Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson at Chalker's Pub

On the evening of Rosh Hashanah, I decided to attend an intimate concert put on by two giants of Canadian Jazz.   The names: Don Thompson and Phil Dwyer.  

These two men have won Junos, performed with some of the biggest names in the jazz world (Jim Hall, Paul Desmond, George Shearing, etc.) and they are still going strong performing jazz at its highest level.

Earlier I reviewed Phil Dwyer in a trio setting with Pat Collins and Terry Clarke.   In a stripped down duo setting, it felt like magic channeling the great saxophonists of the 20^th century and laying down the mantle for jazz in the 21^st century.    For Don Thompson, Canada’s elder statesmen in jazz, he shows brilliant musicianship to the highest order being well adept in playing the bass, piano, and vibraphone with such clarity and precision, not even mentioning the fact that he is a great composer and arranger.

Instead of obscure jazz tunes, it was a dialogue of two friends playing standards that they loved and cherished all over the years.    I managed to shoot a video of Phil and Don playing Rogers and Hart’s “Lover”, and instead of spending more time writing about the music, I feel that these seven minutes that I have captured speak for the great musicianship and camaraderie that these musicians have developed over the years.

PHIL DWYER OFFICIAL WEBSITE

http://www.phildwyer.com