Rob McConnell

Robert Murray Gordon McConnell (14 February 1935 – 1 May 2010) McConnell is best known for establishing and leading the big band The Boss Brass, which he directed from 1967 to 1999.

Biography McConnell was born in London, Ontario, Canada, and took up the valve trombone in high school. He began his performing career in the early 1950s, performing and studying with Clifford Brown, Don Thompson, Bobby Gimby, and later with Canadian trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He studied music theory with Gordon Delamont. In 1968, he formed The Boss Brass, a big band that became his primary performing and recording unit through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

McConnell assembled the original Boss Brass from Toronto studio musicians. The instrumentation of the band was originally sixteen pieces, consisting of trumpets, trombones, French horns, and a rhythm section but no saxophones. He introduced a saxophone section in 1970 and expanded the trumpet section to include the fifth trumpet in 1976, bringing the total to twenty-two members.

In 1977, McConnell recorded a double LP called Big Band Jazz. In 1997, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and in 1998 was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. He remained active throughout the 2000s, touring internationally as both a performer and educator, running music clinics around the world and performing as a leader and guest artist. The Rob McConnell Tentet, a scaled-down version of the Boss Brass featuring many Boss Brass alumni, recorded three albums, The Rob McConnell Tentet (2000), Thank You, Ted (2002), and Music of the Twenties (2003).

McConnell died of liver cancer on May 1, 2010, in Toronto at the age of 75.

Discography

The Boss Brass The Boss Brass - Rob McConnell (1968), Canadian Talent Library Rob McConnell's Boss Brass 2 (1969), Canadian Talent Library The Sound Of The Boss Brass (1970), CBC Radio Canada On a Cool Day (1971), Canadian Talent Library Rob McConnell's Boss Brass 4 (1972), Canadian Talent Library The Best Damn Band in the Land (1974), United Artists Records The Jazz Album (1976), Attic Records Nobody Does It Better (1977), Canadian Talent Library, Phonodisc Big Band Jazz (1978), Umbrella Records Again! (1979), Umbrella Records Are Ya Dancin' Disco? (1979), New Ventures The Singers Unlimited with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass (1980), MPS Records Present Perfect (1980), MPS Records Tribute (1981), Pausa Records Live in Digital (1982), Sea Breeze, Palo Alto Records Big Band Jazz Volume 1 (1983), Pausa Records Again! Volume 1 (1983), Pausa Records Big Band Jazz Volume 2 (1983), Pausa Records All in Good Time (1983), Sea Breeze, Palo Alto Records Again! Volume 2 (1983), Pausa Records Atras Da Porta (1985), Innovation Records Boss Brass and Woods (1985), Innovation Records Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass (1986), Concord Jazz The Brass Is Back (1991), Concord Jazz Brassy and Sassy (1992), Concord Jazz Our 25th Year (1993), Concord Jazz Overtime (1994), Concord Jazz Don't Get Around Much Anymore (1995), Concord Jazz Velvet and Brass (1995), Concord Jazz Even Canadians Get the Blues (1996), Concord Jazz Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass Play the Jazz Classics (1997), Concord Jazz Big Band Christmas (1998), Concord Jazz The Concord Jazz Heritage Series (1998, compilation), Concord Jazz Two Originals (Brass My Soul & Tribute)(1998, compilation), MPS Records ...One More Time! Live At The Old Mill Inn (2008), JAZZ.FM91

The Rob McConnell Tentet Rob McConnell Tentet (2000), Justin Time Records Thank You, Ted (2002), Justin Time Records Music of the Twenties (2003), Justin Time Records Justin Time For Christmas Four (2004), Justin Time Records

Other A Canadian Christmas - Noël Canadien (1980, with Bob Hamper), CBC Radio Canada Trombone Rob (1982), Canadian Talent Library Mutual Street (1984, with Ed Bickert), Innovation Records Old Friends, New Music (1985, with Rick Wilkins, Guido Basso, Ed Bickert, Steve Wallace and Terry Clarke), Unisson Records The Boss of the Boss Brass (1988, orchestra with strings and woodwinds), Duke Street Records Live At The 1990 Concord Jazz Festival, First Set (1991, with Ed Bickert, Alan Dawson, Harry Edison, Al Grey, Gene Harris, Benny Powell and Neil Swainson), Concord Jazz The Rob McConnell Jive 5 (1990, with Ed Bickert, Jerry Fuller, Neil Swainson and Rick Wilkins), Concord Jazz Manny Albam, Rob McConnell And The SDR Big Band Featuring Herb Geller (1993), Intercord Trio Sketches (1994, with Ed Bickert and Neil Swainson), Concord Jazz Three for the Road (1997, with Ed Bickert and Don Thompson), Concord Jazz Riffs I Have Known (2000), Recall/Snapper Music Live with the Boss - Rob McConnell & Big Band Brass (2001), Black & Blue Records So Very Rob, Boss Brass Revisited (2003, with The SWR Big Band, recorded in Germany), Hanssler

Guest and backing appearances, arrangements, compilation inclusions Cool and Hot Sax - Moe Koffman Septette (1957), Jubilee Records Color Him Wild - Maynard Ferguson (1964), Mainstream Records Love Talk - Guido Basso (1971), Kanata Records, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Songs for the New Industrial State - Doug Randle (2009), Kanata Records, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Jazz Canadiana: All Star Jazz In Concert (1973, compilation), CBC Radio Canada My Heart Belongs To Me - Rick Wilkins Orchestra (1977), Phonodisc And All That Latin Jazz! - Guido Basso (1978), Canadian Talent Library Back Again - The Hi-Lo's (1979), MPS Records Out of the Shadows - Chris Vadala (1979), Art of Life Records Swing Fever - All Star Swing Band (1982), CBS Direct Play The Compositions And Arrangements Of Bill Holman - Vic Lewis West Coast All Stars (1989), Mole Jazz Let's Eat Home - Dave Frishberg (1990), Concord Jazz Plays Bill Holman - Vic Lewis West Coast All Stars (1993), Candid Records From Lush To Lively - Oliver Jones, Justin Time Records Lookin' Good - Dave Frishberg (2001), Concord Jazz Justin Time Records 20th Anniversary Compilation (2003), Justin Time Records Jazz Moods: Sounds Of Autumn (2004, compilation), Concord Special Products Jazz Moods: Jazz At The North Pole (2004, compilation), Concord Special Products Instant Party - Mel Tormé (2004, compilation), Concord Jazz I'm New Here - MHCC Jazz Band (2004), Sea Breeze From the Top - Music! Its Role and Importance In Our Lives (2005), Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Education Jazz After Dark II (2005), Playboy Jazz Swingchronicity - Phil Woods, DePaul University Jazz Ensemble (2007), Jazzed Media Just Friends - The Texas Christian University Jazz Ensemble (2009), Sea Breeze Vista Records The Complete Quebec Jam Session July 28, 1955 - Clifford Brown (2009), Rare Live Recordings The Complete 1975 Toronto Recordings - Paul Desmond Quartet (2020), Mosaic Records

Awards and nominations

Juno Awards Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass The Jazz Album, Juno Awards of 1977 Winner, Best Jazz Album, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Big Band Jazz, Juno Awards of 1978 Winner, Recording Engineer of the Year - David Green, Big Band Jazz, Juno Awards of 1978 Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Again!, Juno Awards of 1980 Winner, Best Jazz Album, Present Perfect, Juno Awards of 1981 Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Live In Digital, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1982 Winner, Best Jazz Album, All In Good Time, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1984 Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Atras De Porta, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1986 Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Old Friends, New Music, The Rob McConnell Sextet, Juno Awards of 1986 Nominee, Recording Engineer of the Year - Phil Sheridan, "Ellington", Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1987 Winner, Best Jazz Album, The Brass Is Back, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1992 Nominee, Best Jazz Album, Brassy and Sassy, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1993 Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, Our 25th Year, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1994 Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, Overtime, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1995 Nominee, Best Mainstream Jazz Album, Even Canadians Get the Blues, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Juno Awards of 1997 Winner, Best Traditional Jazz Album, Rob McConnell Tentet, Rob McConnell Tentet, Juno Awards of 2001 Nominee, Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, Thank You, Ted, Rob McConnell Tentet, Juno Awards of 2003

Grammy Awards Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, Big Band Jazz, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, 1979 Nominee, Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s), "Tangerine", The Singers Unlimited with Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1980 Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, Present Perfect, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1981 Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, "Tribute", Tribute, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1982 Nominee, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, Live In Digital, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1983 Winner, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band, All In Good Time, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 26th Annual Grammy Awards, 1984 Nominee, Best Arrangement On An Instrumental, "I Got Rhythm", All In Good Time, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1984 Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, The Brass Is Back, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1992 Winner, Best Arrangement on an Instrumental, "Strike Up The Band", Brassy And Sassy, Rob McConnell, 35th Annual Grammy Awards, 1993 Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, Brassy And Sassy, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1993 Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, Our 25th Year, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1994 Winner, Best Instrumental Arrangement With Accompanying Vocal(s), "I Get A Kick Out Of You", Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Rob McConnell, 38th Annual Grammy Awards, 1996 Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance, Even Canadians Get The Blues, Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass, 1997 Nominee, Best Instrumental Arrangement, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", Big Band Christmas, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Rob McConnell, 1999 Nominee, Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, Rob McConnell Tentet, Rob McConnell Tentet, 2002 Nominee, Best Instrumental Arrangement, "Autumn In New York", So Very Rob, Boss Brass Revisited, Rob McConnell And The SWR Big Band, Rob McConnell, 2004

Canadian National Jazz Awards Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2002 Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2002 Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2003 Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2003 Acoustic Group of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2003 Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2003 Arranger of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2004 Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2004 Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2004 Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2005 Trombonist of the Year, Rob McConnell, 2006 Big Band of the Year, The Rob McConnell Tentet, 2006

Honours Awarded, Honorary Doctor of Letters, St. Francis Xavier University, 1986 Awarded, SOCAN Jazz Award, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 1992 Awarded, Prix Oscar Peterson, Montreal International Jazz Festival, 1997 Inducted, Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Juno Awards of 1997 Named, Officer of the Order of Canada, 1998 Awarded, SOCAN National Achievement Award, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 1999