Ian McDougall

Ian McDougall (trombonist, arranger, composer) was born in 1938, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and grew up in victoria, British Columbia where he began his “professional” career at the age of 12 when he joined the Victoria Local (247) of the American Federation of Musicians, the youngest person ever to join that local.

Ian is perhaps best known for his work as lead trombonist with Rob McConnell”s Grammy and JUNO Award-winning “The Boss Brass” for 20 years, during which time two suites composed by McDougall – “The Pellet Suite” and “The Blue Serge Suit(e)”- were recorded and released by the band. He was also lead trombonist and composer/arrangeer for JUNO Award-winning “The Brass Connection”.

McDougall left victoria in 1960 to tour in Great Britain with The John Dankworth Band. Returning to Vancouver two years later, he immediately became a key part of the vibrant music scene there, playing for three years with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, working on numerous CBC Radio and Television shows playing regularly on the bandstand at The Cave nightclub, and performing with the biggest visiting acts of the day including Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, TheSupremes, Nat King Cole, and Rosemary Clooney. It was during this same period in the ’60’s that he obtained his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from theUniversity of British Columbia.

He moved toTorontoin 1973, and was soon invited by Rob McConnell to join The Boss Brass where Mcdougall would find his musical “home” for nearly two decades until 1991 when he returned to Victoria to continue his career on Canada’s West Coast.

Since the early 1980’s, McDougall has become even more involved in composition, and his works have been performed by the CBC Vancouver Orchestra, the Lafayette String Quartet, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Rob McConnell Tentet, the Toronto Cantata Chorus, and others. In recent years, he has toured Canada and abroad, both as a soloist and with his groups, appearing in Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Denmark, Holland, the UnitedStates, Germany, and England, where McDougall served as Music Director for two BBC Big Band broadcasts. He has been featured as leader on six CD’s, several of them nominated for awards.

Ian McDougall continues to play, compose, and teach in Victoria, British Columbia. He was on the jazz faculty at the University of Victoria until 2003 when he retired as Professor Emeritus. He has served as botha performer and clinician at three International Trombone Association conventions (in Nashville, Rochester, and Las Vegas) and frequently elsewhere throughout North America.

In 1982 JUNO Award for Best Jazz Album (Brass Connection), 2004 Awarded Distinguished Alumni honors from University of Victoria, 2005 JUNO Nominee for “In a Sentimental Mood” CD and 2005  Western Canadian Music Awards Nominee for “In a Sentimental Mood” CD, 2007 recipient of the Phil Nimmons Established Composer Award (sponsored by SOCAN and IAJE), and Appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, and 2008 Nominated for a JUNO Award for “Live Jazz Legends”.

 

Video Clips

 

“If You Could See Me Now”

The 2011 Yamaha All Star Band performing If You Could See Me Now, featuring Ian MacDougall, at the Centre for Performing Arts, Vancouver, BC on May 20 2011.
conductor: Terry Promane
saxes: Liam Masil-Mitro, Ben Dwyer, Corey Sitek, Alex Sandvoss, Christine Morrison
flute: David Diao
trombones: Modibo Keita, Jared Kirsch, Jared Richardson, Trevor Hoy
trumpets: Alex Gambrel, Ania Zarzycki, Michael Kim, Brad Eaton, Michael Gracie
piano: Carter Brodkorb
guitar: Nicholas Tateishi
bass: Jonny Chapman
drums/vibes: Matthew Chalmers
drums/aux percussion: Geoff Bruce

http://youtu.be/hW3dTqXfGzc

 

“I Found A New Baby”  Ian McDougall(trb), Moe Koffman(sax), Guido Basso(tpt), Jimmy Dale(p), Claude Ranger(d)