Vic Vogel
Encyclopedia
Victor 'Vic' Stefan Vogel, LLD, PhD (Concordia) (born August 3, 1935) is a jazz pianist
, composer
, arranger
, trombonist
and conductor
in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
.
, he studied piano
with Michel Hirvy. Vogel has written, arranged and conducted music for ceremonies at Expo 67
, the Montreal Olympics
in 1976, the Canada Games
in 1985 and for the half-time events at the Grey Cup
in 1981 and 1985. For the Olympics he arranged welcoming and theme songs from excerpts of works by André Mathieu
.
He's the only musician who has played twenty years in a row at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
, playing concerts with Dizzy Gillespie
, Maynard Ferguson
, Jerry Mulligan, Slide Hampton
, Cannonball Adderley, Chucho Valdés
, Oliver Jones and Mel Torme
.
In 2007, he was the subject of the feature-length documentary film, "The Brass Man" (L'homme de Cuivre).
On November 1, 2010, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in Music from Concordia University.
Jazz piano
Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Biography
Born Viktor Stefan in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, he studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
with Michel Hirvy. Vogel has written, arranged and conducted music for ceremonies at Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
, the Montreal Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in 1976, the Canada Games
Canada Games
The Canada Games is a high-level multi-sport event with a National Artists Program held every two years in Canada, alternating between the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games. Athletes are strictly amateur only, and represent their province or territory.The Games were first held in 1967...
in 1985 and for the half-time events at the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
in 1981 and 1985. For the Olympics he arranged welcoming and theme songs from excerpts of works by André Mathieu
André Mathieu
André Mathieu was a Québécois pianist and composer. Mathieu was born in Montreal, Quebec on February 18, 1929, in the parish of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur.-Biography:...
.
He's the only musician who has played twenty years in a row at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal 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 festival...
, playing concerts with Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
, Jerry Mulligan, Slide Hampton
Slide Hampton
Locksley Wellington "Slide" Hampton is an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.He was a 1998 Grammy Award winner for "Best Jazz Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist", as arranger for "Cotton Tail" performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater...
, Cannonball Adderley, Chucho Valdés
Chucho Valdés
Chucho Valdés is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger. In 1972 he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba's best-known Latin jazz bands. Together with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Valdés is revered as one of Cuba's greatest jazz pianists...
, Oliver Jones and Mel Torme
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
.
In 2007, he was the subject of the feature-length documentary film, "The Brass Man" (L'homme de Cuivre).
On November 1, 2010, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in Music from Concordia University.
Discography
- 2008 - Jim & Andy's
- 2007 - Je Joue Mon Piano
- 2007 - 1+1=2
- 2006 - Hommage à Oscar Peterson
- 2006 - Until I Met You
- 2004 - Awesome!
- 2004 - Hangin' Loose
- 2001 - Montréal Jazz & Blues Plus (CD double)
- 2000 - Montréal Jazz & Blues
- 1999 - Je me souviens...mon piano
- 1999 - Live - Le Jazz Big Band
- 1999 - Piano solo
- 1990 - Le Big Band
- 1982 - Vic Vogel Big Band
- 1980 - En Fusion (with OffenbachOffenbach (band)Offenbach is a Quebec blues rock band, initially active from 1969 to 1985. Following a successful reunion tour in 1996, the band released a new album in 2005.-History:...
)