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Thursday, Apr 24th, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
John Reid, saxophones, flute, clarinet. Stefano Valdo, bass.
John Charles Reid, saxophone and flute
John Reid has shared the stage with EMMY, GRAMMY, OSCAR, and TONY winners — it could be jokingly said that he is EGOT-once removed!
He turned professional in 1971 with the 25-piece show group Stratus Faction touring North America and doing television for CTV. In 1974, at the encouragement of Oscar Peterson and Phil Nimmons, he formed a quartet at the inaugural Banff Centre Jazz Workshop making a Jazz Radio Canada broadcast. He also toured with territory funk bands in the 70s before completing his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Calgary in 1979.
Reid was awarded the Master of Arts in Jazz History and Research degree at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2010 (thesis topic: Dexter Gordon), has recorded three compact discs, and has performed at the Havana Jazz Plaza International Festival.
Reid has been on stage with: NEA Jazz Masters Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Brookmeyer, and Lee Konitz; Tom Jones, Bob Hope, Joan Rivers, Tommy Banks’s 1988 Olympic Orchestra, Lou Rawls, Harry Connick Jr., Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave), Diana Krall, Fifth Dimension, Mel Tormé, and Doc Severinsen Orchestra.
As Artistic Director of the Nebula Repertory Ensemble Association he has curated tributes to: Dexter Gordon, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and Richard Rodgers.
John Reid has taught at the University of Calgary since 1983 and for 36 years was Prairie Regional Director of the Canadian Music Centre. johnreid.ca.
Stefano Valdo, bass
Stefano Valdo is an experienced Performer, Studio Musician and Music Educator. Born in Northern Italy, he studied classical guitar and double bass at the local Conservatory.
While attending the University of Architecture in Venice (Italy), Stefano formed the pop-rock band “CANTON”, who signed a three-year contract with Arista Records. During this period, the band released several singles. One of them reached the top-twenty charts in Italy with 250,000 copies sold.
In 1990 he moved to Los Angeles to study jazz arranging and composition at the Grove School of Music. After completion of the two-year program, Stefano immersed himself into the L.A. music scene and as a freelance musician for live performances and studio sessions. It was at this time that he joined the Grove School of Music Faculty, assisting noted music educator Mark Harrison in the General Musicianship and Small Group Arranging classes.
As Stefano’s reputation as an educator grew, in 1996 he joined Harrison School of Music as Chair of the Bass Department. During his five years at the Harrison School, Stefano wrote the curriculum for the Bass Program. At the same time, he kept refining his instrumental skills by taking private lessons with bassists Miroslav Vitous, Dave Holland, and Jeff Berlin.
In 1999, Stefano earned his Master of Music degree from California State University at Long Beach. While at CSULB, he taught theory and ear training classes for the Undergraduate Program and continued to produce, record and perform for numerous independent projects. Among them he produced and arranged a twelve-piece jazz band album entitled, “L.A. Supper Club”, and two CD’s for noted flamenco group, Sarkis Quatro, for which he also served as Music Director. Among top jazz artists Stefano has performed with are: Ed Shaughnessy, Greg Bissonette, Justo Almario, Bobby Shew, Buddy Collette, and Jimmy Smith.
Stefano and his family moved to Calgary in 2006 where he keeps a busy schedule performing and teaching jazz ensembles and jazz theory classes at Ambrose University.
Band members
John Reid, saxophone and flute
Stefano Valdo, bass