda for Having The Jack Onque Trio at The East Orange San Francisco Pub. Thank You Lawrence Killian. You Guys were the Best!!!
All - My father was Lawrence Killian and he passed away from COVID this morning.
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