Murley, Bickert, and Wallace
In 2002, this trio released Live at the Senator, winning that year’s JUNO Award for best traditional jazz album. Test of Time, a recording of previously unissued studio material was released on Cornerstone Records in fall 2012. Currently active as a leader in various formations from duo to septet, Mike Murley also maintains a busy schedule as a sideman and jazz educator (University of Toronto). He has played on 10 JUNO Award-winning recordings and was named saxophonist of the year eight times by the Jazz Report Awards/National Jazz Awards. Ed Bickert has toured internationally with Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, and most significantly, Paul Desmond. His collaboration with Desmond produced four critically acclaimed recordings, one which was nominated for a Grammy Award and two which received five-star ratings in Downbeat. In 1996, he was honoured by the Governor General of Canada for his outstanding contributions to the performing arts, and invested as a Member of the Order of Canada. He retired from active playing in 2000. Toronto born bassist Steve Wallace has played with such international luminaries as Clark Terry, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, and Zoot Sims, and has recorded and toured with some of the biggest names in Canadian jazz including Rob McConnell and Oscar Peterson.