Kirk MacDonald wins first ECMA award for Jazz Recording of the Year

Kirk MacDonald wins first ECMA award for Jazz Recording of the Year

By Jeremy Fraser
April 17, 2015

Fresh off his Juno Award win last month, Kirk MacDonald can add another major achievement to his growing list.

MacDonald, 55, was given his first East Coast Music Award this past Saturday in St. John's, N.L., winning Jazz Recording of the Year for his album Symmetry, which was released June 10.

Although it was MacDonald's first ECMA, it wasn't his first nomination. He was also nominated for an award in 1996.

It's an honour to win both Juno and ECMA awards in the same year, said MacDonald.

"It's nice that they came in the same year. I'm proud of the work I've done on both recordings."

After giving it considerable thought, MacDonald decided to submit his work to the ECMA nomination committee.

"I never really had much time to submit anything, but this year I thought, why not."

Throughout his career, MacDonald has received numerous awards, and has worked with many leading musicians in a variety of musical genres. He has performed on over 45 CDs as both leader and sideman, and has participated in numerous national broadcast recordings for CBC Radio.

In addition to performing extensively throughout Canada, he has also performed in the USA, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Monaco, Australia, Korea, Bermuda and the Bahamas.

For over 25 years, MacDonald has worked and recorded with many leading Canadian, U.S. and International jazz musicians including Claude Ranger, Dave Young, Sam Noto, Sonny Greenwich, Kenny Wheeler and Eddie Henderson.

Other musicians nominated for the ECMA were Greg Amirault, Les Païens, Paul Tynan/Aaron Lington, and the Paul Tynan/Jake Hanlon Duo.

MacDonald, the son of Jerome and the late Vanda MacDonald, has many people to thank for his success on the ECMA stage.

"A big thank you goes to Tom Harrell, Brian Dickinson, Dennis Mackrel and Neil Swainson.  I also want to thank Steve Bellamy for his great work on the production of this recording."

Kim MacDonald is Kirk's sister. She said it's always nice to be recognized for hard work.

"Kirk is an incredible musician who works very hard at playing, composing and pushing the boundaries musically, he always did."

MacDonald found his passion for music during his high school years. He attended Breton Education Centre and was part of the school's band, directed by Terry Hill, in the early 1970s. He cut his first record at 13-years-old.

"Hearing all the records, I knew music was something I wanted to pursue."

When he's not recording music, MacDonald is a full-time professor at Humber College in Toronto, where he holds a cross appointment in the Music Degree Program and the Community Music School.

He also acts as the artistic director for the Youth Jazz in the City project, and directs the Greater Toronto Area Honour Combos and the National Youth Honour Combo, a project that hosts a two-week workshop in the summer for high school students ages 14-18.

Next month, MacDonald will join fellow musicians for a tour in Korea.

"I've been to the country a few times, but I only really stayed in Seoul. I'm looking forward to travelling the country and seeing the other cities."

Following the trip, MacDonald will begin recording a new 18-piece CD in June. He's expecting it to be released in October or November.

"I can't wait to get started on it."

The past two summers, MacDonald has participate in the Cape Breton Jazz Festival, however, to date, he hasn't booked any shows on the island for this summer.

"I have nothing booked in Cape Breton for the summer as of yet. I may come home for a visit in August, but I haven't spoke to anyone regarding playing home."