Mike Downes

Wesley Allen

Wesley Allen is a creative, and award-winning bassist, composer, and educator, from Toronto, Canada. He has played with world-famous Juno and Grammy-award winning artists such as: Kellylee Evans, Molly Johnson, Jackie Richardson, The New York Voices, Andrew Craig,…

JUNO nominated and National Jazz Award winning bassist Jodi Proznick has performed with many of the top Canadian and international jazz stars over the years and has been a featured jazz soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Jodi’s…

Paul Novotny

Bassist/composer/producer Paul Novotny has created Juno nominated and winning recordings for Carol Welsman, Joe Sealy and himself. Paul has performed with Cedar Walton, Joanne Brakeen, Junior Mance, Kenny Wheeler, Lynn Arriel and Geoff Keezer as well as with…

Rich Brown

Rich Brown has appeared on over forty recordings including his most recent as a leader entitled "Abeng." In 2012 and 2014 he was part of the faculty for the International Workshop in Jazz at the Banff Centre for…

Calvin Beale

Calvin Beale is an in demand Live/Studio bassist who lives in Toronto. Calvin has recorded on various Juno award winning/nominated albums. Calvin grew up playing country, blues and jazz but spends most of his time since moving to…

Pat Collins

Pat Collins moved to Toronto in 1988 and has been very active on the Canadian jazz scene ever since, performing with such luminaries as Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Henderson, Herb Ellis, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Cobb, Ed Bickert…

Neil Swainson

Neil Swainson has toured and recorded with George Shearing, Rob McConnell, Woody Shaw and many others. He has played on numerous recordings, five of which have won JUNO awards.

What are some important musical and other lessons you've…

Justin Gray

Justin Gray is a Toronto based bassist, composer, producer, and educator based in Toronto, Canada. His main influences include jazz, Indian classical and world music. Justin co-leads the Toronto based Indo-Jazz ensemble Monsoon, and contemporary jazz ensemble Gray…

Vaughan Misener

Vaughan Misener plays Electric Bass and writes music. He has done so in Boston, New York, Europe, Israel and Canada. Vaughan went to Berklee College of Music where he studied with Bruce Gertz and studied privately with Jeff…

Jon Maharaj

Jon is a bass player from Toronto. He has played / toured / recorded with The Tenors, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Dione Taylor, Kellylee Evans, Reg Schwager, Allison Au, Harley Card Amanda Tosoff, Eli Bennett and many others.  He has…

Roberto Occhipinti


Roberto Occhipinti has performed and recorded with a range of artists such as jazz legends Sam Rivers,Tito Puente,Jane Bunnett , popular music with Gorillaz,Andrea Bocelli, world music with Afel Bocoum and Jamey Haddad, and contemporary usic with Steve…

My next interview is with Canadian iconic bassist Alain Caron. I first heard Alain in Halifax in the 1980s with his group UZEB. That experience blew my mind and has been an inspiration to me to this day. He continues…