
Lorne Lofsky
Jazz Musician
Professor
Lofsky started off playing rock music but took an interest in jazz upon hearing
the Miles Davis album "Kind of Blue". Hearing this record was, for Lofsky, a musical
revelation that led to a dramatic change is his approach to playing music. Lofsky
began a more formal study of music while attending York University, in the mid 70's
('74/75), focusing on jazz theory and performance. He spent two years under the
guidance of John Gittins and Bob Witmer.
At a gig in Toronto Lofsky met jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. A few weeks later he
received a phone call from Peterson who offered to produce a record for him on the
prestigious Pablo record label. The result was Lofsky's debut album entitled "It
Could Happen To You". Lofsky worked extensively with Oscar Peterson, and from '94-'96,
Lofsky was a member of the Oscar Peterson Quartet. The group performed at Carnegie
Hall in N.Y.C., the Montreal Jazz Festival, Sao Paolo, Brazil and played numerous
concerts throughout Europe. In addition, Lorne was featured on 3 CDs with Peterson.
One of them was a double CD recorded live in Paris.
From 1983 to 1991 Lofsky played in a quartet with jazz guitarist Ed Bickert. This
collaboration yielded two recordings (one of which was for the prestigious Concord
label entitled "This Is New") and a tour of Spain in 1991.
In the early 80's, Lofsky began an important musical association with saxophonist
Kirk Macdonald leading to the formation of a quartet that has continued to perform
extensively in the Toronto area. Various versions of this quartet have played numerous
dates outside of Toronto, including the Atlantic Jazz Festival, Montreal's Upstairs
Club, Vancouver's Cotton Club and others.
Since the late 1970s, Lorne has worked as a jazz performance instructor at York
University in Toronto. Additionally, Lorne taught for several years at the University
of Toronto and has an extensive private teaching practice.
Lorne continues to teach and perform in the Toronto area where he remains a mainstay
of the jazz scene.
Discography
- Lorne Lofsky - "It Could Happen To You" Pablo records, 1980
- Johnny Hartman - "This One's For Tedi", Audiophile Rec., 1981
- "Brass Connection" - Innovation Records, 1982 - Juno award winner
- Brass Connection - "A New Look", Innovation Records, 1984
- "Chet Baker in Buffalo" - CCB Records, 1984
- "Ed Bickert, Lorne Lofsky and Friends", Unisson Records, 1985
- Brass Connection - "A Five Star Edition", Innovation Records, 1988
- Ed Bickert and Lorne Lofsky - "This is New", Concord Records, 1990
- "Lorne Lofsky" -Jazz Inspiration Records, 1992
- Duncan Hopkins, "Le Rouge" (with Kenny Wheeler), 1993
- Lorne Lofsky - "Bill Please" - Jazz Inspiration Rec., 1994 - Juno Award Nominee
- "The More I See You", with Oscar Peterson, Benny Carter, Ray Brown, Clark Terry
and Lewis Nash - Telarc Records, 1995
- Rob McConnell's Boss Brass "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" - Concord Records, 1995
- Oscar Peterson - "An Oscar Peterson Christmas" - Telarc Records, 1995
- "Oscar In Paris" (Live at Salle Pleyel) - Telarc Records, 1996
- Kirk Macdonald - "The Atlantic Sessions" - Koch Records,1997 [Juno Award Winner]
- Kirk Macdonald - "New Beginnings" - Radioland Records,1998 [Juno Award Nominee]
- Joey DeFrancesco - "One Take" featuring Lorne Lofsky - Alma Records, [2003 Juno
Award Nominee]
- Inside Out (Lorne Lofsky, Kieran Overs & Barry Romberg) - What Is This Thing? -
Romhog Records, 2004
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