RICHARD UNDERHILL

Richard Underhill's wonderful warm alto sound, great writing and arranging skills and in-from-the-outside soloing make him one of Canada's most distinctive jazz performers. Richard won a 2003 Juno Award for his jazz debut Tales from the Blue Lounge and was nominated for the Prix du Jazz at the 2003 Montreal Jazz Festival.
His latest album Kesnington Suite has garnered significant critical acclaim and has been nominated for a 2008 Juno Award. His 2nd album Moment in Time was also nominated for a Juno Award in 2007. His debut video 'The Old Guys' climbed to No.1 on the Bravo! video chart and won a 2004 SOCAN Number 1 award. A truly original jazz composer and arranger, Richard's exciting original music captivates audiences with singable melodies, outstanding musicianship and engaging performances.

Richard has performed and recorded with Han Bennink, Julius Hemphil, Dr. John, Paul Cram, Kevin Breit, Jane Bunnett, the Neville Brothers, Kathleen Edwards, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldar, Rob McConnell, Molly Johnson, Blue Rodeo, Colin James, Andy Stochansky, Colin Linden, Hawksley Workman, Stephen Frearing, The Sadies, Tom Cochrane, Wide Mouth Mason, Luke Doucet, Holly Cole, Julie Michaels, Alex Lifeson, Mendelson Joe, Amos Garrett, Bobby Wiseman, Soul Rebels, the Mighty PoPo, the Hemispheres Orchestra, Daniel Janke, Tom Walsh, Luke Doucet, Mellissa McClelland, NOMA and Toronto jazz stalwarts like Reg Schwager, Jake Langley, Steve Koven, Ron Davis, Wayne Cass, Tyler Yareema, Tory Cassis, and George Koller. In demand as a session player and sideman, he has written horn and string arrangements for Kathleen Edwards, Molly Johnson, Andy Stochansky, Hawksley Workman, Blue Rodeo, Bobby Wiseman, Big Rude Jake and Lorraine Segato. He leads several diverse groups including his jazz quintet, the Funk Explosion, The Kensington Horns Community Band, and the improvising electronic groove ensemble Astrogroove.

The founding member of Toronto's outrageous Sun Ra influenced Shuffle Demons, Underhill took this ground breaking Bop Rap ensemble from the streets of Toronto across Canada and to Europe. This audacious group played jazz, folk, world and rock festivals from Halifax to Vancouver and from Italy to Estonia from 1986 – 1997, touring across Canada 15 times and through Europe 15 times. The Shuffle Demons featured a fusion of hard bop and rap combined with exotic costumes and a no-holds-barred performance style. Over the course of 15 European tours they were a hit at several Jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz, Molde Jazz, London's Outside In Jazz festival, the Edinburgh Jazz festival, the Sfinks festival, and Jazz a Vienne. They recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary with a cross Canada tour and by breaking the Guinness Book World Record for most sax players performing a song. (900). The Shuffle Demons continue to tour and in 2006 performed at festivals in India, China and Europe to great success.

PRESS

NOW Magazine – Top 10 CD's of 2007
Jazz Demon Underhill found inspiration in his own backyard for this coolly conceived disc. In his smooth-flowing, hot-stepping conceptual jazz ode to his Kensington Market 'hood, Underhill evokes the vibrancy of the Augusta and Baldwin intersection with a great Saturday-afternoon headphone backdrop.

Richard Underhill – Kensington Suite By Glen Hall Exclaim Magazine 2008
There is a truism that 'place begets art" and that is definitely the case on alto-saxophonist Richard Underhill's Kensington Suite. A denizen on the multi-cultural funky enclave at the heart of one of the world's most culturally diverse cities (Toronto), Underhill is perfectly suited to write a suite of tunes that reflect his neighbourhood. A dedicated cyclist, "Bike Lane" features some smokin' Underhill alto followed by seriously boisterous guitar work by another Shuffle Demon, Eric St-Laurent. The leader's grooving "Cançao de Vila" also reflects the environment in which this highly approachable music was born. His cohorts – a partial list includes bassist Brandi Disterheft, tenorists Chris Gale and Perry white, keyboardist Dave Restivo and uber-guitarist Reg Schwager – all make their substantial presence felt on whatever tune they play. Admittedly this may not be groundbreaking music. But if you want to grove out, Kensington Suite will do your house party well. This is cool stuff from a darn fine musician.

Richard Underhill – Kensington Suite NNNN (Sizzling)
Critics Pick NOW Magazine. Dec. 6 /2007
The off-and-on Shuffle Demon follows his Juno-nominated Moment in Time with a conceptual ode to his current place of residence, Kensington Market. It's certainly one of the city's most unique neighborhoods, and Underhill does it jazz justice. He captures the unrushed Ideal Coffee vibe on Meet Me in the Market, with Underhill's alto leading a breezy small-band chamber sound. Bike Lane is more frenetic, like dodging bodies and unwelcome cars on a busy Saturday, as fellow Demon Perry White lets loose a hot tenor solo. Underhill puts down the utopian brush for a moment on In the Shadows, on which Dave Restivo organ-grinds a smoky compliment to his sinister soundtrack to late nights at Bellevue Square.

Richard Underhill – Kensington Suite
***1/2 (Excellent) Ashante Infantry – Toronto Star - Dec. 18/07
Founding Shuffle Demons member Richard Underhill's third solo disc is an homage to his Kensington Market neighbourhood. The ace alto saxist excels here as both a player and composer on these 10 original tunes to conjure one of the city's hippest enclaves. Accompanied by a host of top-notch players – Dave Restivo on organ and Artie Roth - the tunes swing from classic jazz to Bossa Nova to rock-influenced for a fun, familiar sound. Top Track: 'When I Miss You' features a lovely guitar solo by Reg Schwager.