Album Notes

Jody Proznick - Foundations 4/4
O's Notes: Jodi is one of the finest women bassists we've ever heard. In fact she produces some of the most robust sound from the upright of any player. She leads a quartet that coalesced during their days at Montreal's McGill University before branching out on their own. They reunited while in Vancouver and the results are wonderful. We liked the energy of "Reaction" with drummer Jesse Cahill exploding. "All Too Soon" features Steve Kaldstad (sax) and a well thought out solo from Jodi. "RB's Line" opens with Tilden Webb (p) and Steve mimicking each other on the melody before Jodi and Jesse join in to trade sparks on solos. There is good chemistry here which spills over to the listene

In 1993, after winning the General Motors Award of Excellence as one of the top young musicians in Canada, bassist Jodi Proznick moved from her native White Rock, B.C. to Montreal, P.Q. where she obtained her B. Mus. from McGill University under the tutelage of Michel Donato, Eric Legace and Alec Walkington. Jodi was awarded a performance scholarship in 1997 as a member of the McGill Big Band. She performed extensively in Montreal, appearing in club and concert venues as well as on local television and radio programs. In Montreal, Jodi performed with Juno nominated Ranee Lee, Bryn Roberts, Kelly Jefferson, Michel Cusson (of Uzeb), André White, Steve Amirault and many others.

In 1998, Jodi was the winner of the IAJE “Sisters in Jazz” Competition which brought her to New York to perform with Ingrid Jensen and to Detroit to open for Geri Allen. She has been a panel guest at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference on issues surrounding women in jazz. Jodi has also been asked to present a workshop at the BCMEA conference in 2005. She has performed a number of times on CBC radio’s Jazzbeat (with her own ensemble), Hot Air, Silence en Jazz, the Early Edition and West Coast Performance.

Since moving to Vancouver in 2000, Jodi has become a top call bassist. She has played with international jazz stars such as David “Fathead” Newman (of Ray Charles fame),Ed Thigpen (Oscar Peterson Trio, Ella Fitzgerald), Charles McPherson (Charles Mingus), Seamus Blake, Ryan Kaisor (Lincoln Center Orchestra), Eddie Henderson, Eddie Daniels, Mark Murphy, George Colligan, Frank Moracco, Rhiannon, Kitty Margolis, Patience Higgins, Jim Rotundi, Houston Pearson and Ingrid Jensen as well as Canadian greats P.J. Perry, Ian McDougall, Denzal Sinclaire, Oliver Gannon, Brad Turner, Kirk Macdonald, Phil Dwyer, Mike Allen, VEJI, Hugh Fraser, Campbell Ryga, Dee Daniels, Karin Plato, Brian Dickinson, Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Bill Coon, Jean-Francois Groulx, Ron Paley, Celso Machado, Kia Kadiri, the Vancouver Chamber Choir and many others. She has been featured on many recordings including a recent recording with the legendary David “Fathead” Newman.

Recently, Jodi had the opportunity to play a concert series with VSO concertmaster Mark Fewer and Grammy nominated classical pianist, John Novechek for CBC’s West Coast Performance. A highlight for Jodi was opening for Oscar Peterson with the Oliver Gannon Quartet at the Orpheum in the summer of 2004. Also In 2004, Jodi won the Galaxie Rising Star Award of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival with her own group, the Jodi Proznick Quartet.

Jodi on faculty at Capilano College, at the CYMC Pacific Jazz Workshop and at the New West Summer Jazz Workshop. She has adjudicated at the Envision Jazz Festival and at the Nelson Jazz Festival and has given clinics at various colleges and high schools including Grant MacEwen Community College and Western Michigan University. Jodi also teaches early childhood music classes in the community and is working toward her Master’s degree in Art Education at Simon Fraser University.


Recordings:

The Time is Now - Joel Haynes Trio (Cellarlive)
Cellar Groove - Tilden Webb Trio feat. David Fathead Newman (Cellarlive)
Live from Lotusland - Mike Rud (Cellarlive)
Run with it - James Danderfer Group (Cellarlive)
Swingmatasim - Gary Guthman (Pacific Ocean Productions)
Live at the Cellar - Charles McPherson Quartet (Cellarlive)
Little Temptations - Sienna (Independent)
Real Time - Sienna (Independent)