John Geggie
Encyclopedia
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.
, in 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
.
He is best known for running the late-night jams during the Ottawa International Jazz Festival
, and for his invitational series (in its tenth year as of 2010-11) of jazz concerts which run at the National Arts Centre
Fourth Stage in Ottawa. In the latter series, Geggie invites jazz artists from across Canada and the world to play with him in one-time-only groups, in which they perform material written by each of the artists, as well as jazz standards.
Geggie is a member of 'The Geggie Project', with pianist Marilyn Crispell
and drummer Nick Fraser. Most recently they performed at the Guelph Jazz Festival on September 11, 2009. The concert was recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and broadcast on The Signal
on October 3, 2009.
He has also recorded or performed with a veritable who’s who of creative improvised music: Vic Juris, Edward Simon, Seamus Blake, Jon Christensen, Andy Milne, Ben Monder, George Colligan, Craig Taborn, Sheila Jordan, David Murray, Andrew Cyrille, Donny McCaslin, Matt Brubeck, Ted Nash, Billy Hart, Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford. Bill Carrothers, Cuong Vu and bassist, Mark Dresser. Geggie has performed at various international festivals including in Rouen and Maubeuge (France), in Molde (Norway) and throughout the United States.
He was a member of the now-defunct jazz quartet 'Chelsea Bridge' and regularly performs with Toronto-based pianist and guitarist Justin Haynes and with Ottawa guitarist, Roddy Ellias. 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 Down Beat
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)
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).
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
-based Canadian bassist (double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
) who performs jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
with several Ottawa-based groups and performers. As well, he is a classical bassist who has performed in the National Arts Centre Orchestra
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
, in Ottawa-area chamber orchestras, and in chamber music concerts.
Music Training
Geggie was born and raised in Wakefield, QuebecWakefield, Quebec
Wakefield is a village on the western shore of the Gatineau River, at the confluence of the La Pêche River in the Outaouais region of Quebec. The village, named after the town of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, is now the southern edge of the municipality of La Pêche, and was founded in 1830...
, in 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
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, Geggie studied with David Currie
David Currie (conductor)
David Currie is a Canadian conductor who is the music director and conductor for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Currie is also an assisant professor at the University of Ottawa, where he teaches double bass and conducting, and conducts the university orchestra....
, then a bassist in Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
. He did graduate studies with Larry Hurst and Bruce Bransby
Bruce Bransby
Bruce Bransby is an American double-bassist and university professor.- Performance career :Bruce Bransby began his musical career as a trombonist and pianist, but discovered his calling as a double bassist while in college at California State University Northridge. He studied with Nat Gangursky,...
at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, graduating with a Master of Music degree. Geggie won a grant from the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
, Canada's art granting council, which enabled him to study with bassist and solo artist Gary Peacock
Gary Peacock
Gary Peacock is an American jazz double-bassist.-Biography:After military service in Germany, in the early sixties he worked on the west coast with Barney Kessel, Bud Shank, Paul Bley and Art Pepper, then moved to New York. He worked there with Bley, the Bill Evans trio , and Albert Ayler's trio...
.
Double bassist
Geggie performs in the Ottawa-Hull region as a freelance double bass player and teacher.He is best known for running the late-night jams during the Ottawa International Jazz Festival
Ottawa International Jazz Festival
The TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival was founded in 1980 and is now a multi-week festival of jazz music, featuring performers from all around the world. It is held in the summer in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and takes place at various locations throughout the city. The main events...
, and for his invitational series (in its tenth year as of 2010-11) of jazz concerts which run at the National Arts Centre
National Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
Fourth Stage in Ottawa. In the latter series, Geggie invites jazz artists from across Canada and the world to play with him in one-time-only groups, in which they perform material written by each of the artists, as well as jazz standards.
Geggie is a member of 'The Geggie Project', with pianist Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell
Marilyn Crispell is an American jazz pianist and composer.-Biography:Crispell studied classical piano and composition at the New England Conservatory of Music. She has been a resident of Woodstock, NY since 1977 when she came to study and teach at Karl Berger's Creative Music Studio...
and drummer Nick Fraser. Most recently they performed at the Guelph Jazz Festival on September 11, 2009. The concert was recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and broadcast on The Signal
The Signal
The Signal may refer to:* The Signal , a Canadian radio program on CBC Radio Two* Signal, one of several Canadian newspapers* The Signal , a 2007 horror film* The Signal , 2007...
on October 3, 2009.
He has also recorded or performed with a veritable who’s who of creative improvised music: Vic Juris, Edward Simon, Seamus Blake, Jon Christensen, Andy Milne, Ben Monder, George Colligan, Craig Taborn, Sheila Jordan, David Murray, Andrew Cyrille, Donny McCaslin, Matt Brubeck, Ted Nash, Billy Hart, Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford. Bill Carrothers, Cuong Vu and bassist, Mark Dresser. Geggie has performed at various international festivals including in Rouen and Maubeuge (France), in Molde (Norway) and throughout the United States.
He was a member of the now-defunct jazz quartet 'Chelsea Bridge' and regularly performs with Toronto-based pianist and guitarist Justin Haynes and with Ottawa guitarist, Roddy Ellias. As well, he was a member of a Juno
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
-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
Ian Tamblyn
Ian Tamblyn in is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter and record producer, adventurer, and playwright.-Music career:...
, Lynn Miles
Lynn Miles
Lynn Miles is a Canadian singer-songwriter and winner of the 2003 Juno Award.-Early life and education:Miles was born outside Montreal in the town of Sweetsburg, Quebec. Her father was a harmonica player and jazz fan while her mother listened to both opera and country music. Miles learned to...
, Three Sheets To The Wind and Meg Lunney.
Geggie performs in the double bass section of the National Arts Centre Orchestra
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
, and the Ottawa-based 13 Strings Chamber Orchestra. He teaches double bass at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
, Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and the Crane School of Music
Crane School of Music
The Crane School of Music is located in Potsdam, New York, and is one of three schools which make up the State University of New York at Potsdam....
at SUNY
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
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 Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
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 FestivalOttawa Chamber Music Festival
Ottawa Chamberfest is a music festival held by the Ottawa Chamber Music Society in Ottawa, Canada.-Artists:In 1994, the idea of a chamber music festival in Ottawa came to life to remedy the meager availability of live classical music during the summer months and fill the city’s churches with...
as well for the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
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
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
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)
- Kommen Een Der Karz (Canal Records, 1992)
- With Terry TuftsTerry TuftsTerry Tufts is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter.- History :Tufts' father Floyd took a job with the Canadian government in the Department of Manpower and Immigration, as it was then known. This job took Terry to Denver, Colorado, U.S.A, Ottawa, Ontario, and Rome, Italy...
: The Better Fight (Borealis RecordsBorealis RecordsBorealis Records is a Canadian record label, founded in 1996 by four Canadian musicians. It is notable as being focused exclusively on the recording and development Canadian folk and roots music artists.- History :...
81172)
- With D.D. Jackson: Rhythm-Dance
- As a Bandleader
- Geggie Project (Ambiances Magnetiques, 2010)
- Across The Sky (Plunge Records, 2010)