Mike McClennan
Biography
MIKE McCLENNAN (bassist) was born in Calgary, Alberta, and is now one of of Toronto's busiest bass players. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree and Masters in Music Performance Degree from the University of Toronto.
In addition to leading his own chamber jazz group, McClennan has performed or recorded with many of Toronto's jazz artists and a number of international musicians. He is music director and arranger for vocalist Heather Bambrick, and co-produced two highly acclaimed albums, It’s About Time and Those Were the Days.
Michael was named the inaugural winner of the SOCAN/IAJE Emerging Composer, and was commissioned to compose a new work for big band. The resulting piece, "Love And Laughter," was premiered by the Jill Townsend Big Band at the 2007 International Association for Jazz Education Conference in New York City.
McLennan performed in three “Sound of Toronto Jazz” Concerts: as a member of the Maxine Willan Trio on January 25, 1999; with the David Braid Trio on March 12, 2001; and with Heather Bambrick and her Quartet on January 13, 2002.
As a composer/arranger, he has written works for big bands, orchestras, concert bands, film, choirs, and small ensembles. Michael McClennan is a dedicated active educator, currently on the faculty at Humber College.
McClennan has performed in a number of shows as part of the Stratford Festival.