Blues Till Dawn by Gordon Webster

Webster graduated from the Manhattan School of Music Masters Degree in jazz studies program in 2006, and has studied privately with Kenny Barron, Garry Dial, Sonny Bravo, Ari Heonig and Samir Chatterjee. He has performed in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, France, Australia, and throughout the United States and Canada at international jazz festivals, jazz clubs, and dancing events including lindy exchanges, workshops and camps.

Originally from Ottawa, Webster began studying music at the age of four. In 1993 he moved to Toronto where he earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto in 1999. His first trio recording, as a leader, "Three We" was released in 2000 with sidemen Duncan Hopkins and Kevin Dempsey. Other recording credits include Canadian jazz releases with Chris Robinson, Kim Addison, Rita di Ghent; groove/fusion projects KITE, Jukejoint and Gruvoria; a recent duo album with Rochester trumpeter Mike Kaupa, and brother Mike Webster's fall 2005 release Leading Lines featuring bassist John Benitez (Eddie Palmeri, Chick Corea, John Scofield) and trumpeter Mike Rodriguez (Ray Barreto). Gordon has taught jazz improvisation and piano at Jazzworks summer camp near Ottawa, Canada for four years, and has appeared in educational concerts for children with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in collaboration with conductor Boris Brott.

In addition to his ongoing creative pursuits as a jazz musician, Gordon developed a passion for lindy hop and blues dancing over the past six years, which has become a significant influence in his life since 2001. Blues Till Dawn is a collection of slow, bluesy jazz tracks influenced by the sultry atmosphere of a late night dancing event in the lindy hop/blues scene.

Here's what dancers are saying about Gordon Webster:

"...an extremely rare combination of eloquence, passion, and accessibility - like a shot of something pure that goes straight to the head and heart."

--Elizabeth Miller, dance instructor, event promoter

Boston, MA

"Gordon plays every note like it's the last note he's going to play in his entire life."

--Steven Mitchell, worldwide lindy hop instructor

"Gord's very well musically educated, and it's evident. However, it's HOW he plays that makes the biggest impact - his soul wells up in his hands and either flows or explodes out through his fingers and into the keys. He's incredibly moving. Incredibly."

--Michelle Long, dancer

Rochester, NY

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