Brian Dickinson
Biography
BRIAN DICKINSON (pianist, arranger, composer, author, educator) was born October 17, 1961 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He arrived on the Toronto scene in 1979 and has remained active in Toronto venues ever since performing with the crème de la crème of the jazz world including Pat LaBarbera, Kenny Wheeler, Jerry Bergonzi, Kirk MacDonald, Randy Brecker, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Michael Becker, Dave Holland, Kieran Overs, Maria Schneider, Steve Gadd, and Sonny Fortune.
Now head of the keyboard department at Toronto’s Humber College, Dickinson is a graduate of the Humber Music Program and holds a Masters in Music (with distinction) degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston. In addition, he has studied with Richie Beirach, Andy Laverne and Paul Bley. He is also the author of a respected book on ear training, entitled The Ears Have Walls.
As a leader, Dickinson has released a number of records including the Juno Award-winning In Transition. In 2005, he released The Glenn Gould Sessions, in which he performs in a duo setting with alto saxophonist Lee Konitz. The release Soul Mission features Dickinson in a quartet setting with saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi. Brian released a duo recording with guitarist Ted Quinlan in 2010 entitled, Around the Bend. His 2012 recording Other Places, which also features a quartet with Jerry Bergonzi was nominated for a JUNO award in 2013.
Brian can also be heard as a sideman on many notable Canadian jazz recordings and has toured extensively throughout North America and the Far East. He remains an important player in clubs and on concert stages across Canada.
Dickinson and guitarist released the duo album, Around the Bend, in 2011 on Addo Records. In addition to compositions by both artists, the album features songs by Thelonious Monk and Alex North.
In 2014, Dickinson released Fishs Eddy on ADDO Records. The album features bassist George Mraz and drummer Eathan Ardelli. The album was nominated for JUNO in 2015.
Awards:
1991 - JUNO Award for 'Best Jazz Recording' for In Transition
1993 - Named "Composer of the Year" by Jazz Report Magazine
2013 - JUNO nomination for 'Traditional Jazz Album' for Other Places featuring Jerry Bergonzi
2015 - JUNO nomination for 'Jazz Album of the Year, by a Group' for Fishs Eddy
Brian Dickinson is a two-time Juno Award winner. and was awarded the Montreal Jazz Festival’s Prix de Jazz du Montreal.
