Canadian Brass

The Canadian Brass are a brass quintet founded by Charles Daellenbach and Gene Watts in 1970. In addition to maintaining a heavy international touring schedule, the Canadian Brass have recorded over eighty CDs and DVDs. They have commissioned, performed, and recorded hundreds of transcriptions and original works for brass quintet. Named the "world's leading brass ensemble" by "The Washington Post" and credited as "the men who put brass music on the map", they are best known for their ability to seamlessly cross between classical and jazz styles. The Canadian Brass are also known for their unique performance attire, consisting of black suits coupled with white athletic shoes.

The Canadian Brass made its American debut at Washington's Kennedy Center in 1975. They were put on the international map in 1977 when they were sent to Mainland China in a cultural exchange between Canada and China. Being the first Western musicians allowed into China after the "Cultural Revolution" had totally subverted Western art music, they are credited with the restart of China's incrdible arts involvement.

In 1979 Canadian Brass again revolutionized so-called chamber music by being the first chamber ensemble to solo the manificent and historically significant main stage at Carnegie Hall. As the New York Times reported, their sold-out performance "clearly establishes the Canadian Brass as a main-stage production." While dominating the concert scene for over thirty years, the Canadian Brass has also dominated the recording scene for brass players--they have been on the Billboard charts in each decade of their existence, recording with the majors RCA, BMG, CBS, SONY, Phillips and Decca, occupying virtually all the spots open to brass players.

There is virtually no major concert hall in the world that the Canadian Brass has not played. Any one year of the Brass' history reads like most careers!

The current members are: Dr. Charles "Chuck" Daellenbach (tuba), Eugene "Gene" Watts (trombone), Jeff Nelsen (horn), Joe Burgstaller and Brandon Ridenour (trumpet) as well as the "Trumpet Dream Team" to often fill the two trumpet positions on rotating basis. Dream Team members are: Ryan Anthony, Brandon Ridenour, Jeroen Berwaerts, Manon Lafrance, Josef "Joe" Burgstaller.

Past members include: Stuart Laughton (1970–1971, 2003–2005), Josef Burgstaller (2001–present), Jeff Nelsen (2000–2004, 2007–present), Ryan Anthony (2000–2003), Frederick Mills (1972–1996), Ronald Romm (1971–2000), David Ohanian (1986–1998), Martin Hackleman (1983–1986), Christopher Cooper (1998–2000) and Graeme Page (1970–1983).

Canadian Brass recordings are released by Toronto-based Opening Day Entertainment Group.

Discography

* "Make We Joy" (1973)
* "Royal Fanfare" (1973)
* "A Touch of Brass
* "Canadian Brass in Paris" (1973)
* "Rag-Ma-Tazz" (1974)
* "Canadian Brass: Pachelbel to Joplin" (1974)
* "Unexplored Territory" (1977)
* "Canadian Brass Plus Organ" (1977)
* "Toccata, Fugues & Other Diversions" (1977)
* "Canadian Brass Encore" (1977)
* "Mostly Fats; Fats Waller's Greatest Hits" (1979)
* "Pachelbel Canon & Other Great Baroque Hits" (1980)
* "Christmas with the Canadian Brass" (1981)
* "The Village Band" (1981)
* "Champions" (1983)
* "Canadian Brass Greatest Hits" (1983)
* "High, Bright, Light and Clear" (1983)
* "Ain't Misbehavin' and Other Fats Waller Hits" (1984)
* "Brass in Berlin" (1984)
* "Canadian Brass Live!" (1984)
* "A Canadian Brass Christmas" (1985)
* "Vivaldi: The Four Seasons" (1986)
* "Basin Street" (1987)
* "Strike Up the Band — Canadian Brass Plays Gershwin" (1987)
* "Bach: The Art of Fugue" (1988)
* "The Mozart Album" (1988)
* "Canadian Brass More Greatest Hits" (1988)
* "Best of the Canadian Brass" (1989)
* "Gabrieli/Monteverdi: Antiphonal Music" (1990)
* "English Renaissance Music" (1990)
* "Super Hits
* "The Christmas Album" (1990)
* "Beethoven Fifth Symphony & Overtures" (1991)
* "Red, White & Brass: Made in the USA" (1991)
* "The Essential Canadian Brass" (1991)
* "Red Hot Jazz: The Dixieland Album" (1992)
* "Wagner for Brass" (1992)
* "Rejoice! with Brass and Voice" (1993)
* "An Evening of Brass Theater" (1994)
* "Brass on Broadway" (1994)
* "Gabrieli for Brass" (1994)
* "Noel" (1994)
* "Bolero & Other Great Melodies" (1995)
* "Brass Busters" (1995)
* "Fireworks: Baroque Brass Favorites" (1995)
* "Go for Baroque!" (1995)
* "Ragtime" (1995)
* "Renaissance Men" (1995)
* "Swingtime!" (1995)
* "Brass Theater II with Star of Indiana" (1995)
* "Brass Theater III with Star of Indiana" (1996)
* "Canadian Brass Plays Bernstein" (1996)
* "The Canadian Brass Live in Germany" (1997)
* "Christmas Experiment" (1997)
* "All You Need is Love" (1998)
* "A Christmas Gloria" (1999)
* "Take the "A" Train" (1999)
* "Celebration" (1999)
* "Bach Goldberg Variations" (2001)
* "Canadian Brass — CBC Radio Years" (2001)
* "Holidays with Canadian Brass" (2002)
* "Sacred Brass" (2002)
* "Amazing Brass" (2002)
* "Sweet Songs of Christmas" (2002)
* "Magic Horn" (2004)
* "Joyful Sounds" (2005)
* "People of Faith" (2006)
* "Wedding Essentials" (2006)
* "Concert Band Essentials" (2007)
* "Christmas Tradition" (2007)
* "BACH" (2008)
* "Legends" (2008)
* "Manhattan Music" (2008)

Videography

* "Canadian Brass Live" (1986)
* "The Canadian Brass Masterclass" (1989)
* "The Canadian Brass Spectacular" (1989)
* "On Stage at Wolftrap" (1990)
* "Home Movies" (1991)
* "Strings, Winds, and All That Brass" (1992)
* "The Canadian Brass Live in Germany" (1994)
* "Christmas Experiment" (1998)
* "A Christmas Gloria" (1999)
* "Bootleg Canadian Brass — Authorized Version" (2002)
* "Three Nights with Canadian Brass" (2003)
* "Inside Brass" (2003)

External links

* [http://www.canbrass.com/ Official Canadian Brass website]
* [http://www.canadianbrass.com/concertcalendar.html Canadian Brass Concert Listing]
* [http://www.myspace.com/officialcanadianbrass/ Canadian Brass MySpace page]