In A Mellow Tone, December 11: Conversations in jazz with Charles Gordon

I talk to Charles Gordon, humourist and trumpet player, about his life with and in jazz

Charles Gordon had a long career as a journalist and columnist both at the Ottawa Citizen and MacLean’s. He has also recently received the Order of Canada “for his exceptional body of work as a distinguished journalist and author who has educated, enlightened and entertained Canadians for decades”. What is less well-known is his part-time jazz playing. He has played the trumpet since his teens and continues to play at jams into his 80s. He has two releases under his belt.

On this show we talk about his early exposure to jazz in his youth in New York City and Beirut, as well as his early and later years playing with the Tim Murray Quintet. We also talk about his later experiences with the Ottawa-based Jazz Camp - an Ottawa institution that is still going strong.

The music on the show has been selected or suggested by Charley - and includes great trumpet players such as Bix Beiderbecke, Art Farmer, Lee Morgan, Kenny Dorham, and Blue Mitchell. We will also focus on Tom Harrell, his favourite trumpet player. We will also hear one of Charley’s performances of one of his own compositions, “Nelson Street”, with the Tim Murray Quintet, from an album recorded in 2012.

For more history of the Tim Murray Quintet, check out this short documentary.

Although the show is mostly trumpet-focused, we will end the show with the piano of Ronnie Matthews and of Peter Hum, a former Ottawa Citizen colleague of Charley’s. We ran out of time to listen to another favourite of Charley’s - Bill Evans. He had suggested that I play Renee Rosnes’ tribute to Bill Evans, “Emily”. Here it is.

You can listen to the show live on Wednesday at 9 p.m., in Ottawa at 93.1 on the FM dial, or through online streaming at CKCUFM.com. The show will also be available for on demand streaming after broadcast.