Gary Schwartz
“I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am to CUPFA. Without them, I don’t think this project could have kept going. There comes a point where I couldn’t keep investing my own money and the financial support from the Special Projects Grant makes a real difference,” says Schwartz.
“Gary is a wonderful musician and teacher who has dedicated endless hours, days and years to both teaching and his music practice. Last year he received a number of very prestigious awards and CUPFA wanted to follow up on this by honouring him,” says Lorraine Oades, CUPFA Vice-President, Professional Development.
Comparing CDs to business cards in the music world, Schwartz hopes the new CD may open doors on the festival circuit.
Schwartz’s first CD, Public Transport Project featuring a jazz quintet, was released in 2006.
Concordia roots
A young psychology student at Sir George Williams University in the late 1960s, Schwartz left to focus on playing music on the local club scene.
Since childhood, however, Schwartz had dreamt of going to music school. So when Concordia launched the music program — and became the first university in Canada to offer jazz-based education — he came home to Concordia and has never really left.
“After many years playing the club scene, arguing with club owners in places like Sault Ste. Marie and Saint Tite, coming to school to study music felt like I was on vacation, doing what I loved,” he says.
He earned a BFA in music in 1977 and the following year was offered a part-time teaching position. He currently teaches jazz ensemble, improvisation, theory and guitar.
Schwartz has kept a busy schedule through the years, working in organ trios, big bands, pop, blues, ethnic and funk bands. He has even played with one of his childhood heroes, the late James Brown. He has also worked on numerous musicals, including Les Miserables, Chicago, Showboat and Evita. In 2012, he performed with the operatic pop group Il Divo in Ottawa and Montreal.
Schwartz feels fortunate to have enjoyed such a varied and interesting performing career and to have taught so many talented musicians, some of who have become his musical peers today.
“The beauty of music is that it erases social barriers and allows us to connect at very deep levels,” he says. “It is incredibly satisfying to share this experience with former students.”
Schwartz’s CD launch takes place Monday, January 28, at La Sala Rossa, 4848 boul. St-Laurent, Montreal. Admission is free. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Related links
• LETTINGO sample on YouTube
• Free Electron, Entracte, Fall/winter 2012-13
• Profs earn province’s top prize, NOW, February 21, 2012
• Concordia Department of Music
• Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association
• Opus Awards
• Down My Street and Up Yours