Brian Lillos is one of Canada’s leading jazz pedagogues. The scope of his teaching ranges from 5th grade beginning band to Doctoral Dissertation advisement in jazz studies. The scope of his playing ranges from clarinet with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to Bari Sax with the Tommy Banks Canadian All-Star Big Band to Be Bop Alto Sax with Barry Harris to Woodwinds with the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra. His students have received Provincial/National/and International recognition as performers/educators/composers/and scholars. He was Director of the Internationally acclaimed Jazz Studies Program at Humber College in Toronto from 1992 – 2001 where he has since held the position of Professor of Jazz Studies.
Educationally, Brian holds a M.Mus. in historical musicology/ethnomusicology and a B.Mus.(honors)
in historical musicology and theory/composition from the University of British Columbia.
Academically, Brian studied extensively with David McCallister, William Malm, Allan Merriam,
Robin Ridington, Ming-Yueh Liang, Donald McCorkle, Pierre Maranda, Elli Kongas-Maranda,
Claude Levi-Strauss, Bill Reid, and Wilson Duff.
As a performer Brian has appeared with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Bill Holman, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Dianna Ross, Stevie Wonder, Mel Torme, Rob McConnell, Diana Krall, Ingrid Jensen, Alastair Kay, Hugh Fraser, Maria Schneider, Louis Bellson, Ian MacDougal, Phil Wilson, Pat LaBarbera, Pete Christlieb, Denny Christianson, Alex Dean, Guido Basso, Bobby Hales, Dave Robbins, Fred Stride, Phil Nimmons, Roger Ingram, Frank Mantooth, Tommy Banks, Kevin Dean, Terry Clarke, Archie Alleyne, Don Thompson, Neil Swainson, Steve McDade, Steve Houghton, Jeff Jarvis, Dave Young, Mike Downes, Brian Dickinson, Ted Warren, Ted Quinlan, Brad Turner, Pat Coleman, Pat Collins, Kelly Jefferson, Art Maiste, the Vancouver Symphony, and the C.B.C. Chamber Orchestra.
Brian also studied with Heinrich Ohlemann (clarinet), Robert Marcellus (clarinet), Fraser MacPhearson (saxophone), Don Thompson (composition and voice leading), Dick Grove (arranging), Pat LaBarbera (improvisation), Jerry Coker (improvisation), Barry Harris (voice leading and improvisation), Jamey Aebersold (improvisation), and David Baker (improvisation).
Brian is considered a curriculum expert. He has been a Curriculum Consultant to the British Columbia Ministry of Education, an External Assessor to numerous Post Secondary Degree Assessment Panels for undergraduate and graduate jazz degree programs; and, a curriculum committee member with the I.A.J.E.
Brian has also been a Juno Juror, a Consultant to the National Research Council on funding for the Arts, an Advisor to the Banff International Workshop on Jazz and Creative Music, a President of Jazz Canada; a Regional Co-ordinator for the West Coast Jazz Combo Festival and the Greater Toronto Music Fest; a program co-ordinator for the Courtenay Summer Youth Jazz Program; a partner in the New West Jazz Clinic; and is currently Chairman of Music Fest Canada (instrumental jazz division).
Brian can be heard most recently on “The Elders Are Listening” Volumes 1 and 2; “For Sonny”; “Rezidential School Blues”; and, “Hannah’s Dance”. Coming attractions may include a book/DVD on Navigating the Be-Boppers Harmonic Galaxy, several C.D.’s -- The Elders are Listening volume 3 – A Tribute to Horace Silver; volume 4 – A Tribute to Bird; A Hammond B3 Session; and Ballads.
Widely published and recorded, Brian is in constant demand as a clinician, performing artist, and adjudicator.
BACK TO HOMEPAGE / BRIAN@BRIANLILLOS.COM
