John Geggie

John Geggie is an Ottawa-based Canadian bassist (double bass) who performs jazz with several Ottawa-based groups and performers. As well, he is a classical bassist who has performed in the National Arts Centre Orchestra, in Ottawa-area chamber orchestras, and in chamber music concerts.

Biography

Music Training

Geggie is a native of the Gatineau Valley, which is a region in Quebec's Outaouais region, to the north of Ottawa. During his university studies at the University of Ottawa, Geggie studied with David Currie, then a bassist in Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra. He did graduate studies with Larry Hurst and Bruce Bransby at Indiana University, graduating with a Master of Music degree. Geggie won a grant from the Canada Council, Canada's art granting council, which enabled him to study with bassist and solo artist Gary Peacock.

Career

Double bassist

Geggie performs in the Ottawa-Hull region as a freelance double bass player and teacher. He performs in a jazz quartet called 'Chelsea Bridge' and regularly performs with Toronto-based pianist and guitarist Justin Haynes and with Ottawa guitarist, Roddy Elias. As well, he was a member of a Juno-nominated world beat group 'The Angstones'. He has toured with Chelsea Bridge, Angstones and D.D. Jackson. In addition, he has performed with singer/songwriters such as Ian Tamblyn, Lynn Miles, Three Sheets To The Wind and Meg Lunney.

Geggie performs in the double bass section of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Ottawa-based 13 Strings Chamber Orchestra. He teaches double bass at Queen's University, Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. More recently, Geggie has begun performing in a group called "A Low Glow", with baritone saxophonist David Mott, as well as a duo with Toronto-based vocalist Julie Michels.

Zoë Anglessey of "Downbeat" Magazine has stated that "Geggie ['s music] unfurls a sonorous bottom of rich arco drones..." (February, 1997) Mark Miller from Canada's "Globe and Mail" (a national newspaper) has called him "A very hip bassist". A reviewer from "Drums Etc." has said that "John Geggie, surely one of Canada¹s premier upright bassists [is] inventive, frisky, yet always anchoring it all." (T. Bruce Wittet, Drums Etc., from November, 1999)

Composer

Geggie has composed and performed his own compositions for the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival as well for the CBC and Radio-Canada. He has also worked with several choreographers in the realisation of music for dance pieces by Franco-Ontarian dancer Anik Bouvrette. In 1998, John composed and performed music in collaboration with Yvonne Coutts. Reviewer Richard Todd from the "Ottawa Citizen" has stated that "Geggie's own work, Slices of Life,...a more cerebral piece...but it is eclectic and appealing,not to mention cunningly crafted"(August, 1998).

Discography

*With Chelsea Bridge:
**“Bone Dance” (Unity/Page)
**Tatamagouche-Next Left (Unity/Page)
**Blues In A Sharp Sea (Igmod 1065)

*With the Angstones, “Bytown ... It's My Town” (Canal Records)

*With Terry Tufts: The Better Fight (Borealis Records 81172)

* With D.D. Jackson: Rhythm-Dance (Justin Time)

External links

John Geggie's website: http://www3.sympatico.ca/johnd.geggie/home.htm