Quarrington, Tony

Websites:  http://www.tonyquarrington.com/
Origin: Hamilton, Ontario
Biography:

I've been a guitarist and producer (in many styles) for years now, but in the last decade or so, I've happily been able to focus mainly on playing my original instrumental jazz. Besides recording work as a sideman, I've brought out two albums of my own music [available from Cordova Bay], which have been quite well-received. And late in 2002 CBC Records released my art-inspired hybrid jazz project, GROUP OF SEVEN SUITE, which features (among others) Jane Bunnett, Don Thompson, Jeff Bird of Cowboy Junkies, and Jane Siberry. (Sounds interesting, doesn't it?) 2003 saw two further recordings, a self-titled album by my trio SWING STREET, and a collaboration with veteran B-3 player Denis Keldie, called HAMMOND GRITS. I'm mainly active as a player around Toronto, and throughout Southern Ontario (though I do get a bit farther afield for festivals).

I've also been pleased to appear lately on some fine albums: the wonderful DELISHIUS by singer Adi Braun, SERIOUSLY HAPPY by Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra, and BLUE TURNING GRAY, a blues album by my old pal Chick Roberts, which I also produced. A highlight of this one was playing guitar duets with two of my favorite players, Amos Garrett and David Gogo.I also just participated, as guitarist and arranger ,on a Bee-produced project called '2 A.M. AT THE TORCH CAFE' for a remarkable singer called SERAFIN. This five-octave countertenor singer remakes 80's pop...REM, Cyndi Lauper ,Eurhythmics....into amazing jazz. I also did a guest turn on the new album by PORK BELLY FUTURES [which is the blues band of my famous writing brother Paul Quarrington.] I'm also working on my own next project, a solo guitar outing which will be called STRING THEORY. 2006 was a busy recording year, and 2007 will see the release of a live project with Kevin Breit, a live album with Denis Keldie, and new CDs with singer/guitarist George Grosman 'BLUE LULLABY', the Jazzophones 'TAIN'T WHAT YOU DO, the Hawaiianaires, and the Yiddish Swingtet 'SHUL DAYS' [the latter with some original klezmer/jazz tunes by yours truly!].

2006 saw me take part in several important events for JAZZ-FM, Canada's premiere jazz station. In January I played with fellow guitarists Reg Schwager, Lorne Lofsky, Jake Langley, Kevin Barrett, and Danny Marks in an extravaganza called STRINGS ATTACHED. My duet with Danny [on the Santo and Johnny classic SLEEPWALK] is now featured on the Warner Bros. release THE SOUND OF JAZZ : THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION. Then, in May, I joined Doug Riley, Neil Swainson, and Terry Clarke in the rhythm section of the JAZZ LIVES Convocation Hall Concert. Good times were had by all as we accompanied Swing Rosie, Peter Appleyard, Molly Johnson, Russ Little, Ben Sidran, and David Clayton-Thomas, among many others. And finally, in December, the Old Mill rang with the sounds of the Hammond B-3, as my old pal Denis Keldie led a quintet including Chris Plock, Kevin Clark, Howard Gaul, and myself. This will air in February sometime, and may become our new live album as well.

If you enjoyed the MP3 samples, please check out my CDs, at the Cordova Bay and CBC Websites. And if you enjoy these you might look for SWING STREET and HAMMOND GRITS at Sam The Record Man, Toronto, the JAZZ-FM e-site, and many other stores. Or, if you want to order either of these two independent releases through me, then please feel free to contact me at tonyquar@securenet.net. And do check out my various friends, associates,and mentors, under LINKS. Thanks for visiting!