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P.J. has shared the stage with countless jazz
greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Michel LeGrand, Pepper Adams, Kenny Wheeler, Tom Harrell, Rob McConnell, Slide Hampton, Herb Spanier, Bobby Shew, Fraser McPherson, Tommy Banks, Joe LaBarbera, Clarence “Big” Miller, Red Rodney and many more talented artists, to numerous to list here.
In 2007 P.J. was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta.
In autumn of 1999 Justin Time Records released a Juno nominated recording of P.J. and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. P.J. Perry has become recognized by critics, colleagues and listeners as being one of North America's premier saxophonists.Winner of a 1993 Juno Award for Best Jazz Recording for his album "My Ideal", P.J. has received Jazz Report magazine's Critic's Choice Award for Best Alto Sax for, a record, of seven years from 1993 to 1999.
P.J. has recently been performing his own show "The Joy of Sax" with orchestras across the country. He has also performed with the Edmonton Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Saskatoon Symphony, Kamloops Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo, and the Vancouver Island Symphony.
click this for PDF of full Bio
1993 – Winner of Jazz Report Magazine’s “Critics’ Choice Award” for ‘Best Alto Saxophonist’
1994 – Winner of Jazz Report Magazine’s “Critics’ Choice Award” for ‘Best Alto Saxophonist’
1995 – Winner of Jazz Report Magazine’s “Critics’ Choice Award” for ‘Best Alto Saxophonist’
1996 – Winner of Jazz Report Magazine’s “Critics’ Choice Award” for ‘Best Alto Saxophonist’
1997 – Winner of Jazz Report Magazine’s “Critics’ Choice Award” for ‘Best Alto Saxophonist’
1998 – Winner of Jazz Report Magazine’s “Critics’ Choice Award” for ‘Best Alto Saxophonist’
1999 – Winner of Jazz Report Magazine’s “Critics’ Choice Award” for ‘Best Alto Saxophonist’
2000 – JUNO Nominee for Best Traditional Jazz Album (‘P.J. Perry & The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’)
2007 - Recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from the University of Alberta
"On his fourth album as leader, acclaimed saxophonist P.J. Perry becomes a "crossover" artist of sorts, but instead of taking the low road, he takes the high one,
collaborating with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and a few special guests to
fashion a scintillating performance that combines the most enchanting aspects
of jazz and classical music.
Perry, who has logged time with
Dizzy Gillespie, Michel Legrand, Red Rodney and Rob McConnell's Boss Brass and
Tentet, is as melodically impressive as he is technically polished, while the
Edmonton Symphony, ably guided by orchestrator-arranger Rick Wilkins, reminds
one of the world-renowned Netherlands Metropole Orchestra whose "chamber jazz"
collaborations with prominent soloists are widely acclaimed.
After opening with an earnest homage
to the legendary guitarist Django, Perry salutes the incomparable Bird with a
Charlie Parker medley - The Song is You, April In Paris, They Can't Take That
Away From Me and Lover. Two other medleys, extolling ballads and the bossa
nova, complement a series of winners including Earle Hagen's soulful Harlem
Nocturne, trumpeter Bob Tildesley's fugue-like They kept Bach's Head Alive and
the peppery Gershwin flag-waver, Strike Up the Band.
Perry and the Edmonton Symphony form
a wonderful alliance, and those who appreciate lovely melodies that swing shouldn't overlook this album.- For the Record
"Pops concert perfect antidote to winter blahs" ....Colleen Johnston
"Saxophonist P.J Perry isn't just a good player, he's up there with the best. Perry has a veteran's ear for phrase and elegance. Most highly recommended."
Joy of Sax a lot more than jazz ... D.T. Baker
"Perry
fashioned a wisely-judged program......Perry is an extremely versatile
player."
- Special to The Edmonton Journal
P.J. Perry with the KSO. Sax man blows audience away ... Sheila Keenan
"P.J Perry
blew hot, he blew cool, and he blew the audience away..... There was hooting, hollering and
even whistling to cheer this fabulous performance......The entire concert was cool indeed."
- The Daily News
P.J. Perry overjoys concert-goers with Joy of Sax ...Stephen Pedersen
"P.J came on
and knocked us back in our seats....the whole orchestra jumping like
a 727 leaping off the deck at full throttle....fluid improvisation...as eloquent as Shakespeare..."
- The Mail-Star The
Chronicle-Herald (Halifax)
"...absolutely brilliant as a saxophone player."
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