Faculty - Saxophone
Mike Allen
Mike Allen, "one of Canada's top tenor men" (Jim Little, Montreal Mirror) is profiled in Mark Miller's "Miller Companion to Jazz in Canada" and has a Master's in Jazz from New York University. He has performed and recorded with Cedar Walton, Branford Marsalis, Grover Washington Jr., Ed Thigpen, Kenny Wheeler, Gary Bartz, Kenny Garrett, David Liebman, Oliver Jones, Don Thompson and is a member of Canadian guitar legend Sonny Greenwich's quintet - "Standard Idioms" (Kleo) and "Fragments Of A Memory" (Cornerstone).
In 1993, Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail listed Mike as one of a half-dozen "Interesting Canadians To Watch". Since then, he has been performing primarily on the West Coast, with several Canada-wide tours and regular features on nationally aired CBC radio broadcasts. Mike's playing has been heard on KPLU (National Public Radio) with the Jim Ferguson Quintet recorded live at the Seattle Art Museum in 2000, while his debut album "Quintet/Quartet" has been featured on Oscar Treadwell's well-known Cincinnati jazz radio program.
The Mike Allen Trio opened for Brad Meldau at the 2002 DuMaurier Vancouver International Jazz Festival and has worked with many luminary guests including Cedar Walton at Vancouver's Birch Theatre in 2002, Gary Bartz at the Jazz Cellar in Vancouver in 2000, Branford Marsalis at Cafe Central in Montreal in 1990, and Kenny Garrett at the 1989 Warsaw Jazz Festival. Allen has performed in New York City (Visiones), San Francisco (Brian Melvin Quartet at Rose Pistola) and in Seattle (Chuck Israels Quintet at Seattle's Jazz Alley, John Fetchok's all-star Big Band at Tula's).
As an educator, he taught jazz studies at McGill University (where he received his Bachelor of Music in 1985), Western Washington University, and Capilano University in Vancouver. As a respected artist, Mike has been awarded numerous Canada Council Arts Grants over the years to study with tenor giants Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano and David Liebman, and with pianist Jim McNeely.
Steve Kaldestad
photo by Brian Nation www.boppin.com
After 7 years with the world famous Regina Lions Junior Band, Steve left high school with a General Motors Award of Excellence to attend McGill University, where he studied with trumpet great Kevin Dean and Montreal bebop legend pianist/drummer André White, graduating with high distinction in 1994. That same year, Steve spent a month at the Banff Jazz Workshop with Kenny Wheeler, Mick Goodrick, Pat LaBarbera and John Clayton.
After spending 1995 in Toronto, Steve set up in Montreal again, recording a television special with singer Denzal Sinclaire as part of the 1996 Montreal Jazz Festival, and performing a concert with Maria Schneider at la Salle Gésu in 1997. He then spent a year in New York, taking lessons with jazz legend Lee Konitz and playing afternoon sessions with many great New York musicians.
Steve returned to Montreal in summer 1998 and enrolled in McGill University’s Masters Degree in Jazz Performance, this time studying with composer/pianist Jan Jarczyk. A highlight of this period would be when Steve was joined by guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel for a weekend at Upstairs Jazz Club. In May of 2000, Steve recorded an album of original music with fellow McGill alumni Tilden Webb, Dave Laing, Mike Downs, and Dave Mossing.
Steve moved to London, England in September 2000, where he played with many of the UK’s finest musicians, like Jamie Cullum, Humphrey Lyttelton, Steve Fishwick, Mike Carr, Jim Mullen, Geoff Gascoyne, Sebastiaan DeKrom, Tommy Whittle, Kate Williams, to name more than a few.
Steve is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he is actively involved with the Jodi Proznick Quartet. The quartet was just named “Best Acoustic Jazz Group” at the 2008 Canadian National Jazz Awards and their album, “Foundations” on the CellarLive label won “Album of the Year”. “Foundations” was also nominated for Best Traditional Jazz Album at the 2008 Juno Awards. He leads his own quartet and will be recording a new CD in Spring of 2009. In
September 2008, Steve was thrilled to join the faculty of Capilano University as a saxophone instructor.
Chad Makela
Now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, baritone saxophonist Chad Makela attended the University of North Texas on a scholarship as well as Capilano College. Chad studied with Roy Reynolds, formerly of Stan Kenton's big band, Dr. Eric Nestler and James Riggs and played in the renowned One O’Clock Lab Band for three years, working with Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, David Liebman, Slide Hampton, Dr. Billy Taylor and Peter Erskine. Chad has also performed with Ernie Watts, Conte Condoli, Snooky Young, Arturo Sandoval, Ross Tompkins and Chris Vadala.
After leaving the Dallas-Fort Worth area he lived in Washington DC., arranging, writing and playing with R&B artists Percy Sledge, Ben E. King, Jerry Butler and Lloyd Price. He also began playing bari and clarinet for the Doc Severinsen Orchestra up until Doc's retirement in 2006.
In 2002, Chad formed his quartet which includes Brad Turner on Trumpet, Jesse Cahill on drums, and Paul Rushka on Bass. The quartet recorded their 1st album, Flicker, which was released in 2005 receiving excellent reviews and just finished their second album entitled "no".
Ross Taggart
Pianist, saxophonist, Ross Taggart has been an important part of the Vancouver jazz scene since 1985. He has performed for audiences in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Central and South America. Ross has performed and/or recorded with the Hugh Fraser Quintet, Ian McDougall Sextet, Bill Coon Trio, Jill Townsend Big Band, Sharon Minemoto Quintet, Clark Terry, Charles McPherson, Benny Colson, Slide Hampton, Lionel Hampton, Phil Woods, Kenny Wheeler, PJ Perry, Bobby Shew, Don Thompson and many others.
Ross studied in New York City and Toronto with George Coleman, Clifford Jordan, JR Monterose, Don Thompson and Bernie Senesky with assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts. As well as being featured on numerous recordings, Ross has four cd's as a leader. Ross has been a faculty member in the Jazz Studies Department at Capilano University since 1998.
back to top