DICK FELIX (bassist) was born on December 31, 1941. The Toronto-based musician has more than three decades’ experience as a professional musician performing in a wide variety of musical styles, but focusing primarily on jazz. Throughout the years he has worked with many world-renowned musicians, performed live at all of Toronto’s top jazz venues, and appeared at major jazz festivals and on tour all across Canada.

For 18 years, Felix was the featured bassist with the Bob Fenton Trio, the house band backing hundreds of Toronto and visiting artists at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival after-hours club, including Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, Russell Malone, James Carter, and Shirley Horn. He was a member of the Del Dako Quartet from 1991 to 1996 and appeared on their 1991 CD release. As a student of the great bassist Dave Holland, he has both produced and performed on numerous Holland CDs including three which include original Dick Felix compositions.

He was co-leader of The Forth Inversion jazz quintet which was active for many years recording and performing frequently in clubs and on concert stages all over Toronto. Felix was the featured bassist with The Forth Inversion (with Perry White on saxophone, Bob Fenton on piano, and Daniel Barnes playing drums) when they performed during the “Sound of Toronto Jazz” Concert Series at the Ontario Science Centre on November 17, 1986. He appeared in the series again on February 7, 1994 as a member of the Connie Maynard Trio.

Dick Felix currently leads his own band featuring saxophonist Pat LaBarbera and guitarist Dan Ionescu, performing for various events throughout Toronto.

Awards

1984 – was awarded a Canada Council grant to study with bassist Dave Holland

1984 – was awarded a scholarship to attend the Banff School of Fine Arts

plays

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