The Musicians

Guido Basso
Pat Collins
Mike Downes
Frank Falco
Charles Mountford
Reg Schwager

Guido Basso

A flugelhornist, trumpeter, and conductor, Guido was born in Montreal. After playing in dance and show bands in his teens, he toured throughout North America with Pearl Bailey and Louis Bellson's orchestra. He settled in Toronto and worked as leader and music director on many TV and radio productions, including two CBC TV series on the big band era - In The Mood and Bandwagon.  He organized big band concerts at the CNE with Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Woody Herman and Benny Goodman.  His recordings include several instrumental discs and many jazz CDs with the Boss Brass, Singers Unlimited, The Hi Lo's and others. He frequently takes to the stage as leader of The Guido Basso dance band and the Guido Basso jazz quintet. In 1994 he was awarded the Order of Canada.

Pat Collins

Pat was raised in Qualicum Beach, BC, and studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since moving to Toronto, he has been very active on the Canadian jazz scene, performing with musicians such as Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie,Diana Krall, and many others. Pat recently released his first CD as a leader, entitled In The Moment, which features some of Canada’s premier jazz musicians. The CD has received rave reviews. The Pat Collins Quartet was nominated for a 2005 National Jazz Award as Acoustic Group of the Year, and Pat was nominated as Acoustic Bassist of the Year. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Pat is also in demand as a clinician and is a full-time faculty member of Mohawk College. Pat's website

Mike Downes

Bassist, composer and educator Mike Downes has emerged as one of Canada’s finest jazz artists. In addition to leading his own group, Mike has performed with virtually all of Canada’s top jazz musicians, including Oliver Jones, Diana Krall, and PJ Perry. He has toured worldwide, and is regularly in demand to perform and record with visiting jazz artists such as John Abercrombie, Peter Erskine, Kenny Wheeler, and many others. His numerous recordings include Juno nominations for Ranee Lee’s Dark Divas, Lorne Lofsky’s Bill Please, and Molly Johnson’s Another Day. Mike is the author of The Jazz Bass Line Book. Mike's website

Frank Falco

Frank Falco is a master of the piano.  For many years he was the first call pianist to accompany  big name jazz players touring through Toronto.  He has played with the Boss Brass, Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Lane, Lee Konitz, and Tom Harrell to name a few. He has been part of the York University music program for the past 25 years as well as teaching private students, including many of Toronto's top professional musicians.  He is held in the highest regard by his students as well as his  fellow musicians.

Charles Mountford

“I have always remembered you and treasured that memory of you being my most dedicated and ambitious student at ASCM” – Oscar Peterson. That memory travels back to Charles’ 1961/62 term at ASCM that set the musical foundation on which Charles built  a very successful career in Toronto, Canada. Along the way, he performed with scores of visiting jazz luminaries, was featured with his own groups, and toured both in Canada and internationally. He is perhaps best known in the jazz world as one of the most adept accompanists in instrumental and vocal settings.

Reg Schwager

Reg is one of Canada's leading jazz guitarists. He has performed with internationally acclaimed jazz artists such as Mel Tormé, Pepper Adams, and Hank Jones, and Canadian jazz musicians such as Diana Krall, Rob McConnell, and Peter Appleyard. Recent highlights include television, concert and club performances in the US, Japan and the Bahamas with master jazz pianist George Shearing. Reg has released two recordings by the Reg Schwager Trio, Never Swim Alone and Know Your Zones, containing his own originals and reinterpreted bebop classics, and the newly released Border Town. Reg was awarded an honorable mention in the ASCAP/IAJE Dizzy Gillespie Commissions in the category of Emerging Jazz Composer.