Album Notes

Saxophonist Cory Weeds has been a professional musician for the better part of 15 years. Growing up in Vancouver, music was always a huge part of Weeds’ life. His father introduced him to jazz at a young age and although it took some time for the music to stick Weeds always showed an interest in music. Weeds played piano for 13 years before making the permanent switch to the alto saxophone in high school. Upon graduation Weeds attended the music program at North Vancouver’s Capilano College for 3 years before receiving a scholarship to prestigious music program at The University Of North Texas in Denton, Texas. After spending a year in Dallas Weeds returned home and decided that he wanted to concentrate on being a performing musician. Shortly after his return he joined popular Vancouver band People Playing Music and found himself touring Canada, the United States and Europe. It was also Weeds’ first experience in the recording studio. The band released Sette in 1997 to critical acclaim. During Weeds’ tenure in the band he became enchanted with the funkier side of jazz by the likes of Maceo Parker, Grant Green, Dr. Lonnie Smith etc. His love of this music made him start his own instrumental funk/jazz band Crash with good friend, tenor saxophonist Jerry Cook. In 1998 the band released its first CD entitled Crash. The band experienced a lot of success and in the summer of 1998 did a cross Canada tour playing jazz festivals across the country including a highlight performance at The Montreal Jazz Festival. The band went back into the studio in 1999 to record their sophomore release Candyshop that was received equally as well. It wasn’t until 2003 however when by chance the band was booked to back up Hammond B3 organ guru Dr. Lonnie Smith. This chance meeting resulted in the band’s 3rd CD The Dr. Is In on Cellar Live. The band has since toured the Pacific Northwest 4 times with Dr. Lonnie Smith and selling over 1000 CDs.

Weeds is currently concentrating on more straight ahead projects including his quartet with pianist / composer Sharon Minemoto, bassist Jodi Proznick and drummer Jesse Cahill. He is also a member and co-leader of The Night Crawlers who just released their debut on Cellar Live. The B3 Kings is a seasonal quartet featuring Denzal Sinclaire on voice / drums, Chris Gestrin on b3 organ and Bill Coon on guitar. The band recorded a CD that was released in 2005 that has been a hit worldwide. The band continuously sells out venues around Vancouver during the holiday season.

In January, 2007 Weeds recorded his first record as a leader featuring New York heavyweights guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Mike Ledonne and drummer Joe Farnsworth.

Weeds has also shared the stage with international superstars such as Lou Donaldson, David Fathead Newman, Charles McPherson, Harold Mabern and Charles McPherson, Ian Hendrickson-Smith and Mike DiRubbo to name a few. He has also shared the stage with Brad Turner, Mike Allen, Hugh Fraser, Don Thompson, Denzal Sinclaire, Oliver Gannon, Cam Ryga and Ross Taggart.