Jazz Winnipeg names Musician, Educator of the Year

Canadian jazz music news

Jazz Winnipeg Honours Musicians

VETERAN jazz pianist, band leader and composer Ron Paley and Westwood Collegiate band director Greg Edwards are to be recognized by Jazz Winnipeg for their achievements in music during the upcoming Jazz Winnipeg Festival June 22 – July 2.

Festival producers named Ron Paley ‘Manitoba Musician of the Year’ and Westwood Collegiate band director Greg Edwards ‘Xerox Jazz Educator of the Year’ in an announcement earlier this week.

Winnipeg born Ron Paley has been an integral part of the jazz scene for more than three decades. He formed the Ron Paley Big Band in 1976 after touring internationally and playing bass with the big bands of Buddy Rich and Woody Herman. The Ron Paley Big Band recently performed Paley’s arrangements of songs from the Rodgers and Hart books for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet production A Cinderella Story. The pianist will receive his award prior to his June 23 concert.

Greg Edwards has led the Westwood Collegiate band department since 2000 and created the Westwood Community Jazz Ensemble in 2006 for part-time musicians to continue playing. He will receive his award July 1 before a performance by the Westwood ‘B’ Side Experiment.