Saxophones

Trumpets

Michael Garding- 1st Alto Saxophone

Malcolm Green- 2nd Alto Saxophone

Craig Thomson- 1st Tenor Saxophone

Pat Mac Gibbon- 2nd Tenor Saxophone

Bob Piché- Bari Saxophone

Derek Turvey- 1st Trumpet

Fred Gass- 1st Trumpet

Brian Todd- 2nd Trumpet

Matt Nickel- 3rd Trumpet

Jason Pyett - 4th Trumpet 

Trombones

Rhythm

Section

Mary Atherton-1st Trombone

Andrew Cameron-2nd Trombone

Fred Schubel-3rd Trombone

Darin Senkiw-Bass Trombone

Neville Bowman-Vocals/ Piano

Brian Mc Mahon- Bass

Scott Gamble- Drums

Michael Garding

1st Alto Saxohone/ Flute

Band Leader

Michael is one of the Okanagan’s most sought after Jazz musicians. He is known for his exceptional tone quality, high range, and imaginative improvisation. Michael’s lyrical style has been influenced by Cannonball Adderly, and Phil Woods, as well as local artist Larry Crawford, to name a few.

Michael attributes much of his early interest in Jazz to the encouragement of his high school band teacher Derek Turvey. After graduating from George Elliot in Winfield, Michael went on to study Musical Performance at Grant Mac Ewan College in Edmonton, playing ‘lead alto’ (and flute) in their big band. Michael’s ability to quickly identify pitch and complex chords earned him respect from his instructors.

As well leading his own big band, Michael Also leads the “Festival Big Band” featured at the annual BC Interior Jazz Festival, sharing the stage with such talented musicians as Tommy Banks, 3 time Juno winner Campbell Ryga, Dee Daniels, Carol Welsman, Greg Yasinitsky, Bob Mintzer, Horace Alexander Young, Pat La Barbera, and others.

Michael Has also performed with with “Big” Miller, Bob Stroup, The Mart Kenny Dance Band, and the Dal Richards Orchestra.

Although he is best known as an Alto player, he also plays Soprano, Baritone and Tenor Saxophone. With such versatility, he has performed with “The Shuffle Kings”, various jazz groups, and was the Music Director/Arranger and lead sax player with the Funk band “Soul Funktion”.

Michael is keeping very busy leading ‘The Michael Garding Big Band’, a twenty-piece Big Band in which he plays ‘lead alto’, conducts, composes, and arranges original material written by some members of the band, as well as reviving old standards with his arranging styles.

In addition to performing, Michael has adjudicated for the BC Interior Jazz Festival. He is the Producer of the “Saturday Showcase”, and has presented clinics at local schools.

Malcolm Green

2nd Alto Saxohone

Malcolm is one of the original members of the M.G.B.B. sax section. Prior to the formation of the big band, he played baritone sax in the local ten-piece funk band, “Soul Funktion” (Also led by Michael Garding.)

Malcolm’s love of music began while playing in high school jazz bands under the leadership of Brian Todd.

In 1997, Malcolm gathered 16 local church musicians together, and started the Step of Faith Big Band. Writing arrangements for the big band became a passion and a labour of love. After three years the big band was downsized and has since gone through a number of changes in both personnel and musical styles. The twelve member Step Of Faith Vocal and Brass Ensemble, is Malcolm’s latest project. Malcolm arranges for Step of Faith with a jazz/rock flavour, influenced by such bands as Chicago and Tower of Power.

Malcolm has played alto, tenor and baritone saxes on a number of local CD projects and enjoys being active in the local music scene.

Craig Thomson

1st Tenor Saxohone/ Flute

Craig Thomson is a performer and teacher from Kelowna, BC. He holds a Jazz Performance Diploma from Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton, AB, an honorary Performance Diploma from Capilano College in North Vancouver, BC, a Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree from Capilano College in conjunction with Open University, and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia.

Craig currently teaches music at Springvalley Middle School in Kelowna, as well as teaching private lessons in both saxophones and improvisation. He currently performs in the Michael Garding Big Band and in various other pick-up ensembles in and around the Okanagan Valley.

Pat Mac Gibbon

2nd Tenor Saxohone

Pat MacGibbon grew up in Kelowna and began playing the saxophone at age 11.  He studied with nationally renound saxophonist Larry Crawford and performed regularly with latin ensemble Ritmo Caliente under the direction of Trevor Salloum.  In 2001 he moved to Toronto where he studied music at Humber College and learned from such musicians as Don Thompson, Pat Labarbera, Mike Murley, Kelly Jefferson, Mark Promane, Al Kay and John MacLeod.  He has also had informal private lessons with internationally acclaimed saxophonist Branford Marsalis. 

In 2005, after receiving a Diploma in Music with Honours, Pat moved back to Kelowna where he has been performing with the Michael Garding Big Band and the Almost Elvis Show.  He is also teaching privately at the Kelowna Community Music School.

Bob Piché

Bari Saxophone / Clarinet /

Bass Clarinet

Robert Piché studied clarinet with James Morton from the National Art Centre Orchestra in Ottawa; Flute with Jean-Guy Brault from the NAC Orchestra; and Saxophone with Joe Viola at the Berkley School of Music in Boston.

In 1963, Piché began his career as a musician with the Tri Service School of Music in the Canadian Armed Forces, joining the RCMP band in 1972. Over the next 21 years, Piché became a member of the Orpheus Society, performing in many shows, including Brigadoon, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and Chicago. He has also been a back-up musician for many vocalists including Frank Sinatra, Englebert Humperdink, Red Skelton and Sharon, Lois & Bram.

Piché joined the Kelowna City Band on moving here in 1994, and has also been a member of the Johnny Deschner Big Band, playing 2 nd alto sax. Since 1998, he has been second clarinet in the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. He is first clarinet in Kelowna’s Mozart Festival and Canada Day Orchestras, as well as performing with Viva Musica.

In addition to performing, Bob is also a highly regarded private woodwind teacher here in the Okanagan, teaching saxophone, flute, and clarinet at the School on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Derek Turvey

1st Trumpet

Derek received his Ba.Music at Washington State University.

He has taught music in B.C. public schools for 35 years, and is now retired..

His performance career includes  playing in the Okanagan Symphony, Johnny Deschner Big Band, Travellers dance band, the Westside Jazz Band and the B.C. Interior Jazz Festival Big Band. Derek has been a part of the Michael Garding Big Band as one of the original members for the past 5 years.

Fred Gass

1st Trumpet

Fred studied at Douglas College, Vancouver City College, and University of Victoria

He has taught at St,. Georges School and currently teaches in Kelowna and Summerland in the private school systems. Has performed with R&B Allstars, Red skelton, Bozz Scaggs , Stephen Stills, Trooper, Platters, Tanya Tucker, Al Martino, Rosemary Clooney, James Brown etc. The Michael Garding big band is his favorite over a thirty- year career!

In addition to performing, Fred is one of the most well respected, and sought after private instructors of trumpet in the Okanagan.

Brian Todd

2nd Trumpet

Brian played in the Kitsilano Boys' Band from age 13 to 18.

He received his Bachelor Music U.B.C. in 1963, following up with a Diploma of Education U.B.C. in 1964.

Brian completed a 35 year career of teaching music in the public school system, the latter of which he taught in Kelowna, finishing up at Kelowna Secondary School- achieving 1 st place in the National Jazz Festival in 1976.

Brian Has played in numerous combos and big bands, including the Johnny Deschner Big Band where he was musical director, as well as 2 nd Trumpet chair holder.

Matt Nickel

3rd Trumpet

Matts’ started his playing career touring with the Continental Orchestra in 1996. At that time he was also a member of the Vancouver Island Symphony from ’96 to ’97.

He attended the University Of Victoria, where he studied with Louis Ranger, and eventually received his Bachelor of Music in 2000.

Mathew eventually found his way to the Okanagan, and was a member of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra from 2003 to 2004, before he joined The Michael Garding Big Band.

Jason Pyett

4th Trumpet

Jason is the most recent member of the Michael Garding Big Band, joining fellow trumpeter, and former band teacher Brian Todd. Jason and Michael played together at various gigs together in the 90's while Jason was finishing high school, and continues his passion and love for music.

Mary Atherton

1st Trombone

Mary started playing trombone at 13. She achieved her Royal College of Music Grade 10 with Honors at age 15.

After graduating she went on to study with David Loukes and Neville Roberts(Halle Orchestra) at Salford University.

Mary has performed with many Orchestras and Big Bands in both the U.K and Canada, including the Kelowna City Band, The Kelowna Wed. night Dance Band, The Westside Jazz Band, and “The Bone Band”, which she leads.

Andrew Cameron

2nd Trombone

Andrew has been playing the piano since the age of five, and has been studying trombone under the private instruction of Mary Atherton for the past six years.  He has Grade 8 Royal Conservatory of Music certification for piano, and is studying for examination on the trombone. 

A member of Kelowna Secondary School's vocal jazz ensemble for the past three years, he enjoys participating in numerous other groups in addition to the Michael Garding Big Band, among them KSS's Night Owl Orchestra and a jazz quintet.  Andrew has participated in the BC Interior Jazz Festival numerous times, as well as MusicFest Canada. 

After his graduation in June 2006, Andrew looks forward to further musical pursuits while attending university.

Fred Schubel

3rd Trombone

A graduate of the music education program at the University of Toronto, Mr Schubel taught secondary school in the Scarborough school system for 5 years. Subsequently he attended the Allied Music repair school in Wisconsin which led to his move to the Okanagan and eventual ownership of Omus Band Instrument Repair Service.
     

He has performed with the Toronto Symphony, and was Bass Trombonist for the Hamilton Philharmonic, National Youth Orchestra and the Okanagan Symphony.

In addition to performing as a pit band member in various musical productions in the Okanagan, he was also a member of the Johnny Deschner Big Band, the Wesrside Jazz Band, and is a member of the BC Interior Jazz Festival Big Band, lead by Michael Garding.

Darin Senkiw

Bass Trombone

Darin has been playing the Trombone for over fifteen years and has studied Trombone with Ian McDougall at the University of Victoria.

Currently, Darin is an in demand freelance Bass Trombone and Tenor Trombone player in the Okanagan. In addition to playing with the Michael Garding Big Band, Darin also performs with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. Darin also teaches trombone privately and works at Paramount Music as a sales person and clinician.

Neville Bowman

Vocals/ Piano

One of the few original members of the band , and at first just the vocalist , Neville has been doubling as the keyboardist for over a year now.

A graduate of the Selkirk Professional Music program , he is no stranger to the recording and performing world , having played on and arranged numerous cd's for others, as well as backing up artists as diverse as Dee Daniels , Bob d'Angeles and Paul Janz. His own trio , "Just In Time" , has received many accolades and can be heard on CBC radio from time to time.

Also an experienced musical director/actor , Neville even picks up a bass for the award winning band "10 to 9", displaying a musical diversity shared by many in the Michael Garding Big Band.

Brian Mc Mahon

Bass

2002  -  present  Bassist, Michael Garding Big Band   
2000  -  2005      President, Vernon Jazz Society   
1997  -  2001      Bassist, Zingano (gypsy swing trio)   
1992  -  present  Music teacher at three schools in Vernon  
1982  -  1992      Music teacher in Tisdale, Sask., Langley, BC, and Kelowna.

Brian has played with Christine Duncan, Kevin Elaschuk, Sherman Doucette, Harpdog Brown, The UBC Big Band, Saxophobia, and the Downbeat Swing Band

Scott Gamble

Drums

Scott Gamble started playing music at an early age, and began gigging
regularly at 16.  Comfortable in any style, he has been fortunate to share
the stage with some wonderful musicians, such as Canada¹s top alto player
(2000) Campbell Ryga, renowned bassist Torben Oxbol, Grammy award-winning saxophonist Bob Mintzer, jazz singers Carol Welsman & Dee Daniels, and Canada¹s premier pedal steel guitarist Al Brisco.  Scott also very much
enjoys the studio environment, and has contributed to over 30 CDs thus far.
In addition, he has played in pit orchestras for such musicals as Jesus
Christ Superstar, The Scarlet Pimpernel and Little Shop of Horrors, and he
has joined the Okanagan, Kootenay and Kamloops Symphonies for performances with singer Michael Burgess, and Clarinetist Bob De Angelis.

Scott is currently a member of rock band Ten2Nine, who have opened for acts like Wide Mouth Mason, Jeff Healey and the Northern Pikes, and have just released their second full-length CD.  He also plays with the Michael
Garding Big Band, and gigs regularly with Ellen Churchill and the Corvairs.

Scott also enjoys writing, and is currently working on a second CD of his
own material, due Spring/Summer 2006.