By Colleen A.J. Smith

North Battleford trumpet player jazzed to be honoured with special recognition award

May 30, 2016 | 1:45 PM

Many talented musicians don’t like tooting their own horn, but Barrie Redford – a North Battleford native with an affinity for the swinging sound of trumpet jazz is this year’s recipient of the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s prestigious Special Recognition Award.

Making sure good talent does not go unnoticed in the world of jazz is exactly why such an award exists. Each year, the festival seeks out especially talented musicians whose prolific careers have made a significant impact on the musical culture of the province.

The award has been given over the years to a great number of musicians whose talent has in some way touched, shaped or molded the sound of the Saskatchewan jazz scene and beyond.

Kevin Tobin, artistic director of the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival said Redford is one of those musicians whose sound has been an important cog in the wheel of the festival’s success.

“Barry’s been going on 30 plus years as an integral part of the Saskatchewan Jazz scene; in particular he’s a highly sought after musician,” Tobin said. “For over 30 years, he’s easily been one of the brightest jazz musicians that we have.”

Fundraiser for Humane Society

Guitars and Cars Show 'n Shine to include live music

13h ago

Joins defending-champion, Mariners

North Stars' Burgeson commits to Vancouver Island University

14h ago

RCMP investigation

Preliminary hearing for accused in Cope death to start this week

18h ago

Redford has always been a jazz man. As a freelance musician, he managed to build a career around his music growing up in North Battleford and learning from one of the province’s best teachers, Norm Lehman.

Lehman’s influence stuck with Redford as he went on to spread his sound – at first in local venues, then provincially before moving on to national stages and international tours. Tobin said the key to Redford’s success as an artist is his ability to maintain an original sound while remaining versatile enough to excel in and adhere to different jazz forms.

“He’s not just a straight ahead player. I’ve seen him in big band formats and small combo formats and he excels at both,” Tobin said. “And his style is quite distinct when you hear it. If you closed your eyes and didn’t know Barrie was in the band and he was soloing, you could tell that it was a Barrie Redford sound.”

Redford’s style is described as being ‘big’ and ‘brash’ and yet very clean. The bread and butter of jazz music, what makes it supple and tangible is the very element of freedom and change – a talent which Redford has down to a science.

His ability to adapt his musical talent to almost any performance style was just one of the considerations evaluated when the awards committee discussed Redford’s. Tobin said they also received quite a few recommendations of Redford from critics and other members of the music community.

“When we went through the criteria, (Redford) was at the top of that list and we are proud to highlight all of the work that he’s done,” Tobin said.

After Redford began tooting his trumpet and broadening his career at a series of local events around North Battleford, he continued to flourish by going on to the University of Regina. He carried on with his music, leading him to perform internationally at many prestigious festivals –including the Montreaux Jazz festival in New York and Switzerland.

Tobin said a lot of Saskatchewan musicians are quite humble, despite their expansive resume and travels, and Redford is no exception.

Redford will be receiving the award from the festival coordinators at the Broadway Theatre on Saturday, June 25 as part of a presentation to kick off the festival. The artist will then be performing as part of the band in the Duke Ellington project scheduled afterward.

“He’s going to say a few words on stage,” Tobin said. “He’s pretty humble, but we hope to get a few words out of him.”

Redford is scheduled to perform in various bands throughout the festival. This year also happens to mark a special 30th anniversary celebration and will be celebrated with performances from a number of artists who have helped make the Saskatchewan Jazz Fest one of the province’s most celebrated festivals.

Colleen.smith@jpbg.ca

Twitter: ColleenAJSmith