Robert Murray Gordon "Rob" McConnell, (14 February 1935 – 1 May 2010) was a Canadian jazz trombonist, composer, and arranger.Jeff Sultanof.
Experiencing Big Band Jazz: A Listener's Companion
'. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; 8 November 2017. . p. 150. McConnell is best known for establishing and leading the big band The Boss Brass, which he directed from 1967 to 1999.

Biography

McConnell was born in

London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximat ...

, Canada, and took up the valve trombone in high school. He began his performing career in the early 1950s, performing and studying with

Clifford Brown Clifford Benjamin Brown (October 30, 1930 – June 26, 1956) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He died at the age of 25 in a car accident, leaving behind four years' worth of recordings. His compositions "Sandu", "Joy Spring", an ...

, Don Thompson, Bobby Gimby, and later with Canadian trumpeter

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often serv ...

. He studied

music theory Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the " rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (k ...

with Gordon Delamont. In 1968 he formed ''The Boss Brass'', a

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s ...

that became his primary performing and recording unit through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s."Boss Brass founder Rob McConnell dies at 75"
''CBC Arts'', May 03, 2010 McConnell assembled the original Boss Brass from Toronto

studio musicians Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a t ...

. The instrumentation of the band was originally sixteen pieces, consisting of trumpets, trombones, French horns, and a rhythm section but no saxophones. He introduced a saxophone section in 1970 and expanded the trumpet section to include the fifth trumpet in 1976, bringing the total to twenty-two members. In 1977, McConnell recorded a double LP called ''Big Band Jazz''. This was a 'direct cut' LP using Direct-to-disc recording. A small number of albums that recorded direct-to-disc began to appear on the market in the late 1970s and were marketed as "audiophile" editions, promising superior sound quality compared with recordings made using the more common multi-track tape recording methods. On McConnell's direct cut double LP, an entire side (15 minutes and 2 seconds) was devoted to a version of Gershwin's "

Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', ...

". The double album won the

Juno Award for Best Jazz Album The Juno Award for Best Jazz Album was an award, presented by the Juno Awards to the year's best jazz album by a Canadian artist. It was presented from 1977 until 1993, following which it was discontinued and replaced with separate categories for C ...

in 1978. His 1983 '' All in Good Time'' album won the

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

for Best Large Jazz Ensemble recording. In 1988, McConnell took a teaching position at the Dick Grove School of Music in California, but gave up his position and returned to Canada a year later. In 1992 he was presented with a SOCAN jazz award. In 1997, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 1998 was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...

. He remained active throughout the 2000s, touring internationally as both a performer and educator, running music clinics around the world and performing as a leader and guest artist. The Rob McConnell Tentet, a scaled-down version of the Boss Brass featuring many Boss Brass alumni, recorded three albums, ''The Rob McConnell Tentet'' (2000), ''Thank You, Ted'' (2002), and ''Music of the Twenties'' (2003). McConnell died of

liver cancer Liver cancer (also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy) is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary (starts in liver) or secondary (meaning cancer which has spread from elsewhere to th ...

on May 1, 2010 in Toronto at the age of 75.

Discography

The Boss Brass * ''The Boss Brass - Rob McConnell'' (1968), Canadian Talent Library * ''Rob McConnell's Boss Brass 2'' (1969), Canadian Talent Library * ''The Sound Of The Boss Brass'' (1970), CBC Radio Canada * ''On a Cool Day'' (1971), Canadian Talent Library * ''Rob McConnell's Boss Brass 4'' (1972), Canadian Talent Library * ''The Best Damn Band in the Land'' (1974), United Artists Records * ''The Jazz Album'' (1976), Attic Records * ''Nobody Does It Better'' (1977), Canadian Talent Library, Phonodisc * ''Big Band Jazz'' (1978), Umbrella Records * ''Again!'' (1979), Umbrella Records * ''Are Ya Dancin' Disco?'' (1979), New Ventures * ''The Singers Unlimited with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass'' (1980), MPS Records * ''Present Perfect'' (1980), MPS Records * ''Tribute'' (1981), Pausa Records * ''Live in Digital'' (1982), Sea Breeze, Palo Alto Records * ''Big Band Jazz Volume 1'' (1983), Pausa Records * ''Again! Volume 1'' (1983), Pausa Records * ''Big Band Jazz Volume 2'' (1983), Pausa Records * '' All in Good Time'' (1983), Sea Breeze, Palo Alto Records * ''Again! Volume 2'' (1983), Pausa Records * ''Atras Da Porta'' (1985), Innovation Records * ''Boss Brass and Woods'' (1985), Innovation Records * ''

Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass ''Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass'' is a 1986 studio album by Mel Tormé, accompanied by Rob McConnell's ''Boss Brass'' Big band. Tormé and McConnell's follow up album, '' Velvet & Brass'' was released in 1995. Track listing # ...

'' (1986), Concord Jazz * ''The Brass Is Back'' (1991), Concord Jazz * ''Brassy and Sassy'' (1992), Concord Jazz * ''Our 25th Year'' (1993), Concord Jazz * ''Overtime'' (1994), Concord Jazz * ''Don't Get Around Much Anymore'' (1995), Concord Jazz * '' Velvet and Brass'' (1995), Concord Jazz * ''Even Canadians Get the Blues'' (1996), Concord Jazz * ''Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass Play the Jazz Classics'' (1997), Concord Jazz * ''Big Band Christmas'' (1998), Concord Jazz * ''The Concord Jazz Heritage Series'' (1998, compilation), Concord Jazz * ''Two Originals (Brass My Soul & Tribute)''(1998, compilation), MPS Records * ''...One More Time! Live At The Old Mill Inn'' (2008), JAZZ.FM91 The Rob McConnell Tentet * ''Rob McConnell Tentet'' (2000), Justin Time Records * ''Thank You, Ted'' (2002), Justin Time Records * ''Music of the Twenties'' (2003), Justin Time Records * ''Justin Time For Christmas Four'' (2004), Justin Time Records Other * ''A Canadian Christmas - Noël Canadien'' (1980, with Bob Hamper), CBC Radio Canada * ''Trombone Rob'' (1982), Canadian Talent Library * ''Mutual Street'' (1984, with Ed Bickert), Innovation Records * ''Old Friends, New Music'' (1985, with Rick Wilkins,

Guido Basso Guido Basso, (born 27 September 1937) is a Canadian jazz musician who was a member of Rob McConnell's Boss Brass big band. He is a trumpeter, flugelhornist, arranger, composer and conductor. Life and career Basso was born in Montreal, Quebec ...

, Ed Bickert, Steve Wallace and Terry Clarke ), Unisson Records * ''The Boss of the Boss Brass'' (1988, orchestra with strings and woodwinds), Duke Street Records * ''Live At The 1990 Concord Jazz Festival, First Set'' (1991, with Ed Bickert,

Alan Dawson Alan Dawson (July 14, 1929 – February 23, 1996) was an American jazz drummer and percussion teacher based in Boston. Biography Dawson was born in Marietta, Pennsylvania and raised in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Serving in the U.S. Army during th ...

, Harry Edison,

Al Grey Al Grey (June 6, 1925 – March 24, 2000) was an American jazz trombonist who was a member of the Count Basie orchestra. He was known for his plunger mute technique and wrote an instructional book in 1987 called ''Plunger Techniques''. Care ...

Gene Harris Gene Harris (born Eugene Haire, September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) was an American jazz pianist known for his warm sound and blues and gospel infused style that is known as soul jazz. From 1956 to 1970, he played in The Three Sounds tri ...

Benny Powell Benny Powell (March 1, 1930 – June 26, 2010) was an American jazz trombonist. He played both standard (tenor) trombone and bass trombone. Biography Born Benjamin Gordon Powell Jr in New Orleans, Louisiana, he first played professionally ...

and

Neil Swainson Neil James Sinclair Swainson (born November 15, 1955) is a Canadian jazz bassist. Swainson started his career in Victoria, British Columbia, when he supported visiting American musicians such as Herb Ellis, Barney Kessell, and Sonny Stitt. In ...

), Concord Jazz * ''The Rob McConnell Jive 5'' (1990, with Ed Bickert,

Jerry Fuller Jerry Fuller (born November 19, 1938) is an American songwriter, singer and record producer. Biography Jerry Fuller was born in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, to a musical family. He and his brother Bill performed as a duo in their home state ...

, Neil Swainson and Rick Wilkins), Concord Jazz * '' Manny Albam, Rob McConnell And The SDR Big Band Featuring

Herb Geller Herbert Arnold Geller (November 2, 1928 – December 19, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. Early life His mother, Frances ''(née'' Frances Mildred Fullman, al ...

'' (1993), Intercord * ''Trio Sketches'' (1994, with Ed Bickert and

), Concord Jazz * ''Three for the Road'' (1997, with Ed Bickert and Don Thompson), Concord Jazz * ''Riffs I Have Known'' (2000), Recall/Snapper Music * ''Live with the Boss'' - Rob McConnell & Big Band Brass (2001), Black & Blue Records * '' So Very Rob, Boss Brass Revisited'' (2003, with The SWR Big Band, recorded in Germany), Hanssler Guest and backing appearances, arrangements, compilation inclusions * ''Cool and Hot Sax'' -

Moe Koffman Morris "Moe" Koffman, OC (28 December 1928 – 28 March 2001) was a Canadian jazz saxophonist and flautist, as well as composer and arranger. During a career spanning from the 1950s to the 2000s, Koffman was one of Canada's most prolific musician ...

Septette (1957),

Jubilee Records Jubilee Records was an American independent record label, specializing in rhythm and blues and novelty records. It was founded in New York City in 1946 by Herb Abramson. His partner was Jerry Blaine. Blaine bought Abramson's half of the compan ...

* ''Color Him Wild'' -

(1964), Mainstream Records * ''Love Talk'' - Guido Basso (1971), Kanata Records, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation * ''Songs for the New Industrial State'' - Doug Randle (2009), Kanata Records, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation * ''Jazz Canadiana: All Star Jazz In Concert'' (1973, compilation), CBC Radio Canada * ''My Heart Belongs To Me'' - Rick Wilkins Orchestra (1977), Phonodisc * ''And All That Latin Jazz!'' - Guido Basso (1978), Canadian Talent Library * ''Back Again'' - The Hi-Lo's (1979), MPS Records * ''Out of the Shadows'' - Chris Vadala (1979), Art of Life Records * ''Swing Fever'' - All Star Swing Band (1982), CBS Direct * ''Play The Compositions And Arrangements Of Bill Holman'' - Vic Lewis West Coast All Stars (1989), Mole Jazz * ''Let's Eat Home'' - Dave Frishberg (1990), Concord Jazz * ''Plays Bill Holman'' - Vic Lewis West Coast All Stars (1993),

Candid Records Candid Records was a jazz record label first established in New York City. Early Candid Records The CANDID jazz label was founded in New York City in 1960 as a subsidiary of Cadence Records, owned by Archie Bleyer. The jazz writer and civil ri ...

* ''From Lush To Lively'' - Oliver Jones, Justin Time Records * ''Lookin' Good'' - Dave Frishberg (2001), Concord Jazz * ''Justin Time Records 20th Anniversary Compilation'' (2003), Justin Time Records * ''Jazz Moods: Sounds Of Autumn'' (2004, compilation), Concord Special Products * ''Jazz Moods: Jazz At The North Pole'' (2004, compilation), Concord Special Products * ''Instant Party'' - Mel Tormé (2004, compilation), Concord Jazz * ''I'm New Here'' - MHCC Jazz Band (2004), Sea Breeze * ''From the Top - Music! Its Role and Importance In Our Lives'' (2005), Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Education * ''Jazz After Dark II'' (2005), Playboy Jazz * ''Swingchronicity'' -

Phil Woods Philip Wells Woods (November 2, 1931 – September 29, 2015) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, and composer. Biography Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. After inheriting a saxophone at age 12, he began ...

DePaul University DePaul University is a private, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th-century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul. In 1998, it became the largest Ca ...

Jazz Ensemble (2007), Jazzed Media * ''Just Friends'' - The Texas Christian University Jazz Ensemble (2009), Sea Breeze Vista Records * ''The Complete Quebec Jam Session July 28, 1955'' - Clifford Brown (2009), Rare Live Recordings * ''The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings'' - Paul Desmond Quartet (2020), Mosaic Records

Awards and nominations

Juno Awards * Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass ''The Jazz Album'',

Juno Awards of 1977 The Juno Awards of 1977, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 16 March 1977 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by David Steinberg at the Royal York Hotel. The ceremonies were broadcast on a 2-hour ...

* Winner, Best Jazz Album, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, ''Big Band Jazz'', Juno Awards of 1978 * Winner, Recording Engineer of the Year - David Green, ''Big Band Jazz'', Juno Awards of 1978 * Nominee, Best Jazz Album, ''Again!'', Juno Awards of 1980 * Winner, Best Jazz Album, ''Present Perfect'',

Juno Awards of 1981 The Juno Awards of 1981, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 5 February 1981 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by multiple co-presenters at the O'Keefe Centre. The first co-hosts were Andrea Mart ...

* Nominee, Best Jazz Album, ''Live In Digital'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1982 * Winner, Best Jazz Album, ''All In Good Time'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass,

Juno Awards of 1984 The Juno Awards of 1984, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 5 December 1984 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by Joe Flaherty and Andrea Martin of '' SCTV'' at Exhibition Place Automotive Building ...

* Nominee, Best Jazz Album, ''Atras De Porta'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass,

Juno Awards of 1986 The Juno Awards of 1986, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 10 November 1986 in Toronto at a ceremony hosted by Howie Mandel at the Harbour Castle Hilton Hotel. CBC Television broadcast the c ...

* Nominee, Best Jazz Album, ''Old Friends, New Music'', The Rob McConnell Sextet,

* Nominee, Recording Engineer of the Year - Phil Sheridan, "Ellington", ''Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass'',

Juno Awards of 1987 The Juno Awards of 1987, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 2 November 1987 in Toronto at a ceremony in the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, O'Keefe Centre. Howie Mandel was the host for th ...

* Winner, Best Jazz Album, ''The Brass Is Back'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass,

Juno Awards of 1992 The Juno Awards of 1992, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 29 March 1992 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. Rick Moranis was the host for the ceremonies, which were broadcast on ...

* Nominee, Best Jazz Album, ''Brassy and Sassy'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass,

Juno Awards of 1993 The Juno Awards of 1993, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 21 March 1993 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. Celine Dion was the host for the ceremonies, which were broadcast on C ...

* Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, ''Our 25th Year'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass,

Juno Awards of 1994 The Juno Awards of 1994, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 20 March 1994 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. Roch Voisine was the host for the ceremonies, which were taped that a ...

* Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, ''Overtime'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass,

Juno Awards of 1995 The Juno Awards of 1995, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 26 March 1995 in Hamilton, Ontario at a ceremony in the Copps Coliseum. Mary Walsh, Rick Mercer and other regulars of the television ...

* Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, ''Even Canadians Get the Blues'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass,

Juno Awards of 1997 The Juno Awards of 1997, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 9 March 1997 in Hamilton, Ontario at a ceremony in the Copps Coliseum. Jann Arden was host for the major ceremonies which were broadc ...

* Winner, Best Traditional Jazz Album, ''Rob McConnell Tentet'', Rob McConnell Tentet,

Juno Awards of 2001 The Juno Awards of 2001 were held in Hamilton, Ontario Canada during the weekend of 3–4 March 2001. The primary ceremonies were hosted by Rick Mercer at Copps Coliseum on 4 March 2001 and broadcast on CBC Television. Performers during the tel ...

* Nominee, Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, ''Thank You, Ted'', Rob McConnell Tentet,

Juno Awards of 2003 The Juno Awards of 2003 were presented in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on 6 April 2003. The primary awards ceremony was hosted that evening by Shania Twain at the Corel Centre (now Canadian Tire Centre) and televised on CTV. Ceremony highlights The ...

Grammy Awards * Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, ''Big Band Jazz'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, 1979 * Nominee, Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), "Tangerine", ''The Singers Unlimited with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass'', 1980 * Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, ''Present Perfect'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1981 * Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, "Tribute", ''Tribute'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1982 * Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, ''Live In Digital'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1983 * Winner, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, ''All In Good Time'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass,

26th Annual Grammy Awards The 26th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1984, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1983. Michael Jackson, who had been recove ...

, 1984 * Nominee, Best Arrangement On An Instrumental, "I Got Rhythm", ''All In Good Time'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1984 * Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, ''The Brass Is Back'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1992 * Winner, Best Arrangement on an Instrumental, "Strike Up The Band", ''Brassy And Sassy'', Rob McConnell, 35th Annual Grammy Awards, 1993 * Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, ''Brassy And Sassy'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1993 * Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, ''Our 25th Year'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1994 * Winner, Best Instrumental Arrangement With Accompanying Vocal(s), "I Get A Kick Out Of You", ''

'', Rob McConnell, 38th Annual Grammy Awards, 1996 * Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, ''Even Canadians Get The Blues'', Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1997 * Nominee, Best Instrumental Arrangement, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", ''Big Band Christmas'', Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Rob McConnell, 1999 * Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, ''Rob McConnell Tentet'', Rob McConnell Tentet, 2002 * Nominee, Best Instrumental Arrangement, "Autumn In New York", ''So Very Rob, Boss Brass Revisited'', Rob McConnell And The SWR Big Band, Rob McConnell, 2004 Canadian National Jazz Awards * Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2002 * Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2002 * Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2003 * Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2003 * Acoustic Group of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2003 * Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2003 * Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2004 * Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2004 * Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2004 * Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2005 * Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2006 * Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2006

Honours

* Awarded, Honorary

Doctor of Letters Doctor of Letters (D.Litt., Litt.D., Latin: ' or ') is a terminal degree in the humanities that, depending on the country, is a higher doctorate after the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or equivalent to a higher doctorate, such as the Docto ...

, St. Francis Xavier University, 1986 * Awarded, SOCAN Jazz Award, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 1992 * Awarded, Prix

Oscar Peterson Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian virtuoso jazz pianist and composer. Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, ...

Montreal International Jazz Festival The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal ( en, Montreal International Jazz Festival) is an annual jazz festival held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Jazz Fest holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world's largest jazz fes ...

, 1997 * Inducted, Canadian Music Hall of Fame,

* Named, Officer of the

, 1998 * Awarded, SOCAN National Achievement Award, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 1999

References

External links