Patrick Tevlin Music
Patrick Tevlin Bio
Patrick Tevlin - Trumpet, Vocal, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet
Patrick Tevlin has been a band leader in Toronto since 1976. On his first trip to New Orleans two years later Tevlin saw, heard and met trumpet great Kid Thomas Valentine, and he has never looked back. He built a style based on Kid Thomas along with other great New Orleans trumpeters including Dede Pierce and Louis Armstrong.
In 1983 Tevlin switched to tenor sax and clarinet, and joined mentor Kid Bastien’s Happy Pals, where he played for twenty years and recorded five albums. His sax is rooted in New Orleans jazz as well as the early R&B style of stars like Fats Domino and Ray Charles. His clarinet is influenced by New Orleanians like George Lewis and Johnny Dodds.
When Kid Bastien died suddenly in 2003, Tevlin switched back to trumpet and took over leadership of The Happy Pals. Two new CDs have been issued since, and another is in the works. Tevlin switched careers from science (He holds a Ph.D. in physics.) to full-time music in 2005. All in all, he performs in several groups based in Toronto:
- The Happy Pals are a seven-piece jazz band playing authentic old-time New Orleans party music. They’ve been featured every Saturday at Toronto’s legendary Grossman’s Tavern for over thirty years, and have attracted literally generations of fans.The music is stomping “revival” jazz from the Preservation Hall period, mixing jazz classics with tunes by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and others. The Happy Pals tour festivals in Europe every summer.
- Patrick Tevlin’s New Orleans Rhythm is a three or four piece group focussing on hot jazz from the 1930s, playing regularly around Toronto. New Orleans Rhythm has recently recorded CDs with international guests including Chris Burke, Brian Carrick, Dr. Michael White and the late Jacques Gauthé. Their latest recording is a free download EP available at www.tevlin.ca in November.
- Toronto’s Magnolia Brass Band, founded by Tevlin and Kid Bastien in 1980 is a street band often seen in parades around the Toronto area, and annually in New Orleans’ French Quarter Festival. And yes, they do play at funerals.
- The Patrick Tevlin Blues Band is a quartet of trumpet, electric guitar, upright bass and drums, playing classic New Orleans Rhythm & Blues. Rocking tunes of the 1950s by the likes of Fats Domino and Ray Charles.
- Frankie Foo and the Yoyo Smugglers is a dance band playing Jamaican, British and original ska. The Foo are led by altoist Toby Hughes, and feature Patrick Tevlin on tenor saxophone.
Tevlin has played on studio recordings with a number of Toronto bands, in a wide variety of styles, and has guested with numerous bands.
Contact: patrick(at)tevlin.ca
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